MIDNIGHT PRAYING

Do you *REALLY PRAY AT MIDNIGHT?

 HERE ARE FACTS about MIDNIGHT PRAYERS*.

1). *MIDNIGHT* is a time of *TRANSITION*, from one day to another. *GOD ALMIGHTY* can bring a *TRANSITION* in your life as you pray at *MIDNIGHT*.

2). *MIDNIGHT* is a time of *GREAT SPECIAL ACTIVITIES BOTH GOOD AND EVIL*. Destinies of men/women are shaped and interrupted at *MIDNIGHT*. If you are not shaping your *DESTINY at MIDNIGHT*, then somebody may interrupt your life at *MIDNIGHT*. 

3). At a natural level, *GREAT VICTORIES* have been won when nations were caught by surprise as their armies were asleep at *MIDNIGHT*. Satan launches attacks at *MIDNIGHT*, he feeds people in their *DREAMS at MIDNIGHT; he RAPES* others in their dream as they are asleep at *MIDNIGHT* etc.

4). *GREAT CALAMITIES are SPIRITUALLY EFFECTED at MIDNIGHT. GOD ALMIGHTY* waited till *MIDNIGHT* to execute judgment on Egypt: *(Exodus 11:4-6) * Then Moses said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘About *MIDNIGHT* I will go out into the midst of Egypt; and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the hand mill, and all the firstborn of the animals.

5). *MIDNIGHT* is the time people are *MOST VULNERABLE TO SPIRITUAL ATTACKS*. It is the hour when enemies lay siege and render people *DEFENSELESS*. It is also the time that you can *LAUNCH A DEADLY, SURPRISE ATTACK* on your enemies’ camp.

6). As a *CHRISTIAN*, you can break open *CLOSED DOORS*, as you pray at *MIDNIGHT*. Samson lay low till *MIDNIGHT*, then he arose at *MIDNIGHT*, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. *(Judges 16:3) *

7). *MYSTERIOUS* things, happen the most at *MIDNIGHT*. Have you lost anything or anyone very dear to you under *MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES? *  

Chances are that the operation was carried out at the *MIDNIGHT HOUR*. Remember the harlot in Solomon’s time who lost her child by sleeping on him at *MIDNIGHT, * and at *MIDNIGHT* she stole her friend’s child:

*1 Kings 3:20(KJV)* And she arose at *MIDNIGHT*, and took my son from beside me, while your handmaid slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

8). *GREAT SPIRITUAL TRANSACTIONS*, happens at *MIDNIGHT*. Solomon got wisdom from *GOD ALMIGHTY at MIDNIGHT*. If you are not receiving something good at *MIDNIGHT*, then chances are high, that there are evil changes happening against you at *MIDNIGHT*.

9). *VERY WICKED OPERATIONS HAPPENS at MIDNIGHT* but we can change them. We must arise and fight. *WE MUST WAKE-UP AND PRAY. IF WE DO*, we can have great impact in our *SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES*.

10). David, the man who never lost a single battle in all his life, has this to say: *At MIDNIGHT, * I will rise and give thanks to You, because of your righteous judgments. *Psalm 119:62) * what excuse do you have? Do you say, “I wish I arise but I’ll be tired”? Do you have a busier schedule than that of *KING DAVID (PRESIDENT OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL)? *. I don’t think so. 

11) Do you know better than what *PAUL AND SILAS KNEW? * Who praised and worshipped *GOD ALMIGHTY at MIDNIGHT*, but at *MIDNIGHT, PAUL AND SILAS WERE PRAYING AND SINGING HYMNS TO GOD ALMIGHTY*, and the prisoners were listening to them. *SUDDENLY* there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and *IMMEDIATELY all the doors were opened and EVERYONE'S CHAINS WERE LOOSED. (Acts 16:25-26) *

12). *MIDNIGHT* is the best time to make *SERIOUS INTERCESSION*. And *JESUS CHRIST* said to them, which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at *MIDNIGHT* and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him, and he will answer from within and say, do not trouble me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise and give it to you? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he’s his friend, yet because of his *PERSISTENCE* he will rise and give him as many as he needs. *(Luke 11:5-8) *

13). Praying at *MIDNIGHT* is a *SACRIFICE* that will not go *UNREWARDED. GOD ALMIGHTY sees our DESPERATION through the SACRIFICES we make to HIM*. 

My prayer is that the *LORD JESUS CHRIST* will help us to understand that when we are *ASLEEP*, Satan and his demons aren’t asleep but they are *BUSY LAUNCHING ARROWS AT US*. May the *LORD* help us to understand that there are *SERIOUS ACTIVITIES that takes place at MIDNIGHT*, much of which are against us. *LORD JESUS CHRIST* please, deliver us from *SPIRITUAL LAZINESS*, so that we can *RISE UP TO DEFEND OUR INHERITANCE and TAKE BACK what the devil has STOLEN from us in the MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST*.

