Judges - A Bible Study

To my son (SIL), Pastor Toby Logsdon

You are becoming a great preacher.
A voice for these times.

I love your bold approach to how scripture applies to our current human condition. You are the only preaching I listen to as I can be assured that you will not sugar coat the scripture but instead ... make it come alive as never before for me. You help me see the value of individual stories throughout the bible... because you apply it to this day and this generation. Proof that the  bible is the ultimate TRUTH. It's message never changes.

We are in need of a Savior and that Savior must be Lord of our lives.

TRUTH or LIES ~ YOU DECIDE

satan hides HIS LIES 

among God's TRUTH 

to keep the world 
perpetually CONFUSED. 

It is a spiritual battlefield.

Therefore....

…Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.… ~ Eph 6: 11-13

GOD is the FATHER of ALL TRUTH

satan is the father of ALL LIES 

Love One Another

May The Sweet Fragrance of Christ 
Follow You Today

May His Peaceful Presence settle

in hidden empty places

and fill your heart 

with His enduring LOVE

In His company

is the fullness of JOY

May you know how  WIDE and HIGH;
LONG and DEEP;
His LOVE is for You!

A Longing...Un-Quieted

As the deer pants for the water brooks, 

So my soul pants for You, O God.  

My soul thirsts for God, 

for the living God; 

When shall I come 

and appear before God?

Psalm 42:1-2

My soul yearns, even faints, 

for the courts of the LORD; 

my heart and my flesh 

cry out for the living God. 

Psalm 84:2

My soul is consumed 

with longing 

for your laws at all times....

I open my mouth and pant, 

longing for your commands. 

Psalm 119:20,131

I will earnestly seek you. 

My soul thirsts for you. 

My flesh longs for you; 

 I cling to you; 

Psalm. 63:1, 8

My soul longs for the Lord 

more than watchmen 

long for the morning; 

Psalm 130:6

My hands are stretched out to you: 

my soul is turned to you,

 like a land in need of water. 

Psalm 143:6

SELAH... 

Day 9 ~ Nine Day Prayer Focus ~ Experience A Shift

This visual of the clouds 
reminds me of the scripture 
where a door was opened in heaven... 


The Throne in Heaven

After these things I looked, 
and behold, a door 
standing open in heaven, 
and the first voice which I had heard, 
like the sound of a trumpet 
speaking with me, said, 
"Come up here, and I will show you 
what must take place after these things."  
Immediately I was in the Spirit; 
and behold, a throne 
was standing in heaven, 
and One sitting on the throne.…
Rev 4:1-2

Experience a SHIFT in the Rift! 

Day 8 ~ Prayer Focus ~ River of JOY

Find your New River of JOY! 

Read Psalm 30, 

Psalm 46 

John 11-12. 

Do not let the RIFT ahead 

stop you from standing. 

Praise causes Him to enthrone Himself 

in our midst. 

Jesus' display of glory 

to raise Lazarus 

from the dead 

created a rift. 

Do not let upcoming manifestations 

create a rift that keeps you 

from experiencing God's Kingdom plan.

Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.


EXTENDED SCRIPTURE  FOCUS 


For his anger lasts only a moment, 
but his favor lasts a lifetime; 
weeping may stay for the night, 
but rejoicing comes in the morning.
psalm 30: 5


 You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.

Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

psalm 30 11-12 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

 The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

psalm 46: 10-11 

 Those who sow with tears 

will reap with songs of joy.

psalm 126:5

 

LORD, be gracious to us; 

we long for you. 

Be our strength every morning, 

our salvation in time of distress.

Isaiah 33:2

Yet this I call to mind 

and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love 

we are not consumed, 

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; 

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 

  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, 

and weep with them that weep.

Romans 12:15

 For we do not have a high priest who is 

unable to empathize with our weaknesses, 

but we have one who 

has been tempted in every way, 

just as we are--yet he did not sin.

Heb 4:15

 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, 

for he who promised is faithful.

Heb 10:23

Day 7 ~ Nine Day Prayer Focus ~ Develop a Kingdom Mentality!

Read Mathew 11, 13 and Luke 9, 13.

The Kingdom of God is within you. 

