Amen. Come, Lord
Jesus
08-16-14
Ecclesiastes 4:1
(NASB) 1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being
done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and
that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their
oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them.
There are some that would say the title to my message is narrow and self
centered as concerning my desire for Jesus immediate return. Some would say that
there is a lost and dying world still there that needs to hear the Gospel; and,
this self centered view disregards them. That being said, my response to them,
at least this week, would be that they are absolutely right. It was a strangely
emotional week for me. I am not normally moved emotionally by events that happen
in other parts of the world. Oh, I might pop off in my spirit from time to time
over acts of injustice but it rarely, if ever moves me
emotionally. Nevertheless, when I saw and read about the horror and demonic
persecution of people for the sole reason of believing in Jesus, it struck me.
And when I saw the picture of the little girl, I had had enough. I became angry,
even embittered and vengeful in my heart against the filth that had committed
these atrocities. She appeared to be about the age of my little angel Chloe
and I looked heavenward and in my spirit screamed "PLEASE COME BACK LORD JESUS
AND END ALL OF THIS MADNESS!" I was done with it.The next day,in a round about
way, I was reminded of a scripture.
Deuteronomy
32:35 (NASB) 35
'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due
time their foot will slip; For the day of their
calamity is near, And the impending things are
hastening upon them.'
As I thought about this verse it did my heart some good to know that one day
in His time, and, in a way that He only knows, He would surely set things right
for that child laying on that tile floor somewhere in Iraq. I mused this week
about how blessed I was for the simple reality that I lived in relative freedom.
I don't have anyone marking my doorpost with an 'N' to identify me as a follower
of the Nazarene. And I certainly don't have anyone threatening my life because I
believe in that Nazarene. We here in America really don't have a clue do we? I
just want to say "'Thank you Jesus, the One and ONLY true God." Folks, if we are
not careful this type of demonic, satanically influenced persecution is coming
to a town and city near us. Remember His words. He said that these were just the
BEGINNING of sorrows. If you don't know Jesus as your personal savior, accept
His forgiveness and salvation NOW before it's too late. He is standing at the
door of your heart right now. As for the rest of us and our nation we need to
step up. They say that they are coming for us. Let us humble ourselves as
individuals and as a nation. God is ready and willing to take up our cause if it
is centered in Him.
2
Chronicles 7:14-15 (NASB) 14
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray
and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven,
will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
15
"Now My eyes will be open and My ears
attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
You know, they tell me that this verse is for Israel and Israel alone but I
am claiming it for me and mine. Amen? Please excuse my overt transparency this
week. I am wearing my heart on my sleeve this week for those people that are
enduring untold and unknown to us here in America, suffering. That being
said...
Revelation 22:20
(NASB) 20 He who testifies
to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly."
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
God Bless
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Friday, August 8, 2014
The Good
Part
08-08-14
Luke 10:38-42 (NASB) 38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
I was informed last night that the owner of the company that I work for was killed in an automobile accident a couple of days ago. I have never met the man, but I have met and talked with one of his sons on a couple of occasions. As I digested this untimely tragedy last evening, I wondered to myself of all the time and effort and energy that it must have taken to build a company of this size. The responsibilities that come with building and running a company of this size certainly must be daunting. When I woke up this morning with his death still in my head I picked up my tablet to check on what was going on in the world. Remember the pinball machines you played as a kid? What would happen when you bumped the machine too violently trying to get some added action to the ball movement? Remember? TILT! TILT! And you lost your game. Well, that was my brain after 10 minutes perusing the headlines. So, in the midst of catching up on all the insanity I had this brainstorm. (Not a brainstorm actually, but you can picture it right? smile) We spend our lives devoting ourselves to our own pursuits, either for ourselves or in the service of others and suddenly without warning, it all disappears in a breezy waft of smoke. Poof...gone in 60 seconds. As I pondered the death of my employer, the genocide in Iraq, the ebola outbreak,the umpteen trillion dollar debt we have rolled up, need I go on? I can you know, as I am sure you can also. With all that "stuff" floating around, this passage of Scripture came to mind. Before I continue, for a while, whenever I saw the word Martha,I inserted my name;then, towards the end of the passage I plugged into Mary's name. You'll understand as we go along or at least my sister and mother will.(smile)Let's take MARTHA'S side for a minute. O.K.? Get the picture here. Plug yourself in. The Son Of God and his entourage just came rolling in to your town and you have invited Him to stay in your home while He is in town. Do you think that you might want the living room straight? You might want to wash last night's dirty dishes. Maybe make up the bed, vacuum the rug and on top of all of that... they probably will want something to eat. So, here is Martha, KILLING HERSELF trying to get all the preparations done for all these people, oh yeah and Jesus too. I can see her now, running all over Hades and half of Georgia trying to get this stuff done. So, Jesus walks in and here is poor Martha, exhausted, still going, trying to get everyone served.. And then there's Mary. My sister and my mother are taking notice now, as Mary seems to fit someone they know very well. I will mention no names to protect the guilty.
Here is Mary, Hello? Anybody at home in there? Ronn...er I mean Mary.Mary? MARY?! Jesus is here! Are you gonna get off your behind and help? Well, you know the rest of the story. If you don't, then read the above passage again. Brothers and sisters, Martha had a valid complaint. There were "things" that needed to be done. There were responsibilities. As it was then, so it is now. Our daily lives are filled with problems, responsibilities,tasks, and if you don't have anything to concern yourself about, just turn on the news, you'll find plenty. "God,I love you. You know that I do. But, everybody and everything is pulling and DEMANDING my time." Ever had that conversation? If you don't do it, it won't get done. I HAVE TO DO IT GOD! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STOP Ever feel like that? That was basically what Martha told Jesus. And she was telling the truth. But, look at Jesus' reply.
