Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 August 2009 Luke 17:19‏

21 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Luke 17:19     And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
 
Well Friends, it was a beautiful storm; the loud claps of Thor’s hammer, the brilliant flashes of lightning, and the driving, dancing rain, propelled by a potent wind. And irony of ironies, it caught me in a Canadian Tire Store where I had gone to buy a set of windshield wipers for my car. The amusing thing is that I’ve been planning to buy them for a few days now, but kept putting it off until today, when rain was forecasted and I had to go out. And when I did go out, though seeing the dark clouds building and the wind picking up, I ran some other errands around the mall first, persuading myself that there was enough time to buy the wipers afterwards and get home before the storm hit. Hn! However, through bad luck, or the Lord’s subtle sign, methinks the latter, when I finally purchased the wipers and was ready to go home, the full force of the storm greeted me at the store’s exit. Chuh! I wearily exclaimed, but had to chuckle at the situation, for it certainly pointed out the disadvantages of laziness and procrastination. Oh Friends, those are two serious enemies of our cause, which we must constantly keep in check, or better yet, try to conquer, for they lure and lull us into complacency and a false sense of security. If we keep putting off things we know we should do sooner, rather than later, it eventually becomes an ingrained habit that’s not only hard to break, but also impacts negatively on our faith. We end up putting off or taking too many things for granted, and not doing our part when we ought to. Faith, my people, implies action; seeing, doing, believing, while laziness and procrastination promote a sedentary lifestyle. And this is one of the serious failings of our Christian movement today; too many of us put off making a testimony, doing a good deed or something that will help to build Christ’s Church. For whatever reason, too many of us just can’t be bothered. Let’s look at a situation with Jesus. While on His way to Jerusalem, He passes through Samaria and Galilee, ‘And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.’ (Luke 17:12) Remember, in those days, lepers never mingled with the rest of society, they were more like outcasts, so these men knowingly kept their distance. ‘And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that as they went, they were cleansed.’ (Luke 17:13-15) Praise be to Almighty God! Yes Friends, that should have been a joyous time, one of repentance and glorifying God. But instead, what happened? ‘And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.’ (Luke 17:15-16) According to the scholars the fact that the healed man was a Samaritan, would have been a stinging rebuke to the Jews, who often despised the Samaritans. But Jesus asked him, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? They are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.’  (Luke 17:17-18) But what else is new eh Friends? Ungratefulness also runs rampant in our world today. And the sad part is that the other nine lepers were apparently Jews, hence Jesus statement that none but the ‘stranger,’ a Gentile, came back to say thanks and glorify God. His own people, though He miraculously healed them, thereby allowing them to rejoin the mainstream society, couldn’t even be bothered to come back and say thanks. But my people, that low percentage is so staggering as to be almost unbelievable! Only one out of ten had the decency to be grateful and appreciative! But it shouldn’t really surprise us, things being what they are. I’m sure Jesus was rather disappointed at the outcome, but like we need to learn to do, He calmly went along and played with the hand He was dealt. ‘And he said unto him, Arise, Go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.’ There we have it Friends; ten lepers were miraculously healed, but only one had the good manners and took the time to return and say thanks, while the other nine, ungratefully, just went their way rejoicing. Unknown to them though, the ONLY one that returned, the ONLY one that said thanks and gave glory to God, the ‘stranger,’ was also the ONLY one that received salvation. Those nine others don’t know what they missed. Oh my brethren, let’s not be like the foolish, ungrateful nine nuh. That’s how the world would have us behave. Instead, let’s be like that one ‘stranger’ who was grateful for the mercy and compassion Jesus showed him. Everyday of our earthly lives, good things happen which we don’t expect. Let’s give thanks and praise for them. Don’t be lazy, don’t procrastinate and just ungratefully shrug them off. It only takes a moment to say, ‘Thank you Lord!’ And even when things don’t go our way and disappointment fills our soul, let’s stay steadfast, strong and true, and still thank our Heavenly Father for the breath we breathe and the good things we know He has in store for us. That’s what faith is all about my Friends. Much LOVE!…in good times…or in bad…FAITH…is the elixir that will see us through…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 August 2009 Mark 2:11‏

20 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Mark 2:11     I say unto thee, Arise and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
 
