Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 October 2009 Isaiah 54:5‏

21 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Isaiah 54:5     For thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
 
Oh Friends, this is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it nuh, especially since we don’t know how many more we shall see. So let’s make full use of this one today, and every today that we awaken to, for remember, tomorrow is promised, but it never comes, it’s always today that shows up. And having heard my words of wisdom, (smile) let’s hear some of Isaiah’s. ‘Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.’ (Isa.54:1) In this chapter that talks about the Lord’s everlasting LOVE for Israel, Isaiah depicts the Gentiles as a barren, desolate woman who never suffered birth pangs as the Israelites, ‘the married wife’ did. The Gentiles are also estranged from God, but through the atoning work of the Lord, in the form of His Son Jesus, will nonetheless be uplifted; be offered salvation. And though there are more Gentiles than Jews, through the mighty power of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they will procreate and  inhabit the desolate cities of the Gentiles. (Isa.54:2-3) Though the sins of Israel be numerous, and their disobedience overwhelming, he steadfastly maintains: ‘Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded (disgraced); for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood anymore.’ (Isa.54:4) Now hear Jeremiah’s version. ‘Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors (rulers, shepherds) according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.’ (Jer.3:14-15) Meanwhile Hosea puts it thus: ‘And I will betroth me unto thee for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness and in judgement (justice), and in LOVING-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord.’ (Hos.2:19-20) What a most wonderful, LOVING, kind hearted and forgiving God, my people! Now please remember, that as children of Abraham and followers of Jesus, all these promises also apply to us today. That means the same LOVE the Lord held out to Israel, way back then, He still extends to us today my people, cause He never changes, He’s the same yesterday, today and forever more. And the promises in these next two verses certainly bring me much pleasure and rejoicing. ‘For a small moment have I forsaken thee: but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.’ (Isa.54:7-8) Oh Friends, how magnanimous and merciful is the God we worship! There is none other like Him. Sometimes His goodness and generosity just boggles my mind. Although we sin and disobey, yet will He show us mercy and forgiveness. ‘For thy maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.’ Wow! Friends, our God is all those things: Thy Maker, thine husband, the Lord of hosts, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah sure laid it on thick, but I guess he had to if he wanted to get the attention of his stubborn, stiff-necked people, like we still are today. But it’s all true. The Lord is our Maker and Creator. And in Isaiah’s imagery of the ‘barren, desolate woman,’ as opposed to the ‘married wife,’ Israel is the Lord’s chosen, and therefore her husband. He is definitely the Lord of hosts; Lord of everything and everyone on the earth and in the heavens, which He created. But the next title though is my favourite; ‘Thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.’ Why? Because if we were to choose the one, most important word in man’s entire history, it would undoubtedly be the word ‘redeem.’ Why, you again ask? Oh Friends, listen to how the dictionary defines ‘redeem’ nuh! ‘To buy back, recover by expenditure of effort, or by stipulated payment, perform, purchase the freedom of another, save by ransom. Save, rescue, reclaim; (of God or Christ) deliver from sin and damnation. Make amends for, compensate, counterbalance.’ Oh mih people, that’s our whole sinful life passing before our very eyes, then having the Lord, through His selfless Son Jesus, pay for, save, rescue, reclaim, purchase our freedom, save by ransom with His innocent life; make amends for us and our sins with His Father. Oh mih breddren, knowing all of this, how can we not LOVE the Lord, our Redeemer eh? It’s unthinkable, unfathomable! He’s done, doing and will do so much for us that unless we have a heart of stone, no, change that to no heart at all, we’ll all be very grateful and consequently obedient, for even a heart of stone would be softened, crushed by such LOVE, mercy and forgiveness. Oh people, the size of our God’s heart is immense, in fact immeasurable, cannot be measured. Who else would be so magnanimous as to bring His specially chosen, but sinful, disobedient people, plus the many others who never knew Him at all, under one, big shelter of LOVE? Only our God; the Most High God Jehovah. And as Isaiah rightly declares: ‘The God of the whole earth shall he be called.’ And all God’s people sang in unison: ‘Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name, for He is most worthy to be praised!’ Zechariah agrees too: ‘And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.’ (Zec.14:9) Not to be outdone, Bruh Paul weighs in with his usual fiery self, straight to the point: ‘Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes of the Gentiles also. (Rom.3:29) Yes Friends, there is but One, True God: our God; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of all and sundry, who made everything, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. Selah. Now people, we all know of His wondrous LOVE for and considerable kindness to us; the undeserved forgiveness and mercy He’s showered upon us; the mighty redemption He wrought so we could be made right with Him, so why can’t we show some gratitude and LOVE in response to all of that eh? Oh friends, it’s a two way street: The Lord’s done His part, kept His promise, now it’s time for us to do ours. Please, let’s LOVE Him, show our thankfulness and gratitude by Spreading His Word, and LIVING our Lives in the Faith inspired by His Word. Much LOVE!…it takes two to tango…one hand to wash another…and two to clap…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 October 2009 Matthew 5:13‏

20 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 5:13     Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
 
Oh Friends, another beautiful day is in the offing, so let’s be up and about the Lord’s business nuh! There’s no time to waste for the enemy is already up and at them. Remember the early bird catches the worm. (smile) Now  earlier on I read a quote that immediately stirred up my spirit, bringing a particular verse of scripture to mind. While sensing that both quote and verse would be appropriate for Today’s Bit, I first had to check to ensure we had not already used Jesus’ famed dissertation on salt. Luckily we had not, hence it’s use today. And the quote is: ‘There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.’ That was Kahlil Gibran’s astute observation, which we all know is true. From since the dawning of time, salt has been an important part of man’s life, and still is, although in this great, modern technological era they’re telling us that salt causes High Blood Pressure, or to use the fancy medical term; Hypertension. But I say ‘chupidness’ yes! Granted, like too much of anything is bad for you, so is too much salt. And I should know because it runs in my family, and the medics have had me on several different medications for untold years now, but I refuse to eat salt less food, cause eating should be a joy in itself, bring a certain amount of sensual satisfaction to one’s soul. I’m sorry, but bland, salt less food doesn’t bring any joy or sensual satisfaction whatsoever to my ole, miserable soul. Now I might be crazy, but not quite stupid, so I don’t douse my food with salt, and sometimes when I eat out, I actually complain about the saltiness of the food. But then too, in our greedy, money hungry, hypocritical society, they tell us not to eat salt, but what do they load most of the food we buy today with? Salt! It’s the number one preservative and flavour additive. So on one hand they say don’t eat much salt, but then on the other, feed us an excessively salty diet. Who knows, possibly because on the packaging they call it sodium rather than salt, it’s okay to eat lots of that? (smile) But then they turn around and make more money selling you drugs to combat the problem caused by the salt, the same drugs that will cause other side effects, many of which they hide from us, or simply are not aware of since most of the drugs are not properly tested, just rushed to market to participate in the enormous profits available. And sadly, a lot of this is done with the cooperation of our supposed watchdog agencies. Ah Friends, it’s a real Jekyll and Hyde world we live in yes! Anyway, enough of my ranting, though it’s all true. (smile) Let’s see what Jesus had to say about salt. ‘Ye are the salt of the earth:’ Wow! What a rather profound statement Friends. It means that we born-again believers are the choicest group of mankind, chosen to do great and wonderful things in Jesus’ name. ‘But the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits (take action) (Dan.11:32) Now how does all of that relate to salt? Because salt is possibly the most useful, naturally found compound on God’s good earth. Its uses include flavouring food, preserving food, which our forefathers used before ice and modern refrigerants were available. Salt is also used to melt coldness, as well as to preserve it. The ole timers will remember salting ice to keep it from melting too quickly, especially churning ice-cream. And of extreme importance, possibly not so much today, with all the new fangled medicines, salt is a most wonderful healer of wounds. I would dare to say the best. It brings back memories of the days when I got all sorts of cuts and bruises that were unfortunately