Luke 10:41-42 (NASB) 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Folks, it can all be gone in an instant. A flash of time and our sand castles that we have spent a lifetime building can be carried out to sea with a changing tide. God is telling us to put it all aside for a minute. Sit at His feet for a little while. We don't have to forsake our dreams or give up our pursuits, nope, just lay them aside for a few minutes and choose "the good part." Spend some time with Him. We can solve all the world's and our problems AFTER we allow Him entrance into our hearts and lives.The world is awash with evil. If you don't think that there is a war RAGING for our very souls, then you and I are on different planets. The Lord Jesus and the Lord Jesus ALONE is our very present help. Let us choose the good part.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB) 1
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
God Bless
Luke 10:38-42 (NASB) 38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."
41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
I was informed last night that the owner of the company that I work for was killed in an automobile accident a couple of days ago. I have never met the man, but I have met and talked with one of his sons on a couple of occasions. As I digested this untimely tragedy last evening, I wondered to myself of all the time and effort and energy that it must have taken to build a company of this size. The responsibilities that come with building and running a company of this size certainly must be daunting. When I woke up this morning with his death still in my head I picked up my tablet to check on what was going on in the world. Remember the pinball machines you played as a kid? What would happen when you bumped the machine too violently trying to get some added action to the ball movement? Remember? TILT! TILT! And you lost your game. Well, that was my brain after 10 minutes perusing the headlines. So, in the midst of catching up on all the insanity I had this brainstorm. (Not a brainstorm actually, but you can picture it right? smile) We spend our lives devoting ourselves to our own pursuits, either for ourselves or in the service of others and suddenly without warning, it all disappears in a breezy waft of smoke. Poof...gone in 60 seconds. As I pondered the death of my employer, the genocide in Iraq, the ebola outbreak,the umpteen trillion dollar debt we have rolled up, need I go on? I can you know, as I am sure you can also. With all that "stuff" floating around, this passage of Scripture came to mind. Before I continue, for a while, whenever I saw the word Martha,I inserted my name;then, towards the end of the passage I plugged into Mary's name. You'll understand as we go along or at least my sister and mother will.(smile)Let's take MARTHA'S side for a minute. O.K.? Get the picture here. Plug yourself in. The Son Of God and his entourage just came rolling in to your town and you have invited Him to stay in your home while He is in town. Do you think that you might want the living room straight? You might want to wash last night's dirty dishes. Maybe make up the bed, vacuum the rug and on top of all of that... they probably will want something to eat. So, here is Martha, KILLING HERSELF trying to get all the preparations done for all these people, oh yeah and Jesus too. I can see her now, running all over Hades and half of Georgia trying to get this stuff done. So, Jesus walks in and here is poor Martha, exhausted, still going, trying to get everyone served.. And then there's Mary. My sister and my mother are taking notice now, as Mary seems to fit someone they know very well. I will mention no names to protect the guilty.
Here is Mary, Hello? Anybody at home in there? Ronn...er I mean Mary.Mary? MARY?! Jesus is here! Are you gonna get off your behind and help? Well, you know the rest of the story. If you don't, then read the above passage again. Brothers and sisters, Martha had a valid complaint. There were "things" that needed to be done. There were responsibilities. As it was then, so it is now. Our daily lives are filled with problems, responsibilities,tasks, and if you don't have anything to concern yourself about, just turn on the news, you'll find plenty. "God,I love you. You know that I do. But, everybody and everything is pulling and DEMANDING my time." Ever had that conversation? If you don't do it, it won't get done. I HAVE TO DO IT GOD! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STOP Ever feel like that? That was basically what Martha told Jesus. And she was telling the truth. But, look at Jesus' reply.
Luke 10:41-42 (NASB) 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Folks, it can all be gone in an instant. A flash of time and our sand castles that we have spent a lifetime building can be carried out to sea with a changing tide. God is telling us to put it all aside for a minute. Sit at His feet for a little while. We don't have to forsake our dreams or give up our pursuits, nope, just lay them aside for a few minutes and choose "the good part." Spend some time with Him. We can solve all the world's and our problems AFTER we allow Him entrance into our hearts and lives.The world is awash with evil. If you don't think that there is a war RAGING for our very souls, then you and I are on different planets. The Lord Jesus and the Lord Jesus ALONE is our very present help. Let us choose the good part.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB) 1
2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
God Bless
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Familiarity Breeds
Contempt
08-02-14
Mark 6:4 (NASB) 4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."
John 4:44 (NASB) 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
I listened yesterday to a world renowned preacher, now deceased, declare that a significant portion of the American church was preaching a false gospel. They were, in his wise and seasoned view, walking in apostasy. As I listened, the above scripture(s) came to mind. A chain reaction was ignited in my head as I mused about the different applications these scriptures have in our lives today. We need some context here to fully appreciate the word of the Lord. Look at the preceding verses:
Mark 6:1-3 (NASB) 1 Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him.
2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?
3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him.
In a nutshell, Jesus returned to His hometown and His teaching was rejected by the people because they "knew" who Jesus was. They had grown up with Him. They had seen Him fall down and skin His knee. Probably had seen Him get angry from time to time. Might even had seen Him act in a way that they personally disagreed with. For whatever reason, these people knew Jesus "in the flesh" and the Bible says they took "offense" at Him. "Who does He think He is? Sitting up there all high and mighty telling us that we should repent! Not only that, but did you here what He said? No? Well, I heard that He said that He was the Son of God ??!! Of all the nerve!!!" That is my imagined narrative but you understand don't you? THEY TOOK OFFENSE AT HIM!! Fast forward to 2014.