*GOD BLESS YOU AS YOU MAKE PRAYING AT MIDNIGHT ONE OF YOUR WAYS OF LIFE*

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

SOLOMON'S SONG OF SONGS (3)

THE BRIDE’S DREAM

On my bed by night

I sought him whom my soul loves;

Solomon Arrives for the Wedding

6 What is that coming up from the wilderness

    like columns of smoke,

perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,

    with all the fragrant powders of a merchant? 

                                               …to be cont'd

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

GOD OF GODS (2)

In biblical days, it was a hard and fast rule for kingdoms to have their own god as a symbol of political prestige.

Elohim

The term Elohim is plural for god and is used 216 times in the Old Testament for "gods" and 2366 times for "God." The singular form of Elohim is Eloah and is used 55 times in place of "God." This mistranslation hides the pluralistic nature of the Hebrew god. To the Israelites, Elohim encompasses all supernatural beings: spirits, angels, demons, semi-gods and so forth. So, whenever they appealed to Elohim, they were inferring the entire pantheon [a temple dedicated to all the gods].

That these lesser beings are not gods is a matter of semantics [the study of meanins]. By pagan definition, they are all gods. For example, the Greek God, Mercury, was seen as a messenger god. To the ancient Jews, he would be the equivalent of an angel.

God of Israel

The term, God of Israel, appears almost 200 times in the Old Testament. Simply, the phrase, God of Israel, designates the name of a national god, not the god of the universe.

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'"  (Ex. 5:1)

The God of Israel vows to enlarge the borders of Israel.

23 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.

24 For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man desire your land, when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year. (Ex. 34:23-24)

God of spirits

In this context, the God of spirits means the God of the dead.

16"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, (Num. 27:16) …to be cont’d

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

GOD OF GODS (1)

The word God is "one of the most complex and difficult in the English language." ... Throughout the Hebrew and Christian Bibles there are many names for God. One of them is Elohim. Another one is El Shaddai, translated "God Almighty". A third notable name is El Elyon, which means "The High God".

The God of Gods and Lord of Lords

W

e know that there is only one Lord God, however, from time to time the Bible references other gods and lords. These remarkable titles for god are a basic affirmation of monotheism. In Deuteronomy 10:17 we find, "The LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome."  Whoever these other "gods" and "lords" are, they cannot compete with the "great God, mighty and awesome."

The emphasis in this verse is God’s supremacy. The focus is on God’s greatness and might. When He is called "God of gods," we understand it as a reference to the God who is more powerful and greater than any other so-called god. The verse does not teach the existence of other real gods. Rather, God says, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God" (Isaiah 45:5). See also Isaiah 43:11. Being the "God of gods," the One True God towers over anything else that might be worshiped. He alone is worthy of worship (Deuteronomy 10:21).

Idols have no power: “All the gods of the nations are worthless” (1 Chronicles 16:26, NET; cf. Psalm 96:5). Psalm 97:7 adds, “All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols.” These and many other passages note that there is only one God. To worship any other God is useless.

POLYTHEISM

Joshua explains that Abraham's ancestors served other gods.

2And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Your fathers lived of old beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. (Joshua 24:2)

Jeremiah notes that for as many cities there are gods.

28But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah. (Jer. 2:28)

Lord of lords: A "lord") frequently is referred to a leader. To call the Lord the “Lord of lords” emphasizes God’s greatness above all other leaders or anyone who holds power. As a result, the psalmist writes, “Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 136:3, ESV).

In the New Testament, we find the phrase “Lord of lords” used on three occasions in reference to Jesus. Paul teaches that Jesus is "he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15, ESV). Revelation 17:14 speaks of Jesus’ return, saying, "He is Lord of lords and King of kings." Revelation 19:16 adds, "On his robe and on his thigh, he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords."

Interestingly, the title “Lord of lords” affirms the unique power of God and provides insight into the triune nature of God. While God the Father is the One called “Lord of lords” in Deuteronomy 10:17 and in Psalms, the New Testament writers use the same title to refer to God the Son, Jesus Christ. The Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Outside of this God, there is no other….to be cont’d

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

JOSHUA INSTALLED AS LEADER

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

"What can we learn from the life of Joshua?"

Answer: Joshua is best known as Moses' second in command who takes over and leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses’ death. Joshua is considered one of the Bible's greatest military leaders for leading the seven-year conquest of the Promised Land, and is often held up as a model for leadership and a source of practical application on how to be an effective leader.

As a military leader, Joshua would be considered one of the greatest generals in human history, but it would be a mistake to credit Israel’s victory solely to Joshua’s skill as a military general. The first time we see Joshua is in Exodus 17 in the battle against the Amalekites. Exodus 17:13 tells us that Joshua "overwhelmed Amalek and his people," and so we're tempted to conclude that Joshua's military expertise saved the day. But in this passage we see something odd occurring. In verse 11 we read, "Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand,

Amalek prevailed." Eventually, Moses' arms grew so weary that Aaron had to bring a stone to prop them up. Hence, we see in this vignette that Joshua prevailed because God gave him the battle.

