2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
To all my beautiful Friends in Christ, let me say a hearty, ‘Mornin’ Neighbuh Mornin’!’ in Rapso stylee. (smile) Yes Friends, it’s shaping up to be another beautiful day of bright sunshine and cool breezes; in effect a situation akin to paradise, and I certainly hope that each of us will go out into our crazy, evil world, dressed in our Christian armour, with the Word ever ready on our lips, and put our best foot forward in the Lord’s name. Amen! As Bruh Paul told the Thessalonians; ‘Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.’ (2 Thess.3:1) Oh my people, that is something we should all be praying for today; that the Word should run free all over the universe. It should have free rein wherever it is invoked; that all those who hear it shall be uplifted emotionally and spiritually, that they will accept the Lord, rejoice in His goodness and mercy, thereby glorifying Him. Why? ‘That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.’ (2 Thess.3:2) Yes Friends, it’s essential that the servants of Christ be protected from the ravages of wicked and unreasonable people, of which there are far too many in our world. It just means that not everybody is as LOVING, kind hearted, humble, forgiving, merciful and faithful like us who believe in Jesus. Hn! I plead poetic licence! For ‘Some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.’ (Acts 28:24) And my brethren it’s such a great honour and wonderful privilege to be numbered amongst those who believed. Why? Because the omnipotent Deity in whom we believe, ‘the Lord, is faithful.’ Whatever He says is gospel Friends. Whatever He promises to do, bet yuh bottom dollar He’s going to do it! Bruh Paul is trying to show the confused Thessalonians the great difference between the promises of men and their unfaithfulness, as opposed to that of our God. According to the scholars it’s one of his favourite topics. ‘God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Cor.1:9) And in Chap.10, he again claims; ‘but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor.10:13) Here’s another example of His endorsing God’s faithfulness. ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.’ (1 Thess.5:24) And one more: ‘If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim.2:13) Yuh see that Friends? We have a choice to be or not be faithful, but our God has none because His very nature is created in faithfulness, and He cannot go against it. Oh my people, this concern about God’s faithfulness is very important to us believers since that is the very essence of our faith. Note that our belief system is called ‘faith.’ That entails trust, assurance, reliance, credence, certainty, credibility, as well as honesty and truth. And if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is asking us to place our faith, our trust, our belief, and our lives in His hands, then we need to be able to do that without any worry or doubt. And that’s what His Word does; shows us His faithfulness; from the day He unveiled His marvellous creation, Planet Earth and all therein, to the present time, even unto eternity. Now we need to believe that with absolute certainty, like Jesus did in His time on earth, if we’re really going to be a force of good in His Name. Friends, forgive me if I ramble, but that’s when the Spirit is really working in me. (smile) And as Bruh Paul points out in Today’s Bit, the Lord shows His faithfulness in two promises: ‘who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.’ Wow! What lofty promises! But the problem here Friends is not with God being able to bring them to pass, but with our believing that He can and will. Since we walk by faith (there’s that word ‘faith’ again) and not by sight, they’re useless to us if we don’t believe what we can’t see. That’s the kind of trust the Lord’s trying to build in us. Now if we believe, have faith and trust in Him, then in His time, He will, ‘perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us,’ and also keep us from falling into the hands of the evil enemy. Jesus expressed that exact desire to His Father. ‘I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.’ (John 17:15) And if Jesus prayed that, because He’s always been a good and faithful Son, it’s obvious His Father, being of the same nature, would hear His earnest plea and acquiesce to His desire. Oh Friends, I certainly hope that I have not further muddied the already muddy waters. (smile) Instead, with the Spirit’s guidance, I hope I’ve successfully driven home to us, the serious impact those three words, ‘faith, faithful and faithfulness,’ have on our lives as believers. It’s of the utmost importance that we recognize their foundation and the principle behind them, for without them, we cannot come to, or serve Jehovah God. That also involves waiting patiently on Him, and being of good courage. I know it’s not an easy exercise my people, but it’s the best gig in town and the rewards are magnificent. Much LOVE!…faith is the act of being faithful…which ultimately…brings rewards of faithfulness…
To all my beautiful Friends in Christ, let me say a hearty, ‘Mornin’ Neighbuh Mornin’!’ in Rapso stylee. (smile) Yes Friends, it’s shaping up to be another beautiful day of bright sunshine and cool breezes; in effect a situation akin to paradise, and I certainly hope that each of us will go out into our crazy, evil world, dressed in our Christian armour, with the Word ever ready on our lips, and put our best foot forward in the Lord’s name. Amen! As Bruh Paul told the Thessalonians; ‘Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.’ (2 Thess.3:1) Oh my people, that is something we should all be praying for today; that the Word should run free all over the universe. It should have free rein wherever it is invoked; that all those who hear it shall be uplifted emotionally and spiritually, that they will accept the Lord, rejoice in His goodness and mercy, thereby glorifying Him. Why? ‘That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.’ (2 Thess.3:2) Yes Friends, it’s essential that the servants of Christ be protected from the ravages of wicked and unreasonable people, of which there are far too many in our world. It just means that not everybody is as LOVING, kind hearted, humble, forgiving, merciful and faithful like us who believe in Jesus. Hn! I plead poetic licence! For ‘Some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.’ (Acts 28:24) And my brethren it’s such a great honour and wonderful privilege to be numbered amongst those who believed. Why? Because the omnipotent Deity in whom we believe, ‘the Lord, is faithful.’ Whatever He says is gospel Friends. Whatever He promises to do, bet yuh bottom dollar He’s going to do it! Bruh Paul is trying to show the confused Thessalonians the great difference between the promises of men and their unfaithfulness, as opposed to that of our God. According to the scholars it’s one of his favourite topics. ‘God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (1 Cor.1:9) And in Chap.10, he again claims; ‘but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.’ (1 Cor.10:13) Here’s another example of His endorsing God’s faithfulness. ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.’ (1 Thess.5:24) And one more: ‘If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim.2:13) Yuh see that Friends? We have a choice to be or not be faithful, but our God has none because His very nature is created in faithfulness, and He cannot go against it. Oh my people, this concern about God’s faithfulness is very important to us believers since that is the very essence of our faith. Note that our belief system is called ‘faith.’ That entails trust, assurance, reliance, credence, certainty, credibility, as well as honesty and truth. And if our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is asking us to place our faith, our trust, our belief, and our lives in His hands, then we need to be able to do that without any worry or doubt. And that’s what His Word does; shows us His faithfulness; from the day He unveiled His marvellous creation, Planet Earth and all therein, to the present time, even unto eternity. Now we need to believe that with absolute certainty, like Jesus did in His time on earth, if we’re really going to be a force of good in His Name. Friends, forgive me if I ramble, but that’s when the Spirit is really working in me. (smile) And as Bruh Paul points out in Today’s Bit, the Lord shows His faithfulness in two promises: ‘who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.’ Wow! What lofty promises! But the problem here Friends is not with God being able to bring them to pass, but with our believing that He can and will. Since we walk by faith (there’s that word ‘faith’ again) and not by sight, they’re useless to us if we don’t believe what we can’t see. That’s the kind of trust the Lord’s trying to build in us. Now if we believe, have faith and trust in Him, then in His time, He will, ‘perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us,’ and also keep us from falling into the hands of the evil enemy. Jesus expressed that exact desire to His Father. ‘I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.’ (John 17:15) And if Jesus prayed that, because He’s always been a good and faithful Son, it’s obvious His Father, being of the same nature, would hear His earnest plea and acquiesce to His desire. Oh Friends, I certainly hope that I have not further muddied the already muddy waters. (smile) Instead, with the Spirit’s guidance, I hope I’ve successfully driven home to us, the serious impact those three words, ‘faith, faithful and faithfulness,’ have on our lives as believers. It’s of the utmost importance that we recognize their foundation and the principle behind them, for without them, we cannot come to, or serve Jehovah God. That also involves waiting patiently on Him, and being of good courage. I know it’s not an easy exercise my people, but it’s the best gig in town and the rewards are magnificent. Much LOVE!…faith is the act of being faithful…which ultimately…brings rewards of faithfulness…
SCRIP-BITS 