Yes Friends, today we have more healing done by Jesus on some who showed extraordinary faith. But before we get to that, I have a quote to share. It talks about the past and is attributed to Laura Palmer. ‘The past should be culled like a box of fresh strawberries, rinsed of debris, sweetened judiciously and served in small portions, not very often.’ And isn’t that the truth mih people! Too many of us still dwell in the past by constantly recalling all the bad things that happened back then. But those things are supposed to stay in the past, since dwelling on them is rather unproductive. It just causes us to take those negative feelings that the bad memories generate and use them as guidelines or expectations for the future. We fill our minds and hearts with evil forebodings; that the same bad things are going to continue happening. But as Ms. Palmer says, we’ve got to be very selective of our bad memories, only recall them occasionally, and then sweeten them up some, so that their negativity doesn’t affect our current lives and keep us on that lurid path of doubt and disappointment. Some old times were also very good, but we can’t dwell on those either, we’ve got to look to the future; hoping, expecting, dreaming and believing that upcoming times will be more productive, eventful and pleasing. And my Friends, the only way to do that is to have faith. Remember God’s mercies are new everyday, which means that anything’s possible on any given day. We need to believe that God will improve our situations if we remain steadfast in His Word. That brings us to today’s example of faith. Jesus is in Capernaum again, and once word gets around that He’s in town, a crowd immediately gathers around the house He’s at, leaving no room anywhere, not even near the door. So Jesus stands up in the doorway and preaches to them. Then four people show up bearing a paralyzed man on a bed. ‘And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.’ (Mark 2:4) Now Friends, that doesn’t only show great faith, but also much ingenuity. Imagine these four people showing up with a paralyzed man on a bed nuh, and seeing the large crowd that they obviously couldn’t get through. Steups! I’m sure they did not just hiss their teeth but also let fly some lovely deleted expletives, especially if they had travelled far for the opportunity to heal their associate. But the good thing is that they did not give up, did not lose hope, just turn around and go away disappointed and disgruntled. No, it’s obvious they put some thought into the problem, desperately trying to figure out a way to get close to Jesus. And what’s interesting too is that when they hit upon the idea to remove the roof, they didn’t consider it too difficult a task either. They were so focused on getting their friend healed, that they thought it well worth doing. I wonder if they even considered the owners of the house, or asked their permission. You just can’t go dismantling someone’s roof because you want to get close to Jesus. But they did. Now how many of us today are willing to go the extra mile for someone else eh? Not very many, cause the predominant consideration is strictly me, myself and I. We don’t put ourselves out very often, even for close friends or family. But my people, that’s not the Christian way. Jesus taught that we should always be willing to go the distance, even for strangers. And Bruh Paul reminds us to treat strangers well, for they may just be angels in disguise. Jesus was so touched by the efforts of those men that the Good Book declares; ‘When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.’ (Mark 2:5) Obviously the sceptics were present. ‘But there were certain scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?’ (Mark 2:6-7) And of course once Jesus perceives their scepticism, He jumps all over them. ‘Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all: insomuch that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, we never saw it on this fashion.’ (Mark 2:8-12) Oh mih Friends, doesn’t it do your heart good to see Jesus put down those doubting, hypocritical, know-all, but really know-nothing fools? And they were so staid in their old fashioned ways, that despite all Jesus said and did, they still refused to believe. I guess that’s why some consider wealth and education enemies of faith, because most of those who believed were poor and uneducated, while the rich, educated, foppish fools didn’t. Anyway my people, that’s a fallacy, for wealth, education and faith actually do go hand in hand. To acquire the first two, one must possess a large portion of the latter, since you’re embarking on projects that take time and effort, and there’s no guarantee how they’ll turn out. However, if you don’t first believe that you’ll accomplish your goals, then you never will. So have faith my people! It’s difficult at times, but that’s just life. Much LOVE!…to succeed at anything…the roots of faith…must be sunk deep down in our souls…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 August 2009 Luke 7:9‏

19 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Luke 7:9     When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
 