One of the more difficult things to do in this life is to be able to switch hats. Especially in the realm of church. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we become like the people in Nazareth. We "know" the preacher. We have seen him in his humanity. We have known him to have dropped the ball in his life. We know all too well that he is human and that he makes mistakes. He sins. So, when he walks into the pulpit Sunday morning, or sends out his message over the internet and that message steps on our toes...we allow ourselves a healthy dose of self righteousness and begin to criticize the messenger. "Who does that preacher think he is. I know for a fact that he doesn't live that holy of a life." We haven't learned to switch hats. The people in Nazareth couldn't switch hats. They couldn't get past Jesus' humanity. We still face that same problem today. Let me tell you something about preachers and men of God in general. They are all human and they all, down to the very least of them, fail on a daily basis. Let me say something else...no I will let God's Word do my talking on this.
Romans 11:29 (NASB) 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Now, without getting off track that word "gifts" is the same word used for the different gifts that God has bestowed on His children through His grace. Beginning with salvation, moving on through the gifts of service,teaching and so on in Romans 12. The spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and finally the ministry gifts of Ephesians. You know Apostles, prophets,pastors.... they are as Strong's says a "divine gratuity" They are IRREVOCABLE. So, yes, that man of God, that preacher, flawed as he MAY be,(I choose my words carefully here) is still called of God to deliver His message to you and me. And as in so many cases, if we choose to take offense at God's messenger then we shall surely lose out on the blessing that God has in store for us. No, He is not going to harm us or curse us if we reject the message, although there are many in the pulpit out there that would have you believe that, just so they can build their own personal kingdoms.
BUT, we do stand to lose our blessing, just like the people in Jesus' day. Look and see.
Mark 6:5-6 (NASB) 5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.
I wonder at the word "could." It doesn't say would, it says could. I will look into that later. At any rate, you get the point don't you? Because of their unbelief, which was preceded by their taking offense, Jesus, the Son Of God couldn't work in their midst. He couldn't bless them. They lost out on their encounter with the one true God. If Jesus was stymied,do you think that we can effect God's blessing when we take offense and criticize God's human agent? Brothers and sisters, I am not saying that we must believe every word proceeding out of every mouth that calls itself a messenger of God. No,no. The Bible doesn't teach that. We are to discern the spirits. However, when someone who has proved their faithfulness and mettle over time speaks "Thus saith the Lord," then we help our own cause if we listen. Amen? In a different vein, I will leave you with this thought. In the Old Testament God sent messengers to speak His Word to the people, the children of Israel. They were called shepherds, they were called judges, they were called prophets. When the people obeyed their voice they were blessed of God. When they did not, they fell under His judgment. There are God sent messengers today calling this country to wake up before it's too late. If we are smart as a nation, we will turn to God, His Son, His Holy Spirit, and His Holy Word to chart our course for the future. If we refuse and rebel, then we will suffer the same fate of those whom have chosen to reject God in times past. All sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Psalm 40:16 (NASB) 16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"
God Bless
Mark 6:4 (NASB) 4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household."
John 4:44 (NASB) 44 For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.
I listened yesterday to a world renowned preacher, now deceased, declare that a significant portion of the American church was preaching a false gospel. They were, in his wise and seasoned view, walking in apostasy. As I listened, the above scripture(s) came to mind. A chain reaction was ignited in my head as I mused about the different applications these scriptures have in our lives today. We need some context here to fully appreciate the word of the Lord. Look at the preceding verses:
Mark 6:1-3 (NASB) 1 Jesus went out from there and *came into His hometown; and His disciples *followed Him.
2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?
3 "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?" And they took offense at Him.
In a nutshell, Jesus returned to His hometown and His teaching was rejected by the people because they "knew" who Jesus was. They had grown up with Him. They had seen Him fall down and skin His knee. Probably had seen Him get angry from time to time. Might even had seen Him act in a way that they personally disagreed with. For whatever reason, these people knew Jesus "in the flesh" and the Bible says they took "offense" at Him. "Who does He think He is? Sitting up there all high and mighty telling us that we should repent! Not only that, but did you here what He said? No? Well, I heard that He said that He was the Son of God ??!! Of all the nerve!!!" That is my imagined narrative but you understand don't you? THEY TOOK OFFENSE AT HIM!! Fast forward to 2014.
One of the more difficult things to do in this life is to be able to switch hats. Especially in the realm of church. Sometimes, if we are not careful, we become like the people in Nazareth. We "know" the preacher. We have seen him in his humanity. We have known him to have dropped the ball in his life. We know all too well that he is human and that he makes mistakes. He sins. So, when he walks into the pulpit Sunday morning, or sends out his message over the internet and that message steps on our toes...we allow ourselves a healthy dose of self righteousness and begin to criticize the messenger. "Who does that preacher think he is. I know for a fact that he doesn't live that holy of a life." We haven't learned to switch hats. The people in Nazareth couldn't switch hats. They couldn't get past Jesus' humanity. We still face that same problem today. Let me tell you something about preachers and men of God in general. They are all human and they all, down to the very least of them, fail on a daily basis. Let me say something else...no I will let God's Word do my talking on this.
Romans 11:29 (NASB) 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Now, without getting off track that word "gifts" is the same word used for the different gifts that God has bestowed on His children through His grace. Beginning with salvation, moving on through the gifts of service,teaching and so on in Romans 12. The spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14 and finally the ministry gifts of Ephesians. You know Apostles, prophets,pastors.... they are as Strong's says a "divine gratuity" They are IRREVOCABLE. So, yes, that man of God, that preacher, flawed as he MAY be,(I choose my words carefully here) is still called of God to deliver His message to you and me. And as in so many cases, if we choose to take offense at God's messenger then we shall surely lose out on the blessing that God has in store for us. No, He is not going to harm us or curse us if we reject the message, although there are many in the pulpit out there that would have you believe that, just so they can build their own personal kingdoms.