washed with Epsom salt. But after the initial terrible burning, the wounds would heal in a jiffy. On a point of interest, Epsom salt was also excellent as an inside cleanser too, much preferable to the dreadful tasting castor oil. (smile) But Friends, look at how all them ole time things gone outa fashion nuh. Remember when after every school vacation you had to get a wash out, to get rid of all the junk you ate during the holidays. Hn! And yuh know, although we never liked the procedure, it did work well, for you never had as many sickly, wimpy children as we do today. Oh the good ole days eh! A little bit more work, but certainly better educational and social value. Epsom salt was the only thing my mother claimed that healed her wounds. And Friends it doesn’t need to be Epsom salt, any ole type of salt will do. And as Kahlil noted, salt is in both our tears and the sea. Why? Because after we have a good cry, shed plenty of salt, it makes us feel better. And people, the best therapeutic remedy in the world is the salty seawater! It cures everything; aches, pains, strains, colds and wounds. Oh how mih aching bones crying out for some now, especially with the cold winter weather on the way! Steups! Never thought I’d ever miss the sea this much nuh, but I guess that’s life! So there we have it, the many and varied good uses of salt. That’s why Jesus alluded to us as ‘the salt of the earth.’ A good Christian soldier must be ready, willing and able to help meet the many needs of the world, just like salt does. However mih people, please pay particular attention to the last part of Jesus’ statement. Though He states that we are the salt of the earth, He also qualifies it. ‘But if the salt has lost its savour (flavour), wherewith shall it be salted?’ Yes Friends, if the salt has lost its flavour, then how can it add flavour to anything else eh? Obviously it can’t. Jesus is here referring to His followers losing their flavour; their Christian ethic, enthusiasm, joy, reason to be, falling by the wayside, falling prey to the enemy’s evil machinations. Oh mih breddren, the Lord forbid that ever happens to us, for then we can’t fulfill our calling; go out and stir up the unbeliever and bring him into the wonderful flock of Christ. And Jesus continues: ‘it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ That’s a fate worse than death itself, mih Friends! And we certainly cannot afford to let that happen for we’d then be letting down Jesus, after He boasted about His followers being the salt of the earth, the ones to work wonders, to stir up the passion and energy of mankind, to witness to unbelievers and bring them all under His big, beautiful umbrella of LOVE, Mercy and Forgiveness. Oh Friends, we can’t do that to our wonderful Lord and Saviour, who gave His innocent life for us worthless sinners. His sincere followers are worth much more than silver and gold to Him, that’s why He died for us, and He desires, wants, expects us to stand strong, stay salty, passionate and flavourful so we can make a difference in this unstable, greedy, evil world. Yes people, if is one thing we can’t do is let Jesus down; make His great sacrifice, the hefty ransom He paid to cleanse us go to waste. So I’m imploring us, today, right now, if we’re not salty, then let’s get salty…read the Word. And if we’re already salty, then make sure we stay salty…study the Word, for there’s nothing like the Word to keep us flavourful and passionate about Christ. Wow! Just look at my saltiness this morning nuh! (smile) Much LOVE mih beautiful people!…without salt…there’s no passion…no flavour…no glory to be had for Jesus…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 October 2009 Psalm 4:4‏

19 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 4:4     Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
 
Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful morning, let’s go outside for a walk and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature nuh!  Hn, hn! I guess many of us won’t be doing any walking today, but merely dragging our rear ends around the office or home, singing the Monday morning blues, from too much partying over the weekend. However, if we’d done as ordered; rested, fellowshipped, worshipped and rejuvenated our bodies and spirits, then we’d now be fresh and bubbling, ready to run a marathon, or scale some snow-capped mountain. (smile) But yuh know what? To conquer that bleary-eyed, hung over feeling, I have a little friendly advice for us. It comes in the form of a Yiddish Proverb: ‘He that can’t endure the bad, will not live to see the good.’ Yes my people, it sounds simple, but it’s very logical and actually quite profound. If we can’t withstand the rough, tough going, then we’ll never live to see the tables turn; when the going gets good and easy. Remember now, that life and most things in it move in cycles; hence the sagely saying, ‘what goes around, comes around.’ Therefore, if we can survive the difficult parts of the cycle, then we’ll certainly be around to enjoy the prosperous ones. And Friends, that’s exactly what we’re going through now; a hard, spirit breaking, bone crushing period of life’s never ending cycle. Remember a few years ago when prosperity was rampant, though false, when everybody was living high on the hog, though we never truly earned it? Back then no one complained, or sang dirges, and unfortunately neither did we save for a rainy day. Well my people, those rainy days are here now, but because we were so involved in living above our means, only for today, it’s sadly turned into a drought. In those heady, prosperous times we became lazy, slothful, ‘gravelicious’ and greedy, selfish and uncaring, sinful, wicked and ungodly, foolishly thinking that the gravy train would last forever. But Friends, unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, except the Most High God Jehovah. And in our very flawed thinking, we overlooked two very salient points. The first is we can’t continue eating of the pie without replenishing it, for at some stage it’s going to run out. Just like if there are no snow capped mountains to melt in the spring thaw to replenish the dry, thirsty rivers, the land will become barren and drought filled. And the second and more important point Friends is that we reckoned without our God. Did we really expect, or think He’d just sit quietly by and allow us to go along rejoicing on our sinful, greedy, wicked, ungodly path? Not a chance Friends! It’s never happened, as History has so often proven, and it will never happen as long as He is in control of the universe. The time span between interventions might differ, but you can bet your bottom dollar He will eventually show up and rectify matters to his satisfaction, just like he’s doing now. So now that we’ve brought all this evil on ourselves, yes, we’re our own worse enemy, let’s grow up, be mature and accept the fact that good and bad are sometimes intertwined, and as Job says, you can’t expect one without the other. (Job 2:10) And having endured that tongue lashing, (smile) let’s see how we can reverse the cycle, or move it forward as quickly as possible. What’s the antidote for our poisoned souls? The title of Psalm 4: ‘An evening prayer of trust in God.’ Yes my people, that’s the antidote for our problems; trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Until we return to His fold, our lives will be miserable and unhappy. The first step is to cry out to God in sincerity, like Bruh David did. ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’ (Ps.4:1) We know that we’ve been ungodly, so we need to ask for mercy and forgiveness we don’t really deserve, but which the Lord, in His kind-heartedness will grant if He sees that our hearts are sincere. Then the Psalmist blasts the wrongdoers. ‘O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity (worthlessness) and seek after leasing (falsehood)? Selah. (Ps.4:2) Now those are very good questions mih breddren, which each person has to answer for them self. No one else can do it for us. Bruh David then offers encouraging words. ‘But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.’ (Ps.4:3) Yes my people, all those who turn to the Lord in faith, trust and sincere surrender are set apart from the ungodly. We are viewed as His special people, His chosen ones, and consequently when we call out to Him, He will answer our call. Therefore Friends, we need to ‘Stand in awe, and sin not.’ Yes, look upon His royal, righteous majesty and tremble with fear and reverence considering all the wrong we’ve done, then sin no more. ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ (Ps.119:11) And that other man of great faith, Bruh Paul said: ‘Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.’ (Eph.4:26-27) And it does help my people, if before we go to bed at nights, we cleanse our souls and hearts of all the anger and evil that’s accumulated there during the day, by saying a prayer, releasing the tension and the negativity so that we won’t be troubled by it during our sleep, which is meant to be refreshing, filled with sweet dreams, not nightmares. That’s why the Psalmist advises: ‘commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.’ Oh Friends, that’s some of the best advice we can ever take to heart and practice! As Bruh David says elsewhere: ‘I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search (pondered diligently) (Ps.77:6) Yes my people, before we go to God, we first have to examine, deal with our hearts and souls, make peace there, then turn to our Heavenly Father in grateful acknowledgement and faithfully say: ‘I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.’ (Ps.4:8) Oh Friends, I surely hope this all makes sense, and does inspire and encourage us, but it’s just the way the Spirit led me. Till tomorrow then, the Lord willing: Much LOVE!…no need for doubt…take everything to God in prayer…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 October 2009 Matthew 8:4‏