Ah my beautiful Friends in Christ, can it be said of us, that we have great faith? I certainly hope so, for it’s an ongoing requirement, a necessity in following Jesus, also in making it successfully through our violent, crime ridden, ungodly world. And it’s not something that’s easily come by either. We have to suffer the pangs of tribulation over and over again, for it’s only through constant repetition, building on each circumstance can we acquire worthwhile faith. Yes my people, faith, sadly, is only built by facing problems and genuinely believing that God will bring us through them with flying colours, although in the natural, we simply can’t see how. They usually say that seeing is believing, but faith contradicts that and instead requires believing without seeing. So whom does Today’s Bit claim believed without seeing? Surprisingly it was a Gentile, a centurion, a Roman army commander. Apparently this centurion had a servant who was sick unto death’s door, but for whom he deeply cared, and on hearing that Jesus was in town, Capernaum, he sent some Jewish elders to plead with Jesus to come and heal his servant. The elders approach was to tell Jesus that the man was worthy of His attention; ‘For he LOVETH our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.’ (Luke 7:5) The scholars thought it fit to note that a centurion would indeed have ample opportunity for financial benefits from his position, but normally wouldn’t care for a lowly servant or be well disposed to the Jews. So this one was certainly different. However, while Jesus is on the way to the man’s house, his friends bring a missive for Jesus. ‘Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers; and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.’ (Luke 7:6-8) Oh Friends to hear that reasoning; military discipline used in association with the delegation of authority that He had from God, must have been like a breath of fresh air to Jesus, especially coming from a supposed unbeliever, and amidst all the doubt, scepticism and hostility from His own people. It was such a pleasant surprise that He couldn’t contain His excitement and turned to those with Him and raved; ‘I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.’ Yes my people, it’s that kind of faith we need to proclaim, exude and exhibit, even though it doesn’t come easily. But early believers, who suffered the certain threat of punishment, even death, did it, so why can’t we, who have it so much easier now eh? Hn! The Spirit just gave me an idea; perhaps it’s the very fact that we have it so easy now that we lack true, substantial faith, since it is only acquired through hardship. But let’s look at another example of monumental faith: a woman, a sinner, whom the scholars claim was probably a prostitute, who entered the house of well-to-do Simon, where Jesus sat at meat. Now, just entering the upper class house was a rather bold act on the woman’s part, for as it is even today, the outwardly prim and proper refuse to associate with those of reputedly loose morals, hn, except in secret. Anyway, this sinner, prostitute, upstart woman entered Simon’s house uninvited, through the front door to boot, carrying a box of alabaster ointment, went to where Jesus sat, ‘And stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.’ (Luke 7:38) Wow mih people! I doubt many of us would have had the parts to do that. To the high and mighty hypocrites that’s rather inappropriate behaviour. And in his heart, Simon considered it such. But the ever attentive Jesus read His heart and told him a parable of a creditor forgiving two debtors, one a large sum, and the other a much smaller amount, then asked him which one would be the most grateful. And Simon gave the right answer; the one who had been forgiven the most. Then Jesus castigated him with that quiet, non-provoking, but   undoubtedly rebuking manner that only He possessed. ‘And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon. Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she LOVED much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same LOVETH little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’ (Luke 7:44-50) Oh Friends, please, let us not be like the well-to-do, but rather like that poor, sinful woman who fearlessly did what her heart instructed. She was already accustomed to suffering the slings and arrows of the society so had built up a resistance to it, one more affront wouldn’t make any difference. Likewise my people, let us not be afraid or fearful and shirk any responsibility the Holy Spirit deems necessary, for it’s on those hardships that our Christian faith is not only constructed, but also elevated. Much LOVE!…FAITH…it’s built…one step at a time…each step higher than the last…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 August 2009 Matthew 9:29‏

18 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 9:29     Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
 
‘Hot town summer in the city. Back of my neck getting dirty and gritty!’ Yes Friends, that’s what’s been happening around here these last few days. The ole fogies will remember that tune from the late sixties, first made popular by John Sebastian and the Lovin’ Spoonful, then covered by people like B. B. King in his signature blues style. It’s so appropriate to summertime that it’s become a yearly staple, shades of a summer anthem. And no doubt it was pretty hot too when Jesus revived Jairus’ daughter, as we saw yesterday. Now, having promised to check out some more faith healing today, let’s do so. And we don’t have to venture far, for after leaving Jairus’ house, Jesus was followed by two blind men, ‘crying and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.’ (Matt.9:27) According to the scholars, that address, ‘son of David,’ was a messianic designation, which seems to indicate that the blind men had indeed put their faith in Jesus, considering Him the Messiah. What follows appears to bear this out, for when Jesus came to the house where He was sojourning, the blind men approached Him. ‘And Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But they when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.’ (Matt.9:28 -31) Oh my people, why can’t we possess faith like those two blind men eh? Is it because we have all our limbs and faculties intact and feel whole, while they were incapacitated and had nothing to lose? It’s surely possible, since when we get caught in a jam, even unbelievers, the first words we utter are ‘Oh God!’ It just goes to show that somewhere buried deep in the human psyche is the knowledge of some power greater than man, but we’re so stubborn, egotistical and rebellious that we refuse to accept it, except in times of trouble. That might be what happened to the Pharisees when Jesus, soon after healing the blind men, healed a dumb man possessed with the devil. ‘And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: And the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel! But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of devils.’ (Matt.9:33-34) Hn! Now why would Jesus cast out devils if He was in cahoots with Beelzebub eh? It seems more likely that He’d be trying to demonize people. But it’s just human behaviour to deny stuff with poor reasoning, when the facts tend to throw our comfortable world off kilter. There’s one thing though that puzzles me with Jesus; that’s how on several occasions after healing people, He tells them not to noise it abroad. Now was that just His version of reverse psychology, or did He really want them to say nothing. That seems sorta difficult, for even if the recipients kept quiet, if you were blind, lame, dumb or possessed of some demon for any length of time, then suddenly you were made whole, it would certainly be noticed, especially in a small, close knit society like those of olden times. But moving on, we find Jesus in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, when a woman of Canaan, the same area, cries unto Him; ‘Have mercy on me Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.’ (Matt.15:22) Now there is another person, apparently poor and uneducated, who considers Jesus the Messiah, while the wealthy, educated elite refuses to accept it. This time though, for whatever reason, Jesus ignores the woman, and the disciples vote to send her away. But Jesus refuses, saying; ‘I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said. It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.’ (Matt.15:24-28) Ah mih Friends, that woman had such a good repartee for Jesus that He had no choice but to do her bidding. However, we don’t really need any wise words to come to Jesus, just a hurting, sincere, genuine heart, filled with the belief that He is whom He says He is, and can do what He says He can. If we’re penitent and humble, like those that got healed, there’s no reason why we too can’t be healed. My people, it all comes down to strong belief, trust and willing surrender, which, when combined, rolled and kneaded, like dough, we call faith. Notice how flour and water once mixed together cannot be separated; it works the same way with belief, trust and surrender; once turned into faith, it can never be undone. I therefore encourage and plead with us Friends, to do all in our power to heighten, to raise the level of our faith, for it’s only with a substantial amount of that spiritual strength and fortitude can we ever successfully journey through this troubled world. Anything less will spell disaster. Much LOVE!…only believe, trust and surrender…have faith…that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life…To be continued.  
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 August 2009 Mark 5:34‏