The same can be said of the military victories in the Promised Land. The Lord had promised sure victory and delivered it in convincing fashion. The only exception is in the battle of Ai (Joshua 7).

There are several things to note about this incident. Israel broke faith with God in regards to the “devoted things” (Joshua 7:1). God had commanded the Israelites to devote everything to destruction (Joshua 6:17), and Achan had kept some of the loot from the battle of Jericho for himself. Because of this, God judged them by not giving them the victory at Ai. Another thing to note is that there is no explicit command by God to go against Ai. The purpose of putting these two battle stories side by side is show that when God sets the program and agenda, victory follows, but when man sets the program and agenda, failure ensues. Jericho was the Lord’s battle; Ai was not. God redeemed the situation and eventually gave them the victory, but not until after the object lesson was given.

Further evidence of Joshua’s leadership qualities can be seen in his rock-solid faith in God. When the Israelites were on the edge of the Promised Land in Numbers 13, God commanded Moses to send out twelve people to spy out the land, one from each of the tribes of Israel. Upon their return, ten reported that the land, while bounteous as the Lord had promised, was occupied by strong and fierce warriors dwelling in large, fortified cities. Furthermore, the Nephilim (giants from the Israelites’ perspective) were in the land. However, Joshua and Caleb were the only two who urged the people to take the land (Numbers 14:7-10). Here we see one thing that sets Joshua (and Caleb) apart from the rest of the Israelites—they believed in the promises of God. They were not intimidated by the size of the warriors or the strength of the cities. Rather, they knew their God and remembered how He had dealt with Egypt, the most powerful nation on the earth at that time. If God could take care of the mighty Egyptian army, He could certainly take care of the various Canaanite tribes. God rewarded Joshua’s and Caleb’s faith by exempting them from the entire generation of Israelites that would perish in the wilderness.

We see Joshua’s faithfulness in the act of obediently consecrating the people before the invasion of the Promised Land and again after the defeat at Ai. But no more clearly is Joshua’s faithfulness on display than at the end of the book that bears his name when he gathers the people together one last time and recounts the deeds of God on their behalf. After that speech, Joshua urges the people to forsake their idols and remain faithful to the covenant that God made with them at Sinai, saying,

 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

 In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

THE MIRACLE OF INCREASE

 

2 Kings 4: 1–7
Believe that god is able to supply your needs, even when you have no idea how

 Faith is, in essence taking God at His Word, and His Word at face value.  God has a limitless supply of resources for all who trust in and obey Him.  Fearing that we will not have enough in times of need insults the God who has revealed Himself as Yahweh-Yireh, The Lord-Our-Provider.

KEY LESSONS IN FAITH

Know that God promises to keep His people alive in famine.  This applies spiritually, too.  God’s spiritual resources for us are limitless, even during times of spiritual drought.

Ж Now, by the complaint of this poor woman, we are given to understand,

That her husband, being one of the sons of the prophets, was well known to Elisha. 

Ж That the creditors were very severe with her.  Two sons  had to be the support in her widowed state, and their labor is estimated assets in her hand; that must go therefore, and they must be bondmen for seven years (Exod. 21:2) to work out this debt.

Ж In this distress the poor widow goes to Elisha, in necessity upon the promise that the seed of the righteous shall not be forsaken. The generation of the upright may expect help from God’s providence and countenance from his prophets.

Ж He effectually relieves this poor widow’s distress, and puts her in a way both to pay her debt and to maintain herself and her family. He did not say, Be warmed, be filled, but gave her real help. He did not give her some small matter for her present provision, but set her up in the world to sell oil, and put a typical thing into her hand to begin with. This was done by miracle, but it is an indication to us what is the best method of charity, and the greatest kindness one can do to poor people, which is, if possible, to help them into a way of improving what little they have by their own industry and ingenuity.

Ж He directed her what to do, considered her case: What shall I do for thee? Elisha then enquired what she had to make money of, and found she had nothing to sell but one pot of oil. If she had had any plate or furniture, he would have bidden her part with it, to enable her to be just to her creditors.

If she had not had this pot of oil, the divine power could have supplied her; but, having this, it will work upon this, and so teach us to make the best of what we have. The prophet, knowing her to have credit among her neighbors, bids her borrow of them empty vessels, for, it seems, she had sold her own, towards the satisfying of her creditors. He directs her to shut the door upon herself and her sons, while she filled all those vessels out of that one.

She must shut the door, to prevent interruptions from the creditors, and others while it was in the doing, that they might not seem proudly to boast of this miraculous supply, and that they might have opportunity for prayer and praise to God upon this extraordinary occasion.

 In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts

www.biblestoriestheatre.org.

SOLOMON'S SONG OF SONGS (2)

CHAPTER TWO 

The Bride Adores Her Beloved

Song of Solomon 

2: 13-17

17 Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. ...to be cont'd

In Christ,

Janet Irene Thomas

Playwright/Screen Writer/Director

Published Author/Gospel Lyricist &Producer

FOUNDER/CEO

Bible Stories Theatre of

Fine & Performing Arts
www.biblestoriestheatre.org.