BUT, we do stand to lose our blessing, just like the people in Jesus' day. Look and see.
Mark 6:5-6 (NASB) 5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
6 And He wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.
I wonder at the word "could." It doesn't say would, it says could. I will look into that later. At any rate, you get the point don't you? Because of their unbelief, which was preceded by their taking offense, Jesus, the Son Of God couldn't work in their midst. He couldn't bless them. They lost out on their encounter with the one true God. If Jesus was stymied,do you think that we can effect God's blessing when we take offense and criticize God's human agent? Brothers and sisters, I am not saying that we must believe every word proceeding out of every mouth that calls itself a messenger of God. No,no. The Bible doesn't teach that. We are to discern the spirits. However, when someone who has proved their faithfulness and mettle over time speaks "Thus saith the Lord," then we help our own cause if we listen. Amen? In a different vein, I will leave you with this thought. In the Old Testament God sent messengers to speak His Word to the people, the children of Israel. They were called shepherds, they were called judges, they were called prophets. When the people obeyed their voice they were blessed of God. When they did not, they fell under His judgment. There are God sent messengers today calling this country to wake up before it's too late. If we are smart as a nation, we will turn to God, His Son, His Holy Spirit, and His Holy Word to chart our course for the future. If we refuse and rebel, then we will suffer the same fate of those whom have chosen to reject God in times past. All sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Psalm 40:16 (NASB) 16 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!"
God Bless
Friday, July 25, 2014
The Glorious
Land
07-25-14
The Glorious Land. That is the description given Israel in the 11th Chapter of Daniel. The man of perdition will enter that land in his thirst for power during the Great Tribulation. I've had Israel on my heart all week. I don't know why. I sought the Lord this week on what He would have me write on but, all I had on my mind was that tiny, unbelievably outnumbered nation and how they have the protection of God in the face of unbelievable odds. The path and history of the Jewish people and more recently the state of Israel is one of the most compelling reasons for trusting in the veracity of the Holy Bible. The simple fact that the state of Israel even exists is in itself a miracle of biblical proportions. With that in view, here's a brief overview of God's plan for His people, Israel.
God made eight covenants with mankind. Five of those covenants were made with the nation and people of Israel. One of those covenants, the Mosaic, was temporal and conditional. The other four, Abrahamic, Land, Davidic and New were and are unconditional and eternal. The last three are in reality outworking's of the original covenant given to Abraham. They explain in broader detail the promises made to Abraham.
Genesis 15:18 (NASB) 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
This verse is one of dozens pertaining to the eternal covenant that God made with Abraham concerning the land that would be given to him and his descendants. You might be interested to know that the term Palestine is not of Biblical origin. Palestine was given as the name of the land by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. His plan was to erase Jewish remembrance and Jewish identity to the land itself. Palestine these days has more of an Arab sense to it in describing the land of Israel. That being what it is,the land is never designated as Palestine in the Bible. Although in times past Israel has occupied much of the land promised to it, it has never been in control of all the land that God promised Abraham. There have been modern day disputes to this claim, but none hold up to strenuous scrutiny.
The Davidic Covenant is concerned with a promise made through Abraham to King David to have someone of David's lineage sitting upon the throne of Israel eternally.There are two passages, one concerning Solomon, the other concerning the Messiah, Jesus.
1 Chronicles 17:10-14 (NASB) 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.
11 "When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 "He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 "I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
14 "But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."'"
The Lord Jesus, a descendant of David and Abraham in the flesh, will set up a literal, eternal throne when He returns and sets up His kingdom on this earth. There are literally whole chapters dealing with just where this throne will physically be set up. It will find it's resting place in the millenial Jerusalem.
The last and most relevant for us as Christians and the church as a whole is the New Covenant. This covenant has as it's foundation Jeremiah 31.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NASB) 31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 31:34 (NASB) 34 "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Because of the Blood of the Lord Jesus, the church is a partaker of this covenant. We have not reoplaced Israel, but we share this aspect with Israel. However, this covenant is going to be literally fulfilled for Israel in the kingdom. All Jews living here on earth at Jesus' return will enter His kingdom and all Jews living and born during that kingdom reign will be saved. This is what Paul is speaking to in Romans 11.
Romans 11:26-27 (NASB) 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
No one need faith anymore to believe God and God's Word. One merely needs to track the history of the Jewish people and stack it up against what the Bible says and one will be hard pressed to find fault with God's Word. We as a nation should be very, very careful and not attempt to thwart God's plan by turning our back on the Jewish state. Many have tried and ALL have failed.
Jeremiah 31:35-36 (NASB) 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:
36 "If this fixed order departs From before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever."
God Bless
The Glorious Land. That is the description given Israel in the 11th Chapter of Daniel. The man of perdition will enter that land in his thirst for power during the Great Tribulation. I've had Israel on my heart all week. I don't know why. I sought the Lord this week on what He would have me write on but, all I had on my mind was that tiny, unbelievably outnumbered nation and how they have the protection of God in the face of unbelievable odds. The path and history of the Jewish people and more recently the state of Israel is one of the most compelling reasons for trusting in the veracity of the Holy Bible. The simple fact that the state of Israel even exists is in itself a miracle of biblical proportions. With that in view, here's a brief overview of God's plan for His people, Israel.
God made eight covenants with mankind. Five of those covenants were made with the nation and people of Israel. One of those covenants, the Mosaic, was temporal and conditional. The other four, Abrahamic, Land, Davidic and New were and are unconditional and eternal. The last three are in reality outworking's of the original covenant given to Abraham. They explain in broader detail the promises made to Abraham.