We build the Church, 

but we get keys to the Kingdom. 

Study the Kingdom. 

Matthew 11:12 says, 

"...now the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, 

and the violent take it by force."

The Kingdom advances in victory. 

This occurs through 

violent spiritual conflict and warfare. 

Fear not! 

The Church is God's warring agent. 

Worship and war! 

The Kingdom increases. 

Understand the sword 

and the fire 

because they are both important 

in the battle ahead.

Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.


REMEMBER
Put on the FULL Armor of God

…11Put on the full armor of God, 
so that you will be able to stand firm 
against the schemes of the devil.  
2For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 
but against the rulers, 
against the powers, 
against the world forces of this darkness, 
against the spiritual forces of wickedness 
in the heavenly places.  
13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, 
so that you will be able to resist 
in the evil day, 
and having done everything, 
to stand firm.…

Eph. 6:11 - 13

REMEMBER

our struggle is not against flesh and blood, 
but against the rulers, 
against the powers, 
against the world forces of this darkness, 
against the spiritual forces of wickedness 
in the heavenly places. 

Day 6 ~ Extended Focus ~ Going OVER

Learn the process of going "OVER"! 

Read Isaiah 54  ....memorize verse 17. 

no weapon forged 
against you will prevail, 
and you will refute 
every tongue that accuses you. 
This is the heritage 
of the servants of the LORD, 
and this is their vindication 
from me," declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17 NIV 

We must have an "over" mentality. 

Overtake or be overtaken. 

Overthrow or be overthrown. 

Overturn or be overturned. 

Overcome or be overcome. 

Be sure you are being overseen. 

Also, define the sphere 
that you are overseeing!

Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.


What Going Over Looks Like

"When the feeling of hurt arises....
the spirit of offense comes on the scene 
to fortify the pain....
tempting you to hold on to the grudge 
in your heart. 
Therefore, the proper response 
to emotional pain of the soul 
is ALWAYS an immediate confession 
of forgiveness from the heart. 
The alternative to forgiveness 
from the heart 
is ongoing torment of the soul. 
So if you want to be free 
from your hurts and wounds, 
take thots of forgiveness...
meditate on them and confess them 
rather than taking the thots of hurt...
meditating on them and confessing them. 
This is God's way and the only way 
that brings true healing. 
And...while your at it, 
pray for those who have hurt you. 
This process will cleanse your heart 
and renew your mind - 
and you will walk FREE from your past. 

Amen!

Jennifer Leclaire 
click Jennifer's link above to hear her
video on 'Dealing With Church Hurt ~ God's Way
Jenniferleclaire.org

Day 5 ~ Extended Focus ~ Watch for the Suddenlies

Watch for the 'Suddenlies'

Read 2 Chronicles 29:20-36. 

We've heard about the suddenlies happening,

but now they manifest. 

If hope deferred and weariness is ruling you, 

you will miss the time when our Lord 

moves on your behalf. 

If fear is influencing you, 

you won't understand 

when God starts breaking through 

on your behalf. 

The process that you've been going through 

is moving toward a SUDDENLY!

 Chuck D. Pierce http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.

I LOVE the Suddenlies! 
Those are the ...'But GOD's' in my life. 
I use that phrase a lot in my writing, 
those are the 'turn around anointing' times....
the total 'God thing' in a situation. 

I love seeing God at work!

2 Chronicles 29 describes how King Hezekiah, at age 25 ordered the purification of the Temple. He did this within his 1st month of reign! A YOUNG KING...set out to purify, restore and re-establish the HOLY Temple of the LORD. He OPENED the doors of the House of the LORD and repaired them. 

Why was this at the top of his 'to do list' as KING?  Verse 2 tells the story...'He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.' 

King Hezekiah saw the wrong 
and set to make it right...
right away!

The people had neglected 

the worship of God. Verse 5-6 ...

'And [he]said unto them, 

Hear me, ye Levites, 

sanctify now yourselves, 

and sanctify the house 

of the LORD God of your fathers, 

and carry forth 

the filthiness out of 

the holy place.  

