In The LOL with Dr. Sim Taylor Dr. Simpfronia Taylor

What does it mean to pray for Peace?  What Peace did Jesus bring to the world?
 The Angels spoke peace and Jesus came into the world (Luke).  Jesus left peace and spoke peace to all when he left this world (John).
 The Magi gave gifts unto Jesus upon his birth.  But Jesus gave gifts to all men.  Jesus was able to leave greater gifts unto us:  the Holy Ghost, Peace and Salvation. God loves you more and wants to leave with you. Greater gift.
 Peace has specific meanings.  Peace= Salom (Shalom).  Peace is a greeting and also a salutation.  You speak peace when you great someone; and you speak peace when you leave someone.
 Shalom (Peace) has several meanings:
(1) Shalom was the common friendly greeting, used in asking after the health of anyone; also in farewells (Ge 29:6, "Is it well with him?" ("Is there peace to him?"); 43:23, "Peace be to you"; 43:27, "He asked them of their welfare (of their peace)"; Jud 6:23, "Yahweh said unto him, Peace be unto thee"; 18:15 (the King James Version "saluted him," margin "Hebrew asked him of peace," the Revised Version (British and American) "of his welfare"); Jud 19:20, etc.) (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
 Shalom in the bible (see Strong’s H7965)
I.completeness, soundness, welfare, peace
  A.   completeness (in number)
  B.   safety, soundness (in body)
  C.  welfare, health, prosperity
  D.  peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment
  E.   peace, friendship
        a.    of human relationships
        b.   with God especially in covenant relationship
  F.   peace (from war)
  G.  peace (as adjective)
 When you have the peace of God then “Nothing is missing and Nothing is needed”
 What is it that Shalom speaks about? This is what Jesus speaks about:
 Matthew 15:29 (Restoration of Health)
John 5:24 (Everlasting life/Tranquil Death)
 Shalom in the New Testament is eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again
 Luke 2 in the original intent means ‘Peace to men of good will’.  In NIV the heralding of the angels indicates “Peace to whom God’s favor rests upon”.  Peace comes from the relationship (favor) that we have with God. (John 14:22-3, see also Acts 10:36,) Paul indicated "been justified by faith (and) have peace (eirene) with God through our Lord Jesus." Christ." (Ro 5:1-note)

HOW DOES GOD SPEAK TO US How does the word of the Lord come to us? In the Bible, it happened in many different ways: by a personal appearance of God, by an audible voice, by visions or dreams, by the ministry of angels, by the working of the Spirit of God upon the mind, by the making alive of a passage of Scripture to our hearts, or by the ministry of a prophet or preacher.  Here is a brief lesson on How God speaks to us..
1.     Personal Appearance - Exodus3, 4 & 33:18-23. 
2.     Audible Voice-God in the first chapters of Genesis speaks with man in the same form as one person would speak to another.
 3.     Passage of Scripture coming alive to our hearts: Acts 8: the Ethiopian Eunuch
4.     Working of the Spirit upon the mind:  Job 33:19. Some may describe this as the conscience working by the Holy Spirit.
5.     Dreams Matthew Chapter 2, God gives the three wise men, and Joseph, dreams that warn them to change their plans.
6.     Vision: Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision.
7.     Ministering Angels Jdg 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide [it] from the Midianites. 

Part 1 Examines how God spoke to Moses in Appearance and in an Audible voice. Exodus 3-4.

ARE YOU MAKING AN EFFORT TO GET A SHARE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? (see Matt:11:6-18).  Are you doing what God has called you to do with fear, reverence. Pushing, pressing, making your way through. Matthew 11:12 and the new King James Version says 'from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence. And the violent take it by force.' A lot of people believe that this means that the times of the Kingdom have been manipulated, attacked, beat upon by violent men. But that doesn't square with what the timing that Jesus mentions because Jesus is not saying throughout history the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence.  He's speaking specifically something from a particular timeframe...from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has been taken by storm, and eager men are forcing their way unto it. (Matt 11:12; The New Testament in Modern English for Schools - B. Phillips). The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, no G726 for this reference indicates the meaning “to seize on, claim for oneself eagerly”.