17 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Mark 5:34     And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
 
Well hello there, all you beautiful believers and followers of Christ! It seems that summer’s finally come to my neck of the woods, and as expected, some are complaining while others are delirious with joy. The ole fella is somewhere in between. Anyway, I read a quote today that I just had to share with you. It’s attributed to one William James, and it says; ‘Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.’ On first reading, I went, ‘Hmmm!’ in a thoughtful manner. But then, on second reading, a flashbulb went off in my brain, somewhat akin to the Greek scholar Archimedes who reputedly discovered the law of displacement in physics after stepping into his bathtub and seeing the water level change in relation to his body. Arch is said to have shouted ‘Eureka!’ jumped out of the tub and ran down the street naked. Sorry to disappoint you Friends, but I didn’t do that, cause it might have frightened the whole neighbourhood, and they’d take me away to the asylum. (smile) However, I realized that the quote was really talking about faith; our Christian faith in particular; ‘Believe…and your belief will help create the fact.’ That’s what our faith is all about, believing without seeing, which brings us to Bruh Paul’s many famous words on the subject. ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight.’ (2 Cor.5:7) ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) ‘Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report…But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’ (Heb.11:1-2,6) Yes my people, that’s what faith is all about, believing without really seeing. Then I was led to look for striking examples of faith. And where better to find them than in the ministry of Jesus, as He travelled around the Holy Land? Now the first example we have is in Today’s Bit. Jesus has just disembarked from a ship, to be greeted by a great crowd, when Jairus, one of the elders in the synagogue suddenly shows up and ‘fell at his feet. And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.’ (Mark 5:22-23) The elder shows much faith there mih Friends, truly believing that Jesus had the power to heal. However, what follows next is even more amazing. While Jesus is on His way to Jairus’ house, He suddenly feels a negative jolt that detracts from His spiritual power, and in the middle of the crowd He turns around and asks, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ (Mark 5:30) The disciples look at Jesus as though He’s lost it. In such a crowd, you’re asking who touched you? But Jesus knows what He’s felt and keeps looking around for the culprit. ‘But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.’ (Mark 5:33) And the truth was she’d had a bleeding problem for a dozen years, had been to many doctors, all to no avail, her problem had gotten worse, and now she was bankrupt. Please pay attention all you U.S readers, the same thing can happen to you without some sort of affordable Health Care. However, when she hears that Jesus is in town, she gets excited, her spirits lift and she hustles down to see Him. She’s not deterred by the crowd and valiantly wades through it just to get one touch of his garments. Wow! ‘For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague..’ (Mark 5:28-29) Oh wonder of wonders my people! And how did Jesus’ react to her tale? ‘He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague.’ (Mark 5:34) Oh Friends, isn’t our Saviour wonderful! But then, as the Master Dramatist had penned the script, some of Jairus’ household came and told him to stop bothering Jesus because his daughter was dead. Jesus though told Jairus; ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ (Mark 5:36) Then He took Peter, James and John and went to the elder’s house, where there was already great wailing and mourning. But Jesus calmly asked, ‘why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.’ (Mark 5:39-40) They were obviously faithless, so Jesus ran them out of the house, then took the mother and father and went to where the girl lay, took her by the hand and said, ‘Talitha cumi; which is being interpreted, Damsel, (I say unto thee) arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked, for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with great astonishment.’ (Mark 5:41-42) Praise the Holy Name of Jesus! But my Friends, such is the power of the heart, the mind and spirit, if only we believe. In light of all that, as genuine followers of Christ, let’s show the world our true colours by doing as He commanded nuh; let’s pluck up our courage and ‘Be not afraid, only believe.’ Much LOVE my people!….strong belief…plus eternal hope…equals genuine faith… To be continued.
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 August 2009 Galatians 5:1‏

