Pastor Ray shared…
President Trump did a good job last night declaring a lot of the things that we pray about. One thing I loved that he brought up again was Jerusalem being the capital of Israel. It is a done issue; it’s finished.
And when I came in this morning, I had the Songs of Ascent in Psalms on my heart and I am just going to go through some of those.
Always with Sister Billye Brim when we would go to Israel, we would go to the Southern Steps. The whole group would sit and have our picture taken on the steps leading to the Temple. One of the days when we were there, she took the Word and she sang up the steps. She would take a step up and she’d sing some more out of the Psalms of Ascent. It was very awesome and anointed.
The following excerpt was taken from The Holy Temple of Jerusalem by Chaim Friedman:
The Jerusalem that houses the Holy Temple transcends its physical boundaries. Jerusalem is a concept. For the service in the Holy Temple is meant to be nothing less than an act of purification for all humanity. Through the ministrations of the priests and Levites, the participation of the Israelites, the pilgrimage of foreign nations, the sacrifice, the incense offering, the showbread, the menorah, and the Levite’s song … each and every aspect is another note in a harmony of Divine orchestration. Within the Holy Temple, all forces unite to acknowledge Him who brought them all into being as the only reality, the Supreme Force which drives the universe. One of the most important principles of Jewish belief is that man has the capacity to engage in a direct, constant, and fulfilling relationship with his Creator. The memory of that relationship and dream of its renewal keep the fires of the Temple altar burning within the collective heart of the nation of Israel and the hearts of all those who cherish God and His message for humanity.
A story relates that Napoleon Bonaparte once entered a synagogue on Tisha B’Av, the solemn fast day that marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Holy Temple. Seeing the Jewish worshipers seated on the floor and reading Lamentations, he asked what terrible disaster had befallen them. He was told: “The Jews are in mourning for their Temple, Your Excellency.”
“What Temple?” he asked. “When did this event occur?”
Upon learning that the Jews were grieving over the destruction of the Temple more than 1,700 years earlier, the emperor remarked: “Such a people as this will never be destroyed! If they still mourn for their Temple, they will surely see it rebuilt.”
Psalm 30 was written by King David, who ordered should be sung by the Levites during the dedication ceremonies of Solomon’s Temple; some say that it was sung at the same event during the Second Temple, and that it will be sung at the dedication of the Third Temple as well.
The following excerpt was taken from The Southern Steps and Psalms of Ascent Reminders from Bible.org:
Who would have ever thought to use stairs as a memory trigger?
The southern edge of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, a 200-foot wide flight of stairs represents both original and restored steps from the Second Temple period.
Millions of sandals (including Jesus’) shuffled up these steps in antiquity as Jewish pilgrims came from all Israel and the Diaspora to worship the Lord for the annual feasts.
Some suggest the pilgrims sang the Psalms of Ascent on these steps. If so, the place brought to mind critical themes.
The place echoes of our need to be reminded of what we already know.
Few places in Jerusalem give the sense of the Second Temple period like the Southern Steps excavations at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park.
In fact, because excavation on the Temple Mount itself is prohibited, this area immediately south of the mount offers important archaeology to help unpack the history of the Temple Mount during the first century.
At the far west of the broad staircase, a double gate stood—today only a portion of this gate and its lintel can been seen. This gate represented an exit, and the stairway below it—with their alternating wide and narrow steps—offered a place for teaching, for visiting, or for a simple descent….
The Psalms of Ascent as Reminders
Three times a year worshipers would enter the Temple from these steps, after a customary cleansing in the nearby ritual baths, or mikvot.
God required these pilgrimages, as written by the hand of Moses…
Devotional Thought for the Southern Steps
Think about Christmas carols and patriotic songs like, “God Bless America.” Sung on holidays, these tunes are familiar to all and stir up critical reminders of basic life themes.
The first-century Jewish culture recognized the necessity of reminders and repetition—the need of rehearsing truth when the world around them countered God’s Word at every step. The Psalms of Ascent that the pilgrims of old would recite from memory several times a years served as reminders of faith, forgiveness, family, children, peace, hope, brotherhood, sacrifice, and right attitudes toward God and people.
What was true then remains true for us: without simple reminders, we would forget essential truths.
Ms. Annie shared…
I had been reading different things, all kinds of opposition to President Trump saying we will move our embassy to Jerusalem and basically we recognize it as being the capital of Israel. I saw a story yesterday. The chamber of commerce of the city of Bethlehem invited a group of American diplomats to come to give a training session on how to do business over the Internet. They were so harassed by Palestinian activists that they were forced to leave with security. They weren’t allowed to help the business leaders in Bethlehem and it was all over what Trump has just said that Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel which everybody already knows. When they left, their cars were pelted with rotten tomatoes. It was a dangerous situation. This is people who were coming to try to help. If you don’t know, Bethlehem is in Palestinian control. They were trying to help the Palestinians with their economy. So this is how contentious this is. All these people are saying it is so terrible and you can’t do this and it will blow up the peace process. And Abass told somebody the peace process is dead because of this, etc.
I saw that Trump had met with someone and he said the big thing that stood in the way of the peace process was that nobody could agree about Jerusalem being the capital of Israel. So, he said now that problem is completely over. It has been settled. So, now we can finally talk peace (ha, ha, ha).
I was telling Pastor Ray I was never a really big supporter of Trump. I couldn’t understand how God could choose someone like Donald Trump. I was like “Lord, seriously?” But now I can see how he just doesn’t care what they are saying. That’s one of the things that bothered me about him. How can he not care? But I can see how sometimes God just has to choose someone who is willing to go where nobody else will go because they care too much.
Pastor Ray…
That’s how we should be too. We don’t care what the Devil says. We don’t care what opposition says against the Church. Right? Not just this church but the Church, the body of Christ. Because we are standing on the Word. It’s not that we dreamed it up.
There were so many declarations made in the speech last night that were so positive. It just felt good to hear our leader speak those positive things. And this morning on the news they listed all of the things, God, country, military, the lowest unemployment… The list went on and on. And one side sat and one side stood. We have to keep praying for our leaders. It’s not over.
Ms. Annie…
This just came up into my heart again about our President. It’s one of the scriptures the Lord had given me when Jesus said to His disciples, He told them in the parable. A man had two sons. He said to this one “Go do this.” And the son said “I’ll do it” but then he didn’t do it. And then he said to the second son to “Go do this” and the second son said “No” but then he went and did it. And Jesus said “Which one did the will of his master?”
That is one of the scriptures that the Lord has comforted my heart with over our very controversial president. Maybe in many different ways he has said “No, I am not going to do that” or whatever but when it comes down to the issues that matter to God…
Certain things that matter to God that people who I might have said “Well, that’s Your servant.” And they said they would do it but they didn’t do it! So, it’s a lesson for me as a believer to always be expecting the fruit in my life; to always be inspecting the outcome of what I am doing not just what I am saying. Because Jesus said that many will say to me in that day “Lord, Lord” and I will say “I never knew you. You didn’t do what I said.” So, I want to be sure I am doing what He said.
Ms. Jeani…
The thing about Trump is he does not operate or abide a political spirit. And a political spirit says a lot and does nothing. And you cannot trust what someone operating under that, you cannot trust what comes out of his mouth. Whereas with Trump… He didn’t live in that world. He has never lived in a world of more talk no action. He’s always lived in the world of less talk more action. There must be results from where he came from. And that’s just not how he thinks, just not how he operates.
And that is who our God is. We can count of what God says and He is results oriented.
Pastor Ray shared…
When we were talking I had this thought. The biggest reason he was elected may be to declare Jerusalem the capital of Israel and actually carry it out.
Scripture focus…
(2) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others].
(3) And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. Genesis 12:2–3 (AMPC)
The following is a prayer for our nation by Pastor Lynne Hammond:
Father, in the name of Jesus, and according to your Word, we pray for those in authority in our nation. We lift up President Donald Trump, his family, his staff and cabinet members. Let Your Word cling to them and let them not depart from your plan. Strengthen them with mighty power by your Spirit to stand against wickedness, lies and deception. Guide President Trump’s decisions; let Your light shine upon his path and show him the path of reversal for every evil way. Continually surround him with godly men and women who impart wise counsel to him. Cause the way of the wicked to be set to confusion and come to nothing. Deliver us from the traps and snares the enemy has laid for us, and let the wicked be caught in their own devises and be brought to shame.
Continued praying…
America will be saved
We apply the blood of the lamb from shore to shore, top to bottom in Jesus’ name
Thank You for the blood today!
We have been delivered from the plan of the enemy
The battle has been won at Calvary and we enforce it with our words today
Wrong plans, decisions we declare a turning around in the name of Jesus
Every position of authority over America we cover in the blood of Jesus
Hidden things continually be revealed in the name of Jesus
Limitations, lack get out of the way
Stepping up, standing up, rising up
Scripture focus…
(1) In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me!
(2) Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.
(3) What shall be given to you? Or what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?—
(4) Sharp arrows of a [mighty] warrior, with [glowing] coals of the broom tree!
(5) Woe is me that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!
(6) My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace.
(7) I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 120 (AMPC)
(1) I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come?
(2) My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
(3) He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber.
(4) Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
(5) The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield].
(6) The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night.
(7) The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.
(8) The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Ps. 121 (AMPC)
(1) I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
(2) Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!—
(3) Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compacted together—
(4) To which the tribes go up, even the tribes of the Lord, as was decreed and as a testimony for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
(5) For there the thrones of judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David.
(6) Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy City]!
(7) May peace be within your walls and prosperity within your palaces!
(8) For my brethren and companions’ sake, I will now say, Peace be within you!
(9) For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek, inquire for, and require your good. Psalm 122 (AMPC)
(5) I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope.
(6) I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning.
(7) O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption.
(8) And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities. Psalm 130:5-8 (AMPC)
(1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
(2) It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body].
(3) It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly]. Psalm 133 (AMPC)
(1) Behold, bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the Lord.
(2) Lift up your hands in holiness and to the sanctuary and bless the Lord [affectionately and gratefully praise Him]!
(3) The Lord bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 134 (AMPC)
Ms. Annie led us singing Hallelujah to Our God
Scripture focus…
(1) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
(2) I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
(3) For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
(4) [Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler. Psalm 91:1–4 (AMPC)
(1) It is a good and delightful thing to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises [with musical accompaniment] to Your name, O Most High,
(2) To show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night, Psalm 92:1–2 (AMPC)
Pastor Ray…
Amen, it’s good, I love it
When we are able to just spend time together lifting Him
Guess what happens when we lift Him up, we are lifted up
We’re stepping up, we’re moving up in Jesus’ name
Thank You for coming