This reference indicates the meaning is that there are men who are seizing on the Kingdom of heaven to claim it for themselves, to claim it for themselves eagerly. So this scripture, Matthew 11;12, is actually talking about those of us who are in the Kingdom. Who want to claim it for ourselves eagerly. Not for vainglory. We're pushing and pressing our way through, not because we want to be seen, but because God has commanded his work to be done and we are the foot soldiers to do it. Let's look at what Jesus said about the Kingdom of heaven as he's talking to the crowd. John sent messengers to Jesus to ask, 'Are you the one or should I look for another?' He said, Go and tell John what you see and hear, that blind men are recovering their sight, Cripples are walking, lepers being healed, the deaf hearing, the dead being brought to life. And the good news is being given to those in need and happy as the man who never loses his faith. Don't lose your faith, John, but look at the works! Then Jesus asks the crowd  "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak Reed, swayed by every breath of wind?"  Verse 8 says. Or were you expected to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, he is more than a prophet, he says of John in verse 10, this is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, look, I'm sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.   Jesus tells the crowd 'So you look at things and you make these judgments based upon your lack of knowledge. But Jesus says at the end of verse 19. But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.'

What are our lessons today:
To seize on, claim for yourself the part of the kingdom that God is commanding you to take.  God has given you his Spirit to do His Will.Do not keep company, friendships, partnerships with those who are not serious about their faith. As Matthew 11:8, 16-17 indicates; those who are looking for a show; or are putting on a show to impress others. Those who are complainers and criticizers;  do not make friendships/relationships with this type of person.Focus on working in the way God has called you. Are blind men recovering their sight? Are cripples walking? What is being done? The bible says…”happy is the man who never loses his faith” (Matt 11:6). Have Faith that God has Power to do miracles yesterday, today and every day.Follow the Path God has laid out for you. Yes there are challenges (John faced many) (NASB95) Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Luke Chapter 5 has several parables and relatable stories about Jesus selecting (calling) the Disciples. The chapter, as with the synoptic stories in Matthew and Mark, have miracles that Jesus completes at this time.
Jesus' response continues with the two short parables. Luke has the more detailed version:
— see Luke 5:36-39, KJV
 I also know that this story is about the explanation Jesus gives for His disciples not Fasting. But I believe we can apply the principles that Jesus gives (the teachings or instruction he gives) to help us be better Christians and more effective in our work. 
Jesus often uses a parable to explain his point or teaching. Using the simile in the two parables that were drawn from contemporary culture.[2] New cloth had not yet shrunk, so that using new cloth to patch older clothing would result in a tear as it began to shrink.[9] Similarly, old wineskins had been "stretched to the limit"[9] or become brittle[2] as wine had fermented inside them; using them again therefore risked bursting them.[9]
So let me say what I also see.  When you try to live in the old lifestyle, but want to say you are a Christian – putting old and new together, (A) ruins you, (B) it ruins what you want to share or pour out (it is not as effective or powerful) (C) and it ruins the atmosphere.
(A) (You) The old wine skin shattered or was torn apart under the pressure of trying to join itself with the new. 
(B) The new wine that you have shared or poured out did not taste right…not as effective in the wrong container. 
(C) The atmosphere between host and guest have been affected because the wine does not have the ability to do what it was originally intended to do.
Follow God. Follow Jesus. Yes, your life is not going to be perfect, but he's not here for perfect people, and that's what he told the Pharisees. You know there's going to be a time for everything. And so when you face those challenging times in your life, it's time to push out a little deeper. It's time to pray a little harder. It might be time to fast a little more. Push out into the deep, but leave those things that are causing you to sin and to fall through the cracks and all that pressure that's on you-let it fall away. Push out a little bit further, leave everything, follow Jesus. 
So How do we heal: 
Get on your knees. Get in a spot that's quiet and have a prayer time with God and let God know the challenges you are facing. It's not that He doesn't know, but when you release that into the atmosphere and then you put your sincere heart before his altar, before his throne, He can help you change your life. 

In Luke chapter 5 there was a man who had leprosy in verse 12. He cries out and he says, You know, Lord, you can make me clean. And Jesus stretched out his hand, placed it on the leper, saying certainly. “Be Clean!’. God has power to clean your life up. All he's doing is asking you ‘know, what  you want from me’. Ask him to make you clean. Put it in your prayer time. Put it in your time of fasting. Push out from the shore. Go a little deeper in Jesus, ask him to make you clean, he says certainly… certainly I want to make you be clean today. God bless you. 