16 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Galatians 5:1     Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
 
Oh mih beautiful Friends in Christ, that’s most worthy advice from Bruh Paul! And this particular warning has to do with the differences of opinion on the testy, controversial subject of circumcision. This was a problem that raged between the older Jewish believers and some of the younger brethren in the early days of the Church. A hornet’s nest was stirred up on one occasion, after Bruh Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their missionary journeys, ‘And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.’ (Acts 15:1) Obviously Bruh Paul and his followers vociferously objected to this, for the teaching of upholding the Mosaic Law to receive salvation was annulled by Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. Furthermore, Jesus declared that salvation could only be achieved through the free grace of God and not of any works. And the disciples who had gone amongst the Gentiles, preaching the gospel and converting them to the faith, had not insisted on circumcision as a condition for receiving salvation. So, knowing Bruh Paul’s fiery nature, you can imagine the brouhaha that erupted. The Good Book says, ‘When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. (Acts 15:2) This they did, and were heartily welcomed by all, especially the good news of many Gentiles being converted. But there’s always a fly in the ointment, one who disagrees and stirs it up. ‘But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. And the apostles and the elders came together for to consider this matter. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles (the centurion Cornelius and his people) by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.’ (Acts 15:5-11) And there we have it Friends, the most definitive speech ever given by the rock on which Christ built His Church. Please understand that just like back then, there are busy bodies who try to pervert the faith, either by simple misunderstanding or purposeful deceit. Circumcision was one such tool then, even though Christ made it quite clear that salvation was only attainable through belief in Him, and it was the free grace of God, not dependent on human works. This Peter proved by witnessing to Cornelius and his group and seeing them receive the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10) That’s why Bruh Paul always emphasized living by faith and not the law that depended on works, consequently warning the Galatians to ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ It’s interesting to note that Peter used the same term ‘yoke’ when referring to the Mosaic Law that neither the disciples nor their forefathers could bear. In other words my people, Jesus has set us free, let’s not put any unnecessary and/or false burdens on ourselves that will only make life harder and more complicated than it is already. ‘Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do (obligated to keep) the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by LOVE.’ (Gal.5:2-6) Ah my Friends, our faith, though a wonderful way to live this earthly life, can bring lots of frustration and dissatisfaction, especially if we listen to the wrong people. In the long run though, the Bible, the Word of the Lord, is the ultimate authority, and we must each study it diligently to find the right and true answers. And then, as Bruh Paul advised the Philippians, re rejoicing in the Lord; ‘Therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.’ (Phil.4:1) My Friends, I’m asking us to do the same thing today; stand fast in the Lord, so that in due course we shall reap the salvation He so faithfully promised. Much LOVE!…Jesus is the one and only answer…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 August 2009 1 John 5:4‏

15 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

1 John 5:4     For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
 
Oh my blessed Friends in Christ Jesus, truer words were never spoken! ‘For whatsoever (whoever) is born of God overcometh the world.’ What a powerful statement too! Please write that deep in your hearts and souls. It’s a truth that will stand us in very good stead, one that we desperately need to be assured of and believe when we face Lucifer and his evil cohorts. And why is that? Jesus explains it. ‘These things have I spoken unto you, that ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Yes my people, as we said recently, the only way to find peace in this war-faring world is through Jesus. ‘For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.’ (Eph.2:14) That’s why it’s so important to be connected to Jesus my Friends, for as He emphatically spelled out to Thomas: ‘I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) As we can see Friends, Jesus is everything to us. He gives us peace because He has broken down the walls of enmity between Jews and Gentiles. And though we’ll have tribulation in this world, He quiets our fear by saying not to worry; in fact, ‘be of good cheer,’ because He’s already overcome the world and will give His followers the strength, wisdom and guidance to do the same. Bruh Paul echoes those very sentiments: ‘Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But the evil men and seducers, (imposters) shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.’ (2 Tim.3:12-13) But he’s already laid down the antidote for that to the Romans, in one of his powerful monologues. ‘Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the LOVE of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord.’ (Rom. 8:37-39) And all God’s people said, ‘Amen!’ Yes my brethren, once we’ve come under that protective umbrella of God’s LOVE, nothing, no nothing whatsoever can separate us from it. The end result being my people; ‘and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’ Jesus overcame the world through His sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension, leaving us a vehicle, His Church, His way of life, to solidify that victory in this evil, greedy, violence prone world. All who repent and believe on His name and obey His rules are assured victory through salvation and eternal life. John attests to that in two passages in this epistle. The first says; ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: (the spirit of the antichrist) because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4) Yes my Friends, that’s another veritable truth we need to learn and securely hold on to; He that’s in us, the Spirit of Jesus, is assuredly stronger than the devil that’s in the cruel, evil world. And the next passage is; ‘I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.’ (1 John 2:13-14) Sing ‘Hallelujah!’ my people. For through the LOVE of God and the sacrifice of Christ’s life, we’re enabled to pursue and establish victory over death and damnation. So my Friends, it’s obvious that the only way to overcome this wicked, sinful, evil, godless world, is to be born of God, of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, through repentance and baptism, which leads to the victory of salvation and everlasting life. And it’s only fitting that we close with a strong warning from John. ‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world, the LOVE of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:15-17) I can’t say it any better my Friends. I can only encourage us to trust in Jesus, to surrender our lives to Him, and walk steadfastly in His ways, cause that is the only way to pursue certain victory over the world and its wickedness. Much LOVE!…oh, to walk faithfully with Jesus…is my heart’s greatest desire…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 August 2009 Proverbs 30:5‏

14 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 30:5      Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
 
Ah my Friends, it’s supposed to be another day with some semblance of summer weather. But can we ever really believe or sincerely trust the weather forecasters? Not on your life! That’s because their words are based on past experience, hypotheses and man’s outlook. We can accept them, as basic guidelines, but never as whole, life enabling truth, for they are so often completely wrong. Weather forecasting is what’s called an inexact science. Now Friends, that’s the difference between man’s word and God’s. God’s word is exact! And there are numerous examples to prove it. Consequently, we can rely on, stake our very life on the word of God without fear of failure or of being wrong because every word He’s ever spoken is true and of good report. As Agur, the writer of Proverbs 30 declares: ‘Every word of God is pure.’ Yes mih people; it’s been tried, tested and found to be pure and true, absolutely without blemish. There’s nothing else in this world that warrants such trust and faith like the word of our God! Bruh David was so sure of it, that he described it thus: ‘The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.’ (Ps.12:16) Wow! Yes my people, it’s so tried, tested and true, that Bruh David likens it to silver that’s been purified seven times. Hn! It’s highly unlikely you can purify silver any more than that, else you might end up with nothing. But that’s how sure Bruh David was of the Lord’s truth. And he didn’t stop there, but later went on to proclaim: ‘The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening to the eyes.’ (Ps.19:8) Oh mih breddren, I particularly like those two descriptions of the Lord’s word; ‘rejoicing the heart,’ and ‘enlightening the eyes.’ It does speak so effectively to its physically uplifting and encouraging aspects, as well as the educational, instructive, illuminating awareness it brings to the believer. That’s why Bruh David could further say; ‘Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful…Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant LOVETH it.’ (Ps.119:138 -140) Oh my people, can we make that supreme declaration; that we LOVE the word of the Lord? I certainly hope so, else we’re not true believers. It’s because of Bruh David’s profound LOVE and enjoyment of anything to do with the Lord that our God called him a man after His own heart. His whole life revolved around the Lord, it began and ended with him. So should ours. Even when Bruh David committed atrocious acts, he was always quick to come to repentance. That’s how we need to be too my Friends, because not only is God’s word pure and true, ‘he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.’ And all God’s people sang; ‘Hallelujah! Amen!’ Yes, because He’s not only a rock for us to lean and build on, but also protects us from the evil darts of the wicked who try to tear us away from Him. And this verse puts it all in perspective. ‘As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler (shield) to all those that trust in him.’ (Ps.18:30) Nobody knows that better than Bruh David, for those are some of the words he sang when the Lord finally delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, in particular, his once upon a time mentor, Saul. Augur must surely have read those words and also found them to be true in his particular circumstance. And as sincere believers, no doubt many of us can testify to the same principles of truth, protection and deliverance to be found in God’s word. I certainly can testify to it; more so now, when I look back at some of the negative situations that I’ve been in, and made it through, not only alive, but unscathed and not knowing why or how I was that lucky. But Friends, now I know that it was the Lord testing and protecting me, showing me His true blue colours, preparing me for this stage of my life. Oh people, I can’t praise and uplift the Lord’s name better than the Psalmists, so I’ll just let them tell us of His ‘wonderfulness.'(smile) In Psalm 115, titled, ‘Trust in God, not in idols,’ the strong recommendation is made. ‘O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. The Lord hath been mindful of us…He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great.’ (Ps.115:9-13) And we can’t forget those spirited verses the Sons of Korah sang for us yesterday. ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’  (Ps.84:11-12) Yes my people, without a doubt, the Lord is great and greatly to be revered. So let’s boost our enthusiasm and passion for Him and His Word, and go out into the great beyond, or our own backyards, and tell the many lost souls out there of His great LOVE for all mankind. Beelzebub is on a rampage and the Lord’s asking for increased action, action to match our penchant for much talk. Friends, the time is now for us to show what we’re really made of, how much we really LOVE and adore Jesus. It’s time for us to testify and teach others of the salvation and eternal life He died for us to have. As believers, it’s our bounden duty; so let’s get to it without further ado nuh. (smile) Much LOVE mih people!…we have…too much talk…and not enough walk…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 August 2009 Job 22:21-22‏