Genesis 15:18 (NASB) 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
This verse is one of dozens pertaining to the eternal covenant that God made with Abraham concerning the land that would be given to him and his descendants. You might be interested to know that the term Palestine is not of Biblical origin. Palestine was given as the name of the land by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. His plan was to erase Jewish remembrance and Jewish identity to the land itself. Palestine these days has more of an Arab sense to it in describing the land of Israel. That being what it is,the land is never designated as Palestine in the Bible. Although in times past Israel has occupied much of the land promised to it, it has never been in control of all the land that God promised Abraham. There have been modern day disputes to this claim, but none hold up to strenuous scrutiny.
The Davidic Covenant is concerned with a promise made through Abraham to King David to have someone of David's lineage sitting upon the throne of Israel eternally.There are two passages, one concerning Solomon, the other concerning the Messiah, Jesus.
1 Chronicles 17:10-14 (NASB) 10 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you that the LORD will build a house for you.
11 "When your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up one of your descendants after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12 "He shall build for Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.
13 "I will be his father and he shall be My son; and I will not take My lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.
14 "But I will settle him in My house and in My kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."'"
The Lord Jesus, a descendant of David and Abraham in the flesh, will set up a literal, eternal throne when He returns and sets up His kingdom on this earth. There are literally whole chapters dealing with just where this throne will physically be set up. It will find it's resting place in the millenial Jerusalem.
The last and most relevant for us as Christians and the church as a whole is the New Covenant. This covenant has as it's foundation Jeremiah 31.
Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NASB) 31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,
32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 31:34 (NASB) 34 "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
Because of the Blood of the Lord Jesus, the church is a partaker of this covenant. We have not reoplaced Israel, but we share this aspect with Israel. However, this covenant is going to be literally fulfilled for Israel in the kingdom. All Jews living here on earth at Jesus' return will enter His kingdom and all Jews living and born during that kingdom reign will be saved. This is what Paul is speaking to in Romans 11.
Romans 11:26-27 (NASB) 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB."
27 "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."
No one need faith anymore to believe God and God's Word. One merely needs to track the history of the Jewish people and stack it up against what the Bible says and one will be hard pressed to find fault with God's Word. We as a nation should be very, very careful and not attempt to thwart God's plan by turning our back on the Jewish state. Many have tried and ALL have failed.
Jeremiah 31:35-36 (NASB) 35 Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name:
36 "If this fixed order departs From before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also will cease From being a nation before Me forever."
God Bless
Friday, July 18, 2014
Who's Fiddling
Now?
07-18-14
"Nero fiddled while Rome burned" That expression seems to me an apt description of the state of our nation and indeed the entire world in these perilous times. God's Word speaks to a time when Russia will launch a military campaign that will find it's end in the land of Israel. It also speaks to the reaction of other nations as being one of protest but with no substantive reaction. I doubt that is what is taking place now, but is this a runup or a conditioning of the world to accept such atrocity when the real enchilada unfolds?
At any rate...
Matthew 24:35 (NASB) 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Let me make something crystal clear. The Cross is open to all. No one is shunned from Jesus' saving blood. Republican, Democrat, black, white and everything in between. Jew and Gentile, Israeli and Palestinian, you and me. Anyone can kneel at the foot of Calvary and receive forgiveness and eternal life. That being said allow me to ascend to my soapbox this week and give my take on some recent headlines. I viewed a recent interview that a well known CNN correspondent had with a member of the Israeli Security Cabinet. While the correspondent stood behind a veneer of objectivity, it was patently clear that he was trying to cast Israel in a bad light. It irritated me as I watched his attempts to bait the cabinet member into saying something that could be used against him. With that background, God's Word, I believe speaks to the Jewish state of Israel. If we take a literal view of Old Testament prophecies then we are compelled to acknowledge that Israel is God's idea. From Genesis to Malachi, God provides for, rebukes, corrects, fights for, and promises a future restoration for the nation of Israel.
Genesis 13:14-15 (NASB) 14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.
Genesis 15:18 (NASB) 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
God also has some rather blunt words for the nations of the world as to how they should treat this nation Israel.
Genesis 12:1-3 (NASB) 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
There is even a New Testament reference to this treatment of the Jews. Jesus the Lord had this to say about a judgment that He will carry out when He returns.
Matthew 25:31-40 (NASB) 31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
As this nation and the world in general turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the atrocities that are committed against that tiny nation, God's Word all the more, assures us that they have His attention: not only do they have His ear, they have His promise of a future restoration where all His covenant promises will be fulfilled.
Amos 9:11-15 (NASB) 11 "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares the LORD who does this.
13 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved.
14 "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 "I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
It would seem that while this prophecy awaits complete fulfillment, Israel today is enjoying some of this scripture's benefit. It would, in my opinion, behoove us all to focus on the last part of the above Scripture.
Amos 9:14-15 (NASB) 14 "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 "I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
The Apostle Paul thought Israel so significant that right in the middle of his great theological discourse known as the Book of Romans, he turned on a dime and devoted three chapters(9-11) to explaining about their future salvation. I won't belabor it here, go, read it, and make up your own mind. My point is manifest isn't it? If we as a people, if we as a nation go the way of the world and turn our backs on the nation of Israel...we do it at our own peril. We need to seriously consider what God has to say about His people.
Psalm 126:1-2 (NASB) 1
When the LORD brought back the captive ones of
Zion, We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
God Bless
"Nero fiddled while Rome burned" That expression seems to me an apt description of the state of our nation and indeed the entire world in these perilous times. God's Word speaks to a time when Russia will launch a military campaign that will find it's end in the land of Israel. It also speaks to the reaction of other nations as being one of protest but with no substantive reaction. I doubt that is what is taking place now, but is this a runup or a conditioning of the world to accept such atrocity when the real enchilada unfolds?
At any rate...
Matthew 24:35 (NASB) 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
Let me make something crystal clear. The Cross is open to all. No one is shunned from Jesus' saving blood. Republican, Democrat, black, white and everything in between. Jew and Gentile, Israeli and Palestinian, you and me. Anyone can kneel at the foot of Calvary and receive forgiveness and eternal life. That being said allow me to ascend to my soapbox this week and give my take on some recent headlines. I viewed a recent interview that a well known CNN correspondent had with a member of the Israeli Security Cabinet. While the correspondent stood behind a veneer of objectivity, it was patently clear that he was trying to cast Israel in a bad light. It irritated me as I watched his attempts to bait the cabinet member into saying something that could be used against him. With that background, God's Word, I believe speaks to the Jewish state of Israel. If we take a literal view of Old Testament prophecies then we are compelled to acknowledge that Israel is God's idea. From Genesis to Malachi, God provides for, rebukes, corrects, fights for, and promises a future restoration for the nation of Israel.
Genesis 13:14-15 (NASB) 14 The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.
Genesis 15:18 (NASB) 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
God also has some rather blunt words for the nations of the world as to how they should treat this nation Israel.
Genesis 12:1-3 (NASB) 1 Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you;
2 And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;
3 And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed."
There is even a New Testament reference to this treatment of the Jews. Jesus the Lord had this to say about a judgment that He will carry out when He returns.
Matthew 25:31-40 (NASB) 31 "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
As this nation and the world in general turns a blind eye and a deaf ear to the atrocities that are committed against that tiny nation, God's Word all the more, assures us that they have His attention: not only do they have His ear, they have His promise of a future restoration where all His covenant promises will be fulfilled.
Amos 9:11-15 (NASB) 11 "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old;
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares the LORD who does this.
13 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "When the plowman will overtake the reaper And the treader of grapes him who sows seed; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills will be dissolved.
14 "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 "I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
It would seem that while this prophecy awaits complete fulfillment, Israel today is enjoying some of this scripture's benefit. It would, in my opinion, behoove us all to focus on the last part of the above Scripture.
Amos 9:14-15 (NASB) 14 "Also I will restore the captivity of My people Israel, And they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them; They will also plant vineyards and drink their wine, And make gardens and eat their fruit.
15 "I will also plant them on their land, And they will not again be rooted out from their land Which I have given them," Says the LORD your God.
The Apostle Paul thought Israel so significant that right in the middle of his great theological discourse known as the Book of Romans, he turned on a dime and devoted three chapters(9-11) to explaining about their future salvation. I won't belabor it here, go, read it, and make up your own mind. My point is manifest isn't it? If we as a people, if we as a nation go the way of the world and turn our backs on the nation of Israel...we do it at our own peril. We need to seriously consider what God has to say about His people.
Psalm 126:1-2 (NASB) 1
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
God Bless
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Jesus
Saves
07-12-14
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB) 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The old Pogo quote is relevant here today. You remember Pogo don't you? The Okefeenoke Swamp sage is credited with the following saying,"We have met the enemy and he is us." That quote came to mind recently while I was speaking with a friend.They told me of a mutual acquaintance that had decided to give up on God. This person had been beaten down by folks for a long time. He related how he had been criticized over and over for his behavior and some of the choices that he had made. He had endured it for so long that he had started believing it himself. To hear him say it, people never noticed the positive aspects of his life, instead they droned on about his "sins." He became so discouraged that he finally resigned himself to the fact that he didn't measure up and never would. He determined that he was done with church, God and all the rest of it. This laid on my heart for a while and I thought that today would be a good day to give my take on the subject.
We humans and I include myself in that number(smile) are skillful at pointing out others shortcomings. We are expert fault finders. We set up arbitrary and SUBJECTIVE standards of behavior that we expect everyone EXCEPT OURSELVES to adhere to. When it comes to holding ourselves accountable we always can find a good reason for doing what we did. We had a good excuse. We justify our behavior to ourselves. Keep that word justify close. According to the above verses, nothing separates us from God's love. This is spoken in a context of salvation and the new birth. No created thing (we humans are included in that lot) can separate us from God's love. Now, look at this.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Look at the word foreknew. It means "to determine ahead of time to enter into a loving relationship with someone." Predestined means "to decide upon beforehand." He determined ahead of time to embrace you and I SPECIFICALLY! We were chosen in eternity past. Not only that, we were destined to become conformed to Jesus' image. In down home language this is what God is saying here," Look, I decided long ago to pick you up when you fell off the turnip truck and long, long ago I decided that I would save you and clean you up through my Son's blood. Why? BECAUSE I AM SOVEREIGN, I AM GOD ALMIGHTY, AND I WANTED TO, THAT'S WHY!!Didn't have anything to do with you or anybody else." Let that sink in. Let's move on. "..those whom He predestined,He also called." Listen, we didn't do anything when we got saved. God chose and called us. That's why Jesus said that we didn't choose Him, but He chose us. Look that verse up. Now, this is where it really takes off.
"...those whom He called, He also justified..." In a nutshell we not only were acquitted of guilt but we are seen as never having missed the mark. Through Jesus blood we are seen as having kept the standard that Jesus kept. At the cross we are put right with God. Sin is done away with not covered. Through the cross we have kept God's righteous standard. If you and I have been justified then we have also been glorified. Now, I don't understand the structure and grammar of the Greek but this verse is in what is called an "aorist comprehensive." Now, they tell me that means a full complete action. There is no discrimination between the four verbs. They are a whole unit. All are complete. If you have been called,then you have been glorified. There is no stopping in between the actions. Now here is my point for saying all of the above. Listen to this and think about it this week if you are struggling with doubt, and/or self or otherwise imposed condemnation.
Here is the God of all the universe telling us that nothing can separate us from His love. Here He is telling us that in eternity past He planned and made secure our destiny not because of any BEHAVIOR OR EFFORTon our part. No,no it was because it pleased Him to do it. It was His choice,not ours. Don't ask me why, I do not know. Only when He brings me into His Glory will I ever know. All I can do is accept it and say thank you. Now, if that is the reality of my relationship with God then should I allow anything or anybody to say otherwise? Of course we all do from time to time. Feelings are fickle but they are also powerful. If you are struggling today with your own frailty or if someone else has told you how sorry you are,.. don't fret. God chose you to be His a long, long time ago. No one, not even you can snatch you out of His Hand.
Psalm 27:1 (NASB) 1
The LORD
is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?
God Bless
Romans 8:38-39 (NASB) 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The old Pogo quote is relevant here today. You remember Pogo don't you? The Okefeenoke Swamp sage is credited with the following saying,"We have met the enemy and he is us." That quote came to mind recently while I was speaking with a friend.They told me of a mutual acquaintance that had decided to give up on God. This person had been beaten down by folks for a long time. He related how he had been criticized over and over for his behavior and some of the choices that he had made. He had endured it for so long that he had started believing it himself. To hear him say it, people never noticed the positive aspects of his life, instead they droned on about his "sins." He became so discouraged that he finally resigned himself to the fact that he didn't measure up and never would. He determined that he was done with church, God and all the rest of it. This laid on my heart for a while and I thought that today would be a good day to give my take on the subject.
We humans and I include myself in that number(smile) are skillful at pointing out others shortcomings. We are expert fault finders. We set up arbitrary and SUBJECTIVE standards of behavior that we expect everyone EXCEPT OURSELVES to adhere to. When it comes to holding ourselves accountable we always can find a good reason for doing what we did. We had a good excuse. We justify our behavior to ourselves. Keep that word justify close. According to the above verses, nothing separates us from God's love. This is spoken in a context of salvation and the new birth. No created thing (we humans are included in that lot) can separate us from God's love. Now, look at this.
Romans 8:29-30 (NASB) 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Look at the word foreknew. It means "to determine ahead of time to enter into a loving relationship with someone." Predestined means "to decide upon beforehand." He determined ahead of time to embrace you and I SPECIFICALLY! We were chosen in eternity past. Not only that, we were destined to become conformed to Jesus' image. In down home language this is what God is saying here," Look, I decided long ago to pick you up when you fell off the turnip truck and long, long ago I decided that I would save you and clean you up through my Son's blood. Why? BECAUSE I AM SOVEREIGN, I AM GOD ALMIGHTY, AND I WANTED TO, THAT'S WHY!!Didn't have anything to do with you or anybody else." Let that sink in. Let's move on. "..those whom He predestined,He also called." Listen, we didn't do anything when we got saved. God chose and called us. That's why Jesus said that we didn't choose Him, but He chose us. Look that verse up. Now, this is where it really takes off.
"...those whom He called, He also justified..." In a nutshell we not only were acquitted of guilt but we are seen as never having missed the mark. Through Jesus blood we are seen as having kept the standard that Jesus kept. At the cross we are put right with God. Sin is done away with not covered. Through the cross we have kept God's righteous standard. If you and I have been justified then we have also been glorified. Now, I don't understand the structure and grammar of the Greek but this verse is in what is called an "aorist comprehensive." Now, they tell me that means a full complete action. There is no discrimination between the four verbs. They are a whole unit. All are complete. If you have been called,then you have been glorified. There is no stopping in between the actions. Now here is my point for saying all of the above. Listen to this and think about it this week if you are struggling with doubt, and/or self or otherwise imposed condemnation.
Here is the God of all the universe telling us that nothing can separate us from His love. Here He is telling us that in eternity past He planned and made secure our destiny not because of any BEHAVIOR OR EFFORTon our part. No,no it was because it pleased Him to do it. It was His choice,not ours. Don't ask me why, I do not know. Only when He brings me into His Glory will I ever know. All I can do is accept it and say thank you. Now, if that is the reality of my relationship with God then should I allow anything or anybody to say otherwise? Of course we all do from time to time. Feelings are fickle but they are also powerful. If you are struggling today with your own frailty or if someone else has told you how sorry you are,.. don't fret. God chose you to be His a long, long time ago. No one, not even you can snatch you out of His Hand.
Psalm 27:1 (NASB) 1
God Bless
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Thirsty
07-05-14
Psalm 63:1 (NASB) 1
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no
water.
This week for some odd reason I was reminded of sitting in the parking lot of a music store in Marietta, Ga. many years ago. As the picture rolled across my mind, I could see my dear friend Pastor Doug in the passenger seat as we waited for Adrian and Bubba, our kids, to finish their trumpet lessons. They took lessons back to back so we spent a couple of hours once a week, every week, in that parking lot talking about all sorts of stuff. The conversation would invariably center around God, church, the kids, what did the Bible have to say about it and whatnot. Over the years we have spent countless hours in cars, over the phone, etc., talking about those subjects. Well anyway this week as I had that picture in my mind a phrase came across my mind. It was something that Doug and I spoke about over and over. We would and have prayed countless times over our children and loved ones that one phrase. We would proclaim and pray that our kids would find God for themselves. We would remind those kids (and God sometimes, smile) that they could not rely on their parents' God or their friends' God. That just because their lives were surrounded by parents, friends, church people who had found God, that would not work for them. They had to find God for themselves. Mama and Daddy or the preacher would not be around forever to help them in time of need. Then, they would have to know God for themselves. Pastor Doug's God won't be around to help me. See that's what the Psalmist David is saying in those verses.
"O God, You are my God;....." David wrote this when he was in the wilderness, possibly, when fleeing from Saul. You see Jesse, David's father wasn't with him in this trying time. Jonathan, his best friend, was of no comfort to him. He was alone and he was in the wilderness. Have you ever been there? He HAD to find God for himself. His father's or his friend's God had to become HIS GOD, for there was no one else to help him. And what do the scriptures say about David and what he did? Look at the above verse. "...I shall seekYou earnestly.." Look a little further down.
Psalm 63:6 (NASB) 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
"..I meditate on You in the night watches,..." That word meditate means to ponder, to groan, to muse about or to speak about. Look at another Psalm.
Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB) 1
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty? I can remember only one time in my entire life being really thirsty. It was when I was 12 years old and our Little League team had been playing a couple of practice games. It was in the middle of summer and we had been at it all day. We didn't know or care about hydration in those days, we just wanted to play ball until we dropped. I remember riding back from that game that day and man I was toasted. I mean my throat felt like I had poured a glass of sawdust down it. For some reason, unknown to me and my teammates, the coaches would not stop at a gas station (no convenience stores in those days lol) to get a Coke. I mean me and my buddies were howling from the back of the station wagon to stop, please we are dying back here!But alas on this sweltering day, to no avail. I was in panic mode. All I could think about was a glass of water to wet and cool my dry throat. NOTHING ELSE MATTERED. When I finally got home, I RAN to the kitchen sink and without stopping to get a glass, I turned the faucet on full blast and drank until I was swishing on the inside. You know what I'm talking about don't you? Swishing? All the while listening to mother scold me for putting my mouth on the faucet, risking the deadly germs to be found there. But, at that point in time I didn't care. I WAS THIRSTY!! You feelin' me here? That's what David is talking about here.
You see in that verse above David is asking God when he can get alone with Him. He's thirsty. He can't wait any longer. "When shall I come and appear before God?" And that is the secret. Until I decide to appear before God. Until I make room for Him in my life. Until I begin to earnestly seek for Him and enquire of Him, He will continue to be someone else's rock, but not MY rock. He will continue to be another's strong tower, not MY strong tower. I have to find Him for myself. Pastor Doug's God just won't do. He must become MY God.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NASB) 1
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
God Bless
Psalm 63:1 (NASB) 1
This week for some odd reason I was reminded of sitting in the parking lot of a music store in Marietta, Ga. many years ago. As the picture rolled across my mind, I could see my dear friend Pastor Doug in the passenger seat as we waited for Adrian and Bubba, our kids, to finish their trumpet lessons. They took lessons back to back so we spent a couple of hours once a week, every week, in that parking lot talking about all sorts of stuff. The conversation would invariably center around God, church, the kids, what did the Bible have to say about it and whatnot. Over the years we have spent countless hours in cars, over the phone, etc., talking about those subjects. Well anyway this week as I had that picture in my mind a phrase came across my mind. It was something that Doug and I spoke about over and over. We would and have prayed countless times over our children and loved ones that one phrase. We would proclaim and pray that our kids would find God for themselves. We would remind those kids (and God sometimes, smile) that they could not rely on their parents' God or their friends' God. That just because their lives were surrounded by parents, friends, church people who had found God, that would not work for them. They had to find God for themselves. Mama and Daddy or the preacher would not be around forever to help them in time of need. Then, they would have to know God for themselves. Pastor Doug's God won't be around to help me. See that's what the Psalmist David is saying in those verses.
"O God, You are my God;....." David wrote this when he was in the wilderness, possibly, when fleeing from Saul. You see Jesse, David's father wasn't with him in this trying time. Jonathan, his best friend, was of no comfort to him. He was alone and he was in the wilderness. Have you ever been there? He HAD to find God for himself. His father's or his friend's God had to become HIS GOD, for there was no one else to help him. And what do the scriptures say about David and what he did? Look at the above verse. "...I shall seekYou earnestly.." Look a little further down.
Psalm 63:6 (NASB) 6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
"..I meditate on You in the night watches,..." That word meditate means to ponder, to groan, to muse about or to speak about. Look at another Psalm.
Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB) 1
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty? I can remember only one time in my entire life being really thirsty. It was when I was 12 years old and our Little League team had been playing a couple of practice games. It was in the middle of summer and we had been at it all day. We didn't know or care about hydration in those days, we just wanted to play ball until we dropped. I remember riding back from that game that day and man I was toasted. I mean my throat felt like I had poured a glass of sawdust down it. For some reason, unknown to me and my teammates, the coaches would not stop at a gas station (no convenience stores in those days lol) to get a Coke. I mean me and my buddies were howling from the back of the station wagon to stop, please we are dying back here!But alas on this sweltering day, to no avail. I was in panic mode. All I could think about was a glass of water to wet and cool my dry throat. NOTHING ELSE MATTERED. When I finally got home, I RAN to the kitchen sink and without stopping to get a glass, I turned the faucet on full blast and drank until I was swishing on the inside. You know what I'm talking about don't you? Swishing? All the while listening to mother scold me for putting my mouth on the faucet, risking the deadly germs to be found there. But, at that point in time I didn't care. I WAS THIRSTY!! You feelin' me here? That's what David is talking about here.
You see in that verse above David is asking God when he can get alone with Him. He's thirsty. He can't wait any longer. "When shall I come and appear before God?" And that is the secret. Until I decide to appear before God. Until I make room for Him in my life. Until I begin to earnestly seek for Him and enquire of Him, He will continue to be someone else's rock, but not MY rock. He will continue to be another's strong tower, not MY strong tower. I have to find Him for myself. Pastor Doug's God just won't do. He must become MY God.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NASB) 1
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
God Bless
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