18 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 8:4     And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Sunday again. Wow! This week has certainly passed quickly. It’s time to celebrate the Sabbath again; to rest, worship in company with other believers, and renew our spirits for another week of work. And I hope those who celebrate the Sabbath on Fridays and Saturdays also did that cause it’s the only way we can handle this crazy, evil, fast moving world. Furthermore, if the mighty God we worship rested after creating the universe, then we’d be rather arrogant to think that we can keep on working without any rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. It would also be a gross violation of His statutes since in His absolute wisdom He specifically ordered us to do so. Anyway, let’s see what edification and enlightenment our Bit has to offer today. It consists of words spoken by Jesus after He came down from preaching His famous Sermon on the Mount. This leper…ahh chuh! Let’s hear the beautiful language of the Good Book. ‘And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.’ (Mat.8:2-3) Ah my people, you see what faith can do! Remember back then the life of a leper was horrendous; outcast and ostracized from society. You couldn’t live amongst the normal community. People were afraid to touch you, for not only fear of contagion, but also because lepers were ceremoniously unclean. Notice though that when Jesus touched him, it did not make Jesus unclean, but instead cleansed the leper. Yes Friends, that sad outcast certainly had a lot of faith, believing deep down that if Jesus wanted to heal him, He surely could. Now that’s the first phase in any Christian’s life, in fact to anyone’s life at all. If we don’t believe that we, or any other people we’re dealing with have the capacity, the ability to do a particular job, then the odds are the venture will fail miserably. It’s just something about faith and belief, the way the Lord set it up, that those two qualities draw success to them more than lack of faith and disbelief. So now that Jesus has cleansed the man, He says to him; ‘See thou tell no man.’ Oh Friends, that aspect of Jesus’ healing has puzzled me for a bit because it’s not the only time He said it to someone He’d healed. You’d think that instead of keeping it a secret, He’d express the opposite instruction; go and broadcast it all over the place, like the two blind men whose sight He restored did. He told them; ‘See that no man know it.’ (Mat.9:30-31) But as soon as they left Him, they began spreading the news far and wide. But fortunately, now I’ve found a plausible reason through the wisdom of the scholars. I guess that’s why there are scholars; to inform the unlearned and uninformed like me. (smile) They contend that Jesus desired it kept quiet because He wanted to draw attention away from the miracle itself, the physical aspect, but to appeal to the spiritual need of man; exactly what we were just talking about, the faith and belief. I guess the crowds were mostly attracted to Jesus by His miracles, rather than the message He was trying to convey. Unfortunately, that has not changed much since then my Friends, cause today we’re still entranced by the show, the outward spectacle rather than its substance.  But again, to show how our standards have plummeted, 90 % of what now passes for excellence is rich in show, but sadly lacking in substance. However, now that we know why Jesus wanted it kept quiet, His next instruction was; ‘but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.’ Now why that directive? To be in accordance with the Mosaic Law, for a person being cured of a skin disease or leprosy was a very significant event in the Jewish tableau. Since they were de facto outcasts, their healing was a big deal. It meant they could return to fellowship with their families and the community as a whole. They were also allowed back into the temple, a sort of restored relationship with God, which meant everything to the devout Jew. And it was the priest’s job to check them out before they could be reintegrated into the community. Chapter 14 of Leviticus outlines God’s instructions to Moses on the cleansing of lepers. ‘He shall be brought unto the priest. And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper. Then shall the priest command…’ (Lev.14:2-4) It’s a whole lot of stuff Friends, so you’ve got to read it for yourselves, but it was a very significant moment in the community. One thing I’d like to point out though is the smearing of blood by the priest on the right ear, thumb and big toe of the cleansed man. (Lev.14:14) That symbolized the man should now hear God’s voice, perform works of righteousness with his hands and should walk in God’s ways. Maybe we should begin doing that, it might make better Christians of us. It was the same type of ceremony performed with Aaron and his sons on their consecration as priests. (Lev.8:24) And though Moses explained the cleansing ritual in Leviticus, he reminded the Israelites of it when he spoke about the laws of domestic relations in Deuteronomy. ‘Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.’ (Deut.24:8) Yes Friends, leprosy, its contagion and cleansing were significant events in the lives of the Israelites. However, as the scholars emphasize; ‘The tragedy of leprosy lay not so much in personal sin as in isolation from community life and worship. The real message of the legislation is that any type of uncleanness separates the believer from God. Leprosy is symbolic.’ And anything that separates us from God, my people, is totally unacceptable. Please, let’s remember that and sincerely try not to be separated from the Father. Much LOVE!…separation from God…invites death and eternal damnation…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 October 2009 2 Corinthians 5:17‏

17 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Corinthians 5:17     Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
 
Oh  Friends, it’s a new morn, with the chance of a new beginning; to faithfully serve our God, to live our lives as a winning testimony to His eternal LOVE, forgiveness and mercy. Therefore, I am encouraging us, in the words of Richard L. Evans: ‘Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is, had to begin where he was.’ So it’s not too late to start. Wherever you are at now, that’s your starting point; rev up your idling engines, then vroom! Blast off! Get a move on with the good things you have to do for Christ. No more laziness and/or procrastination, for if you’re a believer, which Bruh Paul in Today’s Bit terms, ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ,’ then it means you’ve undergone the transformation Jesus specified. ‘Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ (John 3:3) And what happens then? The believer, ‘he is a new creature.’ Why? Because the Spirit of Christ now dwells within him. To quote Jesus again: ‘It is the Spirit that quickeneth (gives life) the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.’ (John 6:63) Yes Friends, Jesus’ words are spiritual; words that fill us with a new life, a new joy, and a new reason for living, and when we receive them, we consequently become a new, an entirely different person. Bruh Paul describes the transformation thus: ‘So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.’ (Rom.8:8-10) So mih people, once we get connected with Christ, it’s a whole new ball game: ‘old things are passed away.’ And Isaiah prophesied of the newness of things to come when talking about the Lord being the only Redeemer. ‘Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.’ (Isa.43:18-19) He also promised on the Lord’s behalf: ‘For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind (nor come upon the heart) (Isa.65:17) And when this newness of Spirit comes upon us, Bruh Paul’s advice to the Ephesians, and also to us, is: ‘That ye put off concerning the former conversation (conduct) the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts. And be ye renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’ (Eph.4:22-24) Then he lists a number of things the new believer should and should not do: No more lying, anger or stealing. Do honest work. No more swearing, but instead educational and encouraging words to uplift other believers. No more bitterness, malice, evil speaking etc. ‘And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph.4: 25-32) That to me is the most important verse Friends, for if we do those positive things, we won’t do the negative stuff that came before. But read it yourself to get the full benefit. Oh my people, Jesus’ coming to earth, and more specifically into our individual lives through His Holy Spirit, brought or promises to bring so much new stuff, that the only instance in mankind’s existence that’s been more monumental or revolutionary so far is the Creation itself. His coming changed things so much that we can almost call it a second Creation. The way we looked at everything; from birth to death, to sin, to laws, to salvation, changed drastically: ‘behold all things are become new.’ We received freedom from sin’s power, and instead came under grace, the Spirit’s law. (Rom.6) Salvation couldn’t be earned. It was now a free gift from God, due to His Son’s death and consequent payment for our sins. ‘For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’ (Col.3:3) Yes mih Friends, our lives are now on deposit with Christ, who is intimately involved with the Father, so our lives are no longer considered flesh, but now belong in the spiritual realm, therefore we should seek the things that pertain to heaven and the Spirit rather than earth and the flesh. Oh people, it feels so good to be reborn, rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit, that we don’t have to worry no more about sin, death and eternal damnation, since our Lord and Saviour so graciously and selflessly paid the price for us. All we have to do now is believe in Him and follow in His footsteps to be assured of salvation and eternal life. Oh Friends, it’s hard not to get excited and energized when one reads the wonderful things promised in the Good Book. And the best is yet to come, for in John’s vision of the new heaven and earth, what happens? ‘And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.’ (Rev.21:4) And all God’s people joyfully shouted: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ So with all of that in mind mih people, let’s buoy our spirits and go out into the dark, evil world and share the joy and good news we’ve found under Jesus’ all-forgiving, ever-LOVING, and ever-merciful umbrella of light and life. That’s what He expects of us, so none will be lost come the last day. Much LOVE!…oh what a Friend we have in Jesus…all our sins and grief to bear…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 October 2009 Proverbs 13:14‏

16 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Proverbs 13:14     The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
 
Oh Friends, did you give thanks for life and salvation when you opened your blurry eyes this morning and realized that you were still alive, still able to enjoy the fruits and the blessings of our mighty, majestic, magnificent God? A Bruh Paulian sentence if there ever was one. (smile) But seriously, I certainly hope that you did. It’s something all believers ought to do cause it not only shows our eternal gratitude, but it also gets us started on the right foot, which is so important in our crazy, daily lives. Getting off to a good start each day sets the tone for the day, and once you’re in the zone with the Father, it becomes difficult, almost impossible for the enemy to undermine our faith. And as such, I believe it falls into Sol’s wise law classification where he claims that ‘The law of the wise is a fountain of life.’ Now what does he mean by that? I believe he explains it in Prov.14:27. when he changes the beginning of the statement to read; ‘The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.’ So it’s only when we fear; revere, worship and obey the Lord that we can attain wisdom. Remember, Sol also said that wisdom and understanding were God’s two apprentices when He created the world. (Prov.8:27-31) From that we can deduce that the law of the wise is basic wisdom and understanding; following the dictates of the Lord, living by His rules. And why does he consider it a fountain of life? Because that’s exactly what it is! Obeying and reverencing the Lord refreshes, energizes, gives us good direction and whatever else we need to live this life successfully. As he says earlier on. ‘When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.’ (Prov.6:22) Now if that isn’t a fountain of life, I don’t know what is, since it leads, protects and advises us! For ‘In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.’ (Prov.14:26) Yes my people, when we hang out with the Lord, trust Him, surrender our very lives to Him, we develop an iron constitution, much belly and plenty backbone, because we are no longer afraid and worried about every little thing in our mixed up lives. We know, without a doubt, that there’s a power stronger than us that’s looking out for us, consequently we can move forward, forge ahead with confidence. I know some of you laugh when I talk about belly and backbone, but mih Friends that’s no laughing matter, especially in today’s very troubled times. They need to be essential ingredients in our lives if we want to have any chance of success in these perilous days, cause people, only the strong will survive. And the only way to get real belly and backbone is by close association with the Most High God Jehovah, who gives liberally to all who sincerely seek Him and ask for His favour, blessings, protection and guidance. That’s the law of the wise my Friends; the reverence of the Lord! And believe me, it’s absolutely vital that all believers acquire and possess it in great quantity, since it helps us ‘to depart from the snares of death.’ Yes mih breddren, that tight association with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is what, in fact, it’s the only thing that can keep or turn us away from the traps, snares and wicked wiles of the enemy. What did Bruh David say in his song of deliverance? ‘When the waves of death compassed (surrounded) me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid (overwhelmed me). The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented (confronted) me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.’ (2 Sam.22:6-7) Praise His Holy Name and shout, ‘Hallelujah!’ my people, for He is the ONLY ONE who can save us from our enemies when they cause us distress and bring us face to face with the evils of death and destruction. Oh Friends, the important thing to realize in this mish-mash life is that we can’t do it all on our lonesome. It’s virtually impossible to live a good, healthy, successful life only on your own efforts. We all need help at some time or another, that’s why they coined the saying, ‘No man is an island.’ Now sometimes the help of other men is sufficient, but on other occasions Friends, man’s help is of no use whatsoever. That’s when we need someone bigger, stronger, smarter and wiser than ordinary men to help us, for us to lean on, to cry out to. And believe me people, it’s only the Lord God Jehovah, Creator of heaven, earth and all therein, who fits that bill. No other whatever you may call it or them can do it for you, for the simple reason that no other exists. Below man are the baser animals, but above us…Oh mih people, there’s only the omnipotent, omniscient, all seeing, all-knowing creator and king of the universe, who is, was, and always will be there for us in our times of trouble, if we follow the law of the wise and seek, surrender and submit to His everlasting powers of LOVE, forgiveness, kindness and mercy. So when the sorrows of death surround us, and the distress of hell takes hold of us, and we are swamped with trouble and sorrow, then Friends, then call upon the name of the Lord. Cry out; ‘O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.’ (Ps.116:3-4) Yes my people, it’s the only solution to our earthly problems, so please use it. We need the LOVE, tender mercies, forgiveness and kindness of our God more than ever today. Much LOVE!…so who yuh going to call…not ghost busters…but the Lord, High God Jehovah…I AM, that I AM…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 October 2009 2 Corinthians 7:10‏

15 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

2 Corinthians 7:10     For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
 
And isn’t that the gospel truth my wonderful Friends in Christ? Sorrow for the things of the world brings us nothing but conflict, envy, jealousy, pain and heartache, and if we allow it to go on long enough, eventual death. Now, if you don’t believe me, then listen to Sol whose credentials are much better than mine. ‘Heaviness in the heart of man, maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.’ (Prov.12:25) He’s basically saying that negative emotions like anxiety cause depression. The joy of one’s spirit diminishes or just disappears. However, a good word, a word of encouragement uplifts, perks up our spirits. And that’s a fact of which we all have experience. Sol was so sure of it that he said it a couple of different ways: ‘A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken…All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.’ (Prov.15:13,15) He also said it thus: ‘A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.’ (Prov.17:22) Isaiah echoed those same sentiments. ‘The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…’ (Isa.50:4) Yes Friends, the Lord enlightened Isaiah so that he could encourage and uplift a weary soul in difficult times. We should also seek that enlightenment because it’s very important for us to be able to encourage each other, especially in the rough times, like now, which many of us are finding hard to handle. That’s also the reason for fellowship in church, prayer meetings and other Christian gatherings; the uplifting of the spirit, keeping it at a high level. We know that we should not let the problems of the world get us down, though it’s easier said than done. But my  people, we need to keep a strong, joyous heart so that we can fulfill our God-given tasks. When we get despondent or depressed, we lose the initiative to forge ahead with our Christian endeavour. Why do you think the enemy is always trying to fill us with doubts and dismay? So that we can lose our joy. He knows that’s the weakest link in our chain, and once he steals our joy, we’re done for; we’re like putty in his hands. But Friends, regardless of what happens in our lives, we should never allow our joy to be stolen, cause as Nehemiah so accurately stated, ‘For the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh.8:10) Praise His Holy Name people! And please, let’s keep that thought front and centre in our minds, for once we have that joy in the Lord, we are exceedingly strong and the enemy can’t lead us astray. But since we’re born and bred sinners, at some stage of our lives, Lucifer will manage to lure us off the straight and narrow path. However mih people, it’s vitally important that as soon as we realize we’ve veered from the true way, we repent and head back in the right direction. ‘For godly sorrow worketh to salvation not to be repented of (regretted).’ Yes Friends that’s what repentance is for; to lead us to salvation, and we should never regret it. When we’re truly sorry, we must go to God and confess our sins and ask for forgiveness, then try not to commit them again. And we have the basis for that right from Jesus’ mouth. ‘They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Luke 5:31-32) John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees after he baptized them: ‘Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (worthy of ) repentance.’ (Mