Turn From Death to Life

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Below are excerpts of the State of the Union address Monday night. There is so much more in the speech,(link above in the title) but these are some that brought much concern. I let the Lord speak for himself…

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

• we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions…

• To build a prosperous future, we must trust people with their own money…
• …we need to earn their trust…
• The people’s trust in their government…
• On housing, we must trust Americans …
• To build a future of quality health care, we must trust patients and doctors…
• On education, we must trust students…
• On trade, we must trust American workers to compete with anyone in the world…
• To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs…
• To keep America competitive into the future, we must trust in the skill of our scientists and engineers…
• On matters of science and life, we must trust in the innovative spirit of medical researchers…
• On matters of justice, we must trust in the wisdom of our founders…
• we must trust in the good heart of the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need…
• …We trust that people, when given the chance, will choose a future of freedom and peace…
• By trusting the people, our founders wagered that a great and noble nation could be built on the liberty that resides in the hearts of all men and women. By trusting the people, succeeding generations transformed our fragile young democracy into the most powerful nation on earth and a beacon of hope for millions. And so long as we continue to trust the people, our nation will prosper, our liberty will be secure and the state of our union will remain strong. So tonight, with confidence in freedom’s power, and trust in the people, let us set forth to do their business.

Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Psalms 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Pres GWB says ***In the work ahead, we must be guided by the philosophy that made our nation great. As Americans, we believe in the power of individuals to determine their destiny and shape the course of history. We believe that the most reliable guide for our country is the collective wisdom of ordinary citizens. So in all we do, we must trust in the ability of free people to make wise decisions, and empower them to improve their lives and their futures.

Pres GWB says ***In neighborhoods across our country, there are boys and girls with dreams - and a decent education is their only hope of achieving them.

Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Psalms 146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:

Pres GWB says ***Yet building a prosperous future for our citizens also depends on confronting enemies abroad and advancing liberty in troubled regions of the world.

Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

2 Kings 18:20 Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?

Pres GWB says ***Yet in this war on terror, there is one thing we and our enemies agree on: In the long run, men and women who are free to determine their own destinies will reject terror and refuse to live in tyranny.

Pres GWB says ***And that is why, for the security of America and the peace of the world, we are spreading the hope of freedom. (see Psalm 146:3-5 above)

Pres GWB says ***And tonight in this hallowed chamber…

Pres GWB says ***I assured leaders from both sides that America will do, and I will do, everything we can to help them achieve a peace agreement that defines a Palestinian state by the end of this year. The time has come for a Holy Land where a democratic Israel and a democratic Palestine live side-by-side in peace.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 26:5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

Pres GWB says ***So America is using its influence to build a freer, more hopeful and more compassionate world. This is a reflection of our national interest and the calling of our conscience.

Pres GWB says***The secret of our strength, the miracle of America, is that our greatness lies not in our government, but in the spirit and determination of our people. (Isaiah26:3-5 above)

and the last quote from Mr. Bush…God Bless America

Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalms 118:8-17

8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Genesis 1:27 And God created the man in His own image; in the image of God He created him…
Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Have you ever thought why God made us to look like we do? The obvious is, that we need eyes to see, ears to hear, a nose to smell, a mouth to talk and eat; and many other various body parts to do what they do.

Our bodies are in reality a shadow or picture of the body of Christ, also known as the church, or the ekklesia. Starting from the head down we can see that he made our physical form to exalt his glory.

The HEAD points to Christ as the head of his ekklesia…

Song of Solomon 7:5 Your head is like Carmel, and the hair of your head like purple cloth; the King is held captive in its tresses.
(the word “carmel” in hebrew means “circumcised lamb” :) )

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The HAIR points to Christ as King over us as seen in Son 7:5 above with his hair. And we see in the gospel of John…

John 19:2 And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe…

The EYES that once were blind to the truth now discern the truth, and judge righteously if we remember they are to be the eyes of Christ, our head. He didn’t put the eyes on our hands or feet, but on the head. :) We as the body do not use our own fleshly judgment which will be our own opinion, but the Lord’s is always right.

Psalms 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes… AND Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. AND Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

The EARS are the Lord hearing us when we call on him… AND us remembering to listen to him when he calls, they are also used for discernment, and again only righteous judgment. Our flesh must not get in the way of us hearing the truth, as it says in Acts 7:51 below our ears also must be “circumcised”…

Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Psalms 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalms 78:1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

Psalms 130:2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Proverbs 23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.

Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

The NOSE points to the Lord receiving our sincere prayers (the word Lebanon means “white, incense”)

Song of Solomon 7:4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. AND Song of Solomon 7:8 …and the smell of thy nose like apples;

Psalms 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Exodus 37:29 And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.

Revelation 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Our prayers need to be pure, sweet to his nose when we offer them up…

The last one I am going to mention in this post is the MOUTH and all that comes with it. If you think of it, the mouth is located conveniently under the nose. Our prayers(our incense) coming from our mouth needs again to be pure and sweet, sincere. We are his mouth upon the earth. His mouth.

Psalms 17:1 Hear the right, O LORD attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

The TEETH are us the sheep…

Song of Solomon 4:2 Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.

The LIPS picture Christ’s blood sacrifice covering us, the sheep…

Song of Solomon 4:3 Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

Are our words what the Lord wants to speak or our own opinions? Are they truth?

Psalms 12:3 The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things 4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

Psalms 34:13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Are we speaking of the gospel, and boasting in the cross?

Psalms 40:9-10 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.

And lastly…

Psalms 71:24 My TONGUE also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

There are many scripture I didn’t post above, that point to the glory of God in our bodies. I challenge you to look further.
A lot to digest here… digestion could even be another thing to meditate on :)… but not tonight.

A beautiful song by Abigail Miller…
http://music.download.com/abigailmiller/3600-8439_32-100345190.html?tag=MDL_listing_song_artist
www.abigailmiller.com