Newsletter #389 - March 2011 - By Shepherds Chapel - http://www.shepherdschapel.com/
The Most High is your heavenly Father. There is no higher entity in the universe. When you approach Him, you want to do so with this in mind. Let's begin our study in the book of Genesis.
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.
Lot was actually Abraham's nephew, not his brother. Abraham wasn't about to stand still while one of his relatives was taken captive by those that raided Sodom.
Genesis 14:15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Abraham recovered everything that had been taken. Do you know why? The Most High was with him.
Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale. 18 (And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Your Father is Supreme. There is none above Him. Melchizedec is Jesus Christ (Heb. 7:1-3). Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, possessor of heaven and earth:
God is in control of everything on earth and in heaven. Love and trust Father enough to understand He always has a reason and a purpose.
Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the MOST HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." And he gave him tithes of all.)
The fact the Abraham tithed to Melchizedec proves the he believed He represented the Most High.
Genesis 14:21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself."
The king of Sodom only wanted the people taken captive returned to him. He was offering the spoil to Abram. After all, it was Abram that had defeated Chedorlaomer.
Genesis 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the MOST HIGH GOD, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:"
Abraham knew that he was blessed of the Most High. He was careful to give credit for his blessings to God, not the king of Sodom. God delivered the enemy into Abram's hand. The Most High will do the same today for those that love and serve Him. Turn with me to Psalm 148.
Psalm 148:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. 2 Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts.
He is worthy of our praise. His angels and hosts are there to help you, when you need them.
Psalm 148:3 Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light. 4 Praise Him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
God controls them all. Have you got troubles and worries in your life. Do you think they are to big for your Father to handle? He is the Most High. He laughs at the enemy.
Psalm 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for He commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass.
He is you Father, and He is in charge. Don't ever allow anyone to take that away from you. Your Father decreed there would always be summer and winter (Gen. 8:22). Don't allow the misguided to deceive you on global warming.
Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling His word:
The purpose of these things is to fulfill His Word. Need I remind you? Your Father is in charge of everything?
Psalm 148:9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
Every soul belongs to God (Ezekiel 18:4).
Psalm 148:12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.
He is the Most High. There is none higher. You can't go wrong, when you are serving and loving Him.
Psalm 148:14 He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the LORD.
The horn is always symbolic of power. God increases the power of His people. Your Father is the Most High. Don't ever allow anyone to take that away from you. Let's continue our study in the Book of Luke.
Luke 1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Mary was engaged to Joseph, but had known no man.
Luke 1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Mary was trying to reason what all this could possibly be about.
Luke 1:30 And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS.
The name Jesus means "YHVH's Savior", if you translate the Hebrew word rather than transliterate the name. Indeed, Mary would give birth to the Savior of the world.
Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: 33 And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Don't ever allow anyone to take that away from you, either. God is in control. There is an eternal kingdom in the future. Do you have a place there? Satan would like for you to join him in the lake of fire. Do things God's way. Don't allow Satan to take the Most High God away from you.
Luke 1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy Thing Which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Jesus is the Son of the Most High.
Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
It is interesting to note we have two pregnancies. One, it was too late. Elizabeth was older than normal. The second, was too early. Mary had not known a man. Elizabeth's son would be the forerunner, John the Baptist.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible."
All happened in God's order and control then, as it will be in the future. Your Father, the Most High, is in control. Skip ahead with me to Chapter 1:67.
Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying, 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people,
Zacharias was the husband of Elizabeth, and thus the belief of John the Baptist. He was a Levitical priest. The Holy Spirit continues to speak through Zacharias.
Luke 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David; 70 As He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
Do you allow Satan to mess up your life? You don't have to. Jesus gave us power over all our enemies in His name (Luke 10:17-18). Take care of business.
Luke 1:72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; 73 The oath which He sware to our father Abraham,
We have come full circle to were we began with the Most High promise to Abraham.
Luke 1:74 That He would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him without fear,
There is no excuse for you to ever be afraid. Why? You have the Most High within you. That is the Spirit of the Most High. You aren't the one who should be afraid. The time for Mary to give birth drew near as she and Josph were near Bethlehem to be taxed. Skip with me to Chapter 2:6.
Luke 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Jesus was born of a commoner. He was sent to the commoners, as well as the kings.
Luke 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Here is proof Jesus wasn't born in December. Shepherd's are not abiding in the field in December.
Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
He was sent to all people, Both Israel and gentile.
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
How was the heavenly host praising God? What were they saying of Him?
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
The heavenly host was glorifying God the Most High. There is none higher, friend. And, if you remember just one thing from this lesson, I hope that you will remember that the Most High is your Father. Don't ever allow anyone, including Satan himself, to take that away from you.
In His service,
Arnold Murray