For our fathers have trespassed, 

and done that which was evil 

in the eyes of the LORD our God, 

and have forsaken him, 

and have turned away their faces 

from the habitation of the LORD, 

and turned their backs.'  

And as soon as Hezekiah heard that the temple was ready, he didn't waste any time! He knew that atonement needed to be made for the sins of the last reign. It was not enough to lament and forsake those sins; they brought a sin-offering. Verses 20 reads...

Then Hezekiah the king 

rose early, 

and gathered the rulers of the city, 

and went up 

to the house of the LORD.

I love how King Hezekiah went to work right away! And because of his obedience to the LORD...The Lord God also did His part....Suddenly!

 God prepared the people for His cleansing! 



Only the Lord can prepare the heart of man for vital godliness. When much good is done in so little time, the glory must be given to God through praise and worship. A turn around anointing was upon them and in their midst. They did not continue to neglect God. They rejoiced! They rejoiced because God was setting things back to ORDER...through their New King Hezekiah.  Verse 35-36 says ...

'....So the service 

of the house of the LORD 

was set in order. 

And Hezekiah rejoiced, 

and all the people, 

that God had prepared the people:

for the thing was done  

suddenly.' 

[emphasis mine]

That was then!


Today, with the NEW COVENANT...the same HOLY GOD prepared His people for cleansing...through Jesus Christ alone. He became our sin offering to the HOLY God....so that....coupled with our simple repentance and belief in Jesus as our Savior and Redeemer...we are cleansed...made ready...made acceptable to the HOLINESS of our God the Father. Through the blood of Jesus Christ...God's GRACE pardons us from the death of sin. His GRACE is bigger than all our sin!

The Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit 

18 Flee immorality. 

Every other sin that a man commits 

is outside the body, 

but the immoral man 

sins against his own body.  

19 Or do you not know 

that your body is a temple 

of the Holy Spirit who is in you, 

whom you have from God, 

and that you are not your own? 

20 For you have been bought

with a price: therefore 

glorify God in your body. 

I Corinthians 6:18-20

KING Jesus was a bit older than King Hezekiah when He was given the KINGDOM. KING Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us along with the HOLY SPIRIT ....that we might know how WIDE and HIGH and LONG and DEEP is the Heavenly Father's LOVE for YOU and ME.

I hope and pray that you know the New KING JESUS...who at thirty-something... laid down His Divine KINGSHIP and authority to become a blood offering for You and Me...that we might be cleansed, restored...made ready for eternal LIFE with the KINGDOM of God 

* the photo above was 'a turn around anointing' for me. It was a SUDDENLY!...God's skywriting to me. I just looked up! ...and saw His promised turn around. It filled me with the fullness of HOPE!  SUDDENLY...I was instantly restored. I will never forget it! 


* UPDATE: After posting this, Brenda over at Lighthouse Vision wrote a post that enhances my thots here...so please give her's a read too... for that 'extended focus'. Her post is entitled 'Reflections on a Puzzle'

* UPDATE:  Bill Yount also added to the theme of God's SUDDENLY's....with his article "A Kairos Moment: The Exact Instant in Time When God Acts". Bill calls these appointed times!.

Day 4 ~ Nine Day Prayer Focus - Do Exploits

Optimize resources! 

Memorize Daniel 11:32

"...the people who know their God 

shall prove themselves strong 

 and do exploits for God!" 

Remember to "optimize." 

That means to see things 

from a positive standpoint. 

To do exploits means to take 

the resources you have and 

create new resources or bring them 

into a new level of fullness. 

This is one of the things that God means 

when He says to optimize resources.

Read Psalm 30 and Genesis 1-2. 

Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.

Be Creative with what God has given YOU!  

Lord, as we seek to know the MORE of YOU,

I ask that you show us our resources...

individual skills and gifting...

opportunities for service.

Open our minds to your creative ways. 

Open eyes to see what's around us..

what's hidden in plain sight.

Define our personal purpose,

our circle of influence..

as we seek to join you where you are working

in our lives...and those around us.

May we walk in possibility

rather than negativity.

May we seek to open doors...

rather than walk decidedly past 

those that remain closed.  

Help us to discern defined moments

of spiritual openness.

To visualize small bubbles of change.