13 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Job 22:21-22     Acquaint now thyself with him; and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
 
Oh mih dearest Friends, aren’t those beautiful sentiments? But before we get into them, I want to…well I’m actually getting into them, but through song. The other morning, after writing the Bit, I was listening to some rocking reggae riddims on the t.v, and three songs struck me as being quite relevant to our faith. I don’t know who sang them all, or have all the words, but what I have is sufficient for me to paint a bright picture of how our faith should effectively operate. And the first song, a skanking reggae, says: ‘One God Alone!’ The living truth my Friends! And the chorus enlightens: ‘One God Alone; Me nuh take that light. One God Alone; Make the devil take flight. One God Alone; Me nuh take Him for joke. One God Alone; the same God that guides my heart.’ Those might not be the exact words mih Friends, but they’re certainly the meaning the song conveys. And when we add Burning Spear’s scintillating music and his gruff voice: ‘Glory be to Jah. We are moving in the right direction. We are saying all the truthful things. One Creation!’ It just fits like a hand and glove! And how we going to do all that mih breddren? Of course with a nice lover’s rock tune; ‘Oh LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ For sure mih people; ‘LOVE’S gonna lead the way!’ Oh mih Friends, do you feel the fire, the enthusiasm, the can’t wait feeling to get out there and testify on God’s behalf?  I hope so, cause the ole fella surely feels that way. The music just does that for him. (smile) There’s One God mih people, whom we must take seriously; the only worthwhile adversary of evildoers, whom we must praise and glorify while doing His oh so important work that’s anointed in LOVE! Selah! And though Job’s buddy, Eliphaz was wrongly accusing him of much sin against our One God, he had the right idea: ‘Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace.’ That’s gospel mih people! To have peace and thrive in this crazy, violent, greedy, godless world, one must be securely connected to the Most High God Jehovah. That dynamic prophet Isaiah declared it centuries ago. ‘Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.’ (Isa.27:5-6) And Bruh David said: ‘The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps.34:10) While the Sons of Korah sang: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and a shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12)Oh mih Friends, yuh know how many people suffering in this mish mash world today, who lack peace and good things happening in their lives? It’s in the billions! Why? Because they’re not acquainted with the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And until they do, they’ll never have continuous peace or goodness. And it’s our job to get out there and acquaint them with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, that most wonderful person who died for us all, including those who don’t know Him. And they won’t get that good news until we communicate it to them, and say with heartfelt sincerity; ‘Receive, I pray thee, the law (instruction) from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.’ Ah my people, acquainting ourselves with God is fine, but that’s only the introductory lesson. To really have lifelong peace, we need to hear His Word, and then write it diligently in our very beings. We see this with Job, who, even after his horrendous problems, could still say with faith and confidence: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.’ (Job 23:10-12) Oh Friends, that’s how we’ve got to see and proclaim our eternal and everlasting God, even in the midst of the most tragic circumstances, for He sees all and knows all, and will judge us by the rightness of our hearts, regardless of how our outward actions might appear. That was the most patient of men.  Now hear the wisest one; Solomon. ‘For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler (shield) to them that walk uprightly.’ (Prov.2:6-7) Now listen to the man after God’s own heart, Bruh David, and you’ll understand why the Lord referred to him thus. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes…I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches…I will delight myself in thy statutes. I will not forget thy word.’ (Ps.119:11-12,14,16) Yes my people, to have everlasting peace and success, we must first acquaint ourselves with the One Mighty God, Jehovah, then delve into His Word, like one hungry for food, write His rules in our innermost parts, then keep them to the best of our ability. We’ll always make mistakes; that’s the nature of the beast, but our God knows that and has made provision for it through repentance, forgiveness and mercy. So my Friends in Christ, let’s all renew our acquaintance with Him today nuh. Let’s brush up on our knowledge of His law, then go out into the crazy world and do what needs to be done; spread His Holy Word. It’s the calling of our Faith. Much LOVE!…One God Alone…Glorify Him…let LOVE lead the way…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 August 2009 Deuteronomy 28:47‏

12 Aug 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Deuteronomy 28:47     Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.
 