Hebrews 11:1 King James Version (KJV)11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 In 2017 I was chosen as the speaker for a General Education Diploma (or GED) Graduation. My topic was There’s a “Hope” in Front of Me.  I had a short outline and was not sure what I would say in the end.  Many times, God works this way with my sermons…but for what I consider a “Speech” this was unusual.
 I intended to talk about on Danny Gokey, who is a former contestant on American Idol.  He wrote a song titled “Hope in Front of me”.  If you heard his story, you know that his first wife died of a heart condition. he had promised his wife, Sophia, he’d audition for ‘Idol. Four weeks after his first wife died he had the audition for American Idol confirmed. From an interview I read, Danny Gokey indicated that 
 As he thought about it he said to himself “something I’ve always wanted was the point of Hope in Front of me”. Something good can come from this or any bad situation. And realized that even through his Dark times there was something good that came about of the bad.
 As I listened introduction of each graduate. Each one indicated an issue, problem, challenge, or something that they went through that brought them to this moment. As I listened, I realized that there was definitely a connection to the Danny Gokey song and his experiences.
 The students would say something like. I had a son who got in with the wrong crowd and was killed at a young age, I want to help parents who may need help with their sons. Or I was never a good student and I want to become a teacher in the future to help other students, like me, to become better students.
 Just like Danny’s testimony these students in their life. That helped them to move to the place where they are now. What they experience may have led to the delay in them getting their degree, but what they experience also helped them shape and hope for something beyond this high school diploma.  But as I take a wider look beyond these graduates beyond Danny Gokey and into what Hebrew says is the triumph of our faith. Just like those who were. In the Old Testament. Who had challenges? Issues, situations. But yet it was by their faith, in their hope in God. That led them to a greater glory. So we see it is our faith and our hope in God that leads us also to a greater glory. We have been formed and molded by our experiences. And God wants to take those experiences and move us to another level in him. If we follow his word. For Hebrews 11: 1 (NASB 20) says now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.  Another way to say it:
 -Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.
 I can be sure of what I hope for, not because of me, but because of God!! God has put himself into my story. He has taken my stuff, my experiences and add his strength to it…Now what he desires to happen will happen, Can you trust God?

Heb 11:1 (NASB 20)
Now faith is the certainty of things [fn]hoped for, a [fn]proof of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 (NASB 20)
For by it the people of old [fn]gained approval.
Heb 11:3 (NASB 20)
By faith we understand that the [fn]world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible.
Heb 12:1 (NASB 20)
Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 (NASB 20)
looking only at Jesus, the [fn]originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and

Season 13. Episode 4
Elisha What are you doing here (I Kings 19:1-21)
 1Ki 19:1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, and [fn]how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
 1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more so, if by about this time tomorrow I do not make your [fn]life like the [fn]life of one of them.”
 1Ki 19:3 And he [fn]was afraid, and got up and ran for his [fn]life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there.
 1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, LORD, take my [fn]life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
1Ki 19:9 Then he came there to a cave and spent the night there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah’s name means “the Lord is My God”.  Truly he lived out the meaning of his name in many ways. He walked, talked, and encouraged others to trust in the Lord their God! He was a prophet that shared God’s message and warnings. He was often ridiculed by people and sometimes they did not listen. More often those he warned, turned from following false gods and found the true and Holy One.  In this Chapter 1 Kings 19 we see the one who listened to God, Elijah,  being asked a question.
He came to a cave there, and camped there; and behold, Yahweh’s word came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
 
I. How he was driven into banishment by the malice of Jezebel his sworn enemy (v. 1-3).
II. How he was met, in his banishment, by the favor of God, his covenant-friend.
1. How God fed him (v. 4-8).
2. How he conversed with him, and manifested himself to him (v. 9, 11-13), heard his complaint (v. 10-14), directed him what to do (v. 15-17), and encouraged him (v. 18).
III. How his hands were strengthened, at his return out of banishment, by the joining of Elisha with him (v. 19-21).
Elijah Came up against many powerful enemies, but he handled them by the power of God. But when Jezebel threatened him was overwhelmed with fear.  The threat that Jezebel made represents How the devil wants to make us feel with just a word. The enemy uses words, rumors, innuendo and threats to make us feel afraid. But behind the threat is only an illusion.
 So Elijah runs away to a cave. Have you ever tried to run away from the pressure? Maybe you asked God to ‘kill you’. One time I was depressed and wanted to die.  I was in a car incident where the car spun around on a busy highway.  However, God made it so that no cars came, and we were clear on the roa…so we were able to continue on our way. Stop laying down and taking the attacks of the Devil.  Do not Give up on God, he sees your future…there is more for you that God has in store. God can start and stop time (Joshua 10:12-13). He certainly can change your future!!
 As Elijah lay in the cave there an angel came, touched him, and fed Elijah. God is there to speak, tough, and provide! (v. 8)
 I hope you enjoy the lesson today. Be Blessed.
 In the LOL lessons are recorded using Filmora software.  The intro and exit music is by Manos Mars, “The Tunning” (Mar 30, 2017).
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