Encourage us to be BOLD and courageous;

to walk into the fullness of Your will. 

Amen

 

Your warrior Bride

Day 3 ~ Extended Focus ~ Change Your Atmosphere

"For many years ...

when I traveled throughout the world 

and specifically in the USA 

ministering at various churches and facilities, 

I was always subject to the spiritual environment 

and atmosphere within their walls. 

Some places were fantastic, 

but the majority of them were consumed with 

strife, gossip, competition, debt and void 

of the presence of God 

and revelation knowledge. 

And it would take me up to two nights 

of high praises to eventually correct 

an atmosphere filled with demonic crap 

and align the people 

with God's will, intentions, and blessings. 

By the third night, 

people were free 

with a divine understanding 

of God's purpose for them, 

corporately and individually. 

Then the praise, worship, and manifestations 

would explode upon the entire congregation."

~ Kim Clement 1/25/14

http://www.kimclement.com/watch/

Day 3 ~ Nine Day Prayer Focus ~ Change Your Atmosphere

Change Your Atmosphere!

Read Matthew 13

Speak Faith! 

Jesus could do very little in Nazareth 

because the atmosphere 

was so filled with unbelief. 

Jesus was the all-powerful God 

walking the earth, 

capable of signs and wonders, 

yet the atmosphere in Nazareth 

created a barrier for His intervention. 

Break the negative 

atmospheric presence 

around you by 

prophetic declarations 

of victory!

Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.


Lord, I appreciate that you also were judged,
by those who knew of you...
maybe even grew up with you.
It helps me understand that our calling ...
our position or circle of influence...
usually isn't within our 'comfort zone'.
May we identify the barriers
that label us ineffective.
May we discern the relationships
that hold us in the past.
And declare to move forward ...
courageously and victoriously.
Teach us to see from your kingdom perspective.
That we not limit ourselves
according to opinion
or scrunched up brow.
Infuse us with a knowing...
when it is TIME to move on. 
May we know when it's TIME to step back;
shake the dust from our feet,
and move the the next appointed place.

AMEN

Your warrior Bride

Day 2 ~ Personal Focus ~ Express His Heart

Securely HELD

 

In Day 2: Chuck encouraged us...

Learn to express His heart! 
Memorize and Mediate on 
Proverbs 29:18 
2 Chronicles 20:20. 

Prophecy is expressing 
the mind and heart of God. 
Let the Lord deal with 
your emotions. 
Invite the Spirit of God 
to subdue your emotions 
so His heartbeat can be heard. 
Declare that all self-pity a
nd hope deferred is 
being removed from you. 
Command bitterness 
and unforgiveness 
to leave your soul.

Express the heart of God 
in your thinking. 
Don't let inordinate affections 
cause inappropriate alignments 
in your life. 
The heart can have weights 
or attachments. 
I declare a "free" heart over you. 
Without correct prophetic revelation 
we perish.

 ~ Chuck D. Pierce
http://www.glory-of-zion.org
Glory of Zion International Ministries, Inc.


The Lord expounded on this 
in my life yesterday...

What began as a  'terrible, horrible, 
no good, very bad day'.... 
ended with being HELD 
in the arms of the Everlasting God. 

Thats the point I want to make!

I had some frightening stuff
taunting me almost as soon
as I awoke yesterday. 
It was an issue of possible
identity breech.
Scarey stuff!

The Bible Study girls 
were about to arrive. 
Only 1 came, 
which was ordained.
I shared...she listened.
And God somehow led us
in our conversation; prayer...
and took us to the right WORD
to express His Heart towards us
and deliver His PEACE. 

The Holy Spirit delivered
in the midst of the two of us...
a scripture that actually came 
from our seeking to fully understand
the terror of the 5th angel in Rev 9 ...
focusing on verse 4...

" They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads".

We wanted to know more 
about this SEAL. 
Cross reference after cross reference 
spoke the same thing...
'the seal of God on their foreheads'.


THEN, we saw it! 

And when we saw it, 
It made its HOME in us! 
It released a KNOWING...
an 'overcomers' attitude in us.

It took me a couple of hours
to settle into this NEW feeling.
But slowly and gently...
as He had me reading about 
His PEACE in His WORD...
I felt the HOLY SPIRIT 
simply wash away my anxiety!
In ways I can't even 
begin to describe or understand.

He encapsulated and insulated
me from the horrible possibilities.


It never left me!

The STUFF that detailed
the 'terrible, horrible, 
no good, very bad day'...
didn't go away until 6pm.
It was as if the HOLY SPIRIT
just quietly shut the door...
and His PEACE reigned!

As I and my friend touched base
throughout the day...
both of us were resting
in His powerful WORD to us!
We were SEALED!
The HOLY SPIRIT had released
a tangible force within us.

We were still basking
in its encompassing power...
as we pulled the shades
for restful sleep! 

It WAS for sure -
a  'terrible, horrible, 
no good, very bad day'.
But the Lord joined us 
at the very beginning
with His TRUTH!
It was His TRUTH,
that carried me through...
not just to the other side of it...
but He filled both our spirits 
with the Spirit of Peace.
His Peace made its HOME in us!

Chuck's words came back to me today....

Prophecy is expressing the mind and heart of God. 
Let the Lord deal with your emotions. 
Invite the Spirit of God to subdue your emotions 
so His heartbeat can be heard. 
Declare that all self-pity and hope deferred 
is being removed from you. 
Express the heart of God in your thinking.
Don't let inordinate affections cause 
inappropriate alignments in your life. 
The heart can have weights or attachments.

I declare a "free" heart over you.

"Without correct 
prophetic revelation we perish. "

Do you know the scripture 
that was laid before us...
in the midst of my 'terrible, horrible, 
no good, very bad day'?
It was from Eph 1: 12-14; 
focusing on 14

"...When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14.  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." NIV

As Christians, 
We have recieved a deposit.
We are MARKED; IDENTIFIED ...
with His SEAL of Promised Inheritance. 
Not only is the HOLY SPIRIT within us...
We are SEALED with His Presence.
He goes before us and 
protects us from behind. 
This was NOT news to me. 
It was head knowledge. 
I even believed it in my spirit. 

BUT GOD....

Through His all encompassing LOVE, 
allowed me to see 
His FORM in this season...
in a tangible way. 
The shades from my previous 
living and learning that veiled 
or protected my eyes....
were opened to reveal 
the Sovereign TRUTH 
of His Promised Inheritance! 
For TODAY! 
The power of Holy Spirit quickened 
my spirit to receive its TRUTH 
in a NEW WAY! 

God Expressed HIS Heart 
In a Powerful Way! 

I will never forget it!
Another layer closer ...
to the HEART of God! 

He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. ~ Gal 3:14 NIV

And this morning,
upon awakening...
I realized that I had slept
just like a trusting baby! 
It was a peaceful KNOWING!

I was reminded of 
Kathleen's post on TRUST. 
I could see Molly's small hand
raised above the water
as she became submerged...
KNOWING that her mama
would not fail to rescue her! 
It was such a WORD picture!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.… ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

O May you know that you KNOW...
that the HOLY SPIRIT
has MARKED you...
IDENTIFIED you with...
His Promised Inheritance! 
If you do not know what it's like
to be securely HELD 
in the everlasting arms
of God the Heavenly Father...
I encourage you to seek Him out. 
SEEK Him and He will find you!
He knows exactly where you are.
He KNOWS!



PRAYER FOCUS

Lord Jesus, we Thank you and praise you for who you are...and who you have become in our lives. You have sealed us with your promise of eternal life with you...our promised land. And with that promise...comes a deeper knowledge, a wisdom beyond our mere understanding. Thank you for being in us and all around us every day of our lives; For going ahead to warn and prepare us; For protecting us from our blind side...that we not be destroyed in our lack. We praise You, Lord,  and ask that you give us MORE of YOU, as we seek higher ground. May your will be done on earth in our lives as it is Heaven! Continue to express your heart to us in tangible ways...that we might grasp how WIDE and HIGH and LONG and DEEP is your Sovereign LOVE for us.  ~ In the Name of Jesus...AMEN!

Your warrior Bride

 Stand Firm in the Lord

…6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.