Oh my Friends, as I said yesterday, I simply can’t fathom why we would ever want to turn away from the merciful, ever LOVING, forgiving God we’re called to worship and obey. And it’s not like His demands are that onerous or prevent us from having a highly entertaining and interesting life. But unfortunately it’s happened throughout the ages, and is still happening in these supposed enlightened times. Today’s Bit comes from a chapter where Moses lays out the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience to the Israelites, as they journeyed towards the Promised Land. As regards Obedience: ‘the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessing shall come on thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God: The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. And all the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of thee. And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day to observe and to do them.’ (Deut.28:1-13) Oh my people, there it is in black and white, as clear as possible, the many blessings our God promised if we only obey His statutes. I tried to paraphrase it, but the good life promises were so plentiful that I still wrote more than expected. Now turning to the consequences of disobedience…oh my brethren, they are simply awful; the exact opposite of the blessings of obedience, and then some. Just reading the curses the Lord promises to unleash on us for disobedience strikes a cold fear in my heart. I certainly would not like to experience them. They are so numerous that I don’t know where to begin or what to include. Ah mih people, if we disobey, then ‘all these curses shall come upon thee and overtake thee: The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me: pestilence, consumption, fever, the sword, a heaven of brass, an earth of iron, rain like powder and dust; smitten before thine enemies, go out one way, flee seven ways, be troublesome in all the earth, thy carcase shall be meat unto all the fowls of the air, and beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray (frighten) them away; the botch (boils) of Egypt, the emerods, (tumours) madness, blindness, astonishment of heart, thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled, (plundered) evermore, and no man shall save thee.’ (Deut.28:15-29) Oh mih people, doesn’t that sound familiar? Aren’t many of those things happening right now? And doesn’t it leave you cold and fearful? And that’s just the half of it. You can read the rest for yourself. It runs from verse 15 to 68, while the blessings go from 1 to 14. That means the curses take up 53 verses, while the blessing only use 14. So the curses are almost four times more deadly and dangerous than the blessings. And why is all that coming against us? ‘Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things.’ Again I ask, why is that? Because we’re foolish fools, taken up, besotted with the false wisdom of our accomplishments, driven by our uncontrolled greed and egotism. Way back in Chapter 12, Moses warned the Israelites: ‘Ye shall not do after all these things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.’ (Deut.12:8) And did they listen? For a while. ‘But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God, which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.’ (Deut.32:15) Oh my people, the Israelites obeyed until they became prosperous, then they promptly forsook the Lord, their Creator, held him of little account, the same one who blessed them with prosperity. It’s the same mistake we’ve made thousands of years later mih Friends: forsaking the Lord in our prosperity, instead of unleashing untold thanks and praise, serving Him with joyfulness and gladness of hearts, and being everlastingly grateful for the abundance He’s bestowed on us. But being the stupid, egotistic, illogical animals we are, we chose that time to turn away, to belittle and remove Him from our lives, possibly thinking that that prosperity was all our doing. But Friends, I’m here to sadly inform us that it’s not. Not one iota of prosperity comes directly from us, but indirectly through the Most High God Jehovah. Until we learn that, also to obey His Word and give thanks with joyfulness in prosperous times, we’ll always be cursed with unnecessary ‘sufferation,’ like we are right now. And just look at the spate of natural disasters, this weekend alone in Asia; torrential rain, monsoons, floods, earthquakes and landslides. Even up here, midway through August and we haven’t yet had a real hot summer’s day, while other places not accustomed to hot days are roasting in the sweltering, rainless heat. That’s the promised ‘heaven of brass and earth of iron.’  Oh my people let’s wake up and realize what’s happening nuh. We’re killing our planet and ourselves with our unhealthy manufacturing activities and lifestyles, and sadly compounding it through the rabid sinfulness and wickedness that currently holds sway in our society. The Lord doesn’t even have to do much to us in the way of punishment, for we are our worse enemy. We contrive such wickedness against each other, that it must surely make Him shake His head in sad wonder. Oh Friends, let’s wake up and smell the roses before it’s too late nuh! Roses, though beautiful, are surrounded by thorns for a God-given purpose…and so are we. Let’s try to fulfill it nuh. Much LOVE!…Rejoice in the Lord always…and again I say…Rejoice… (Phil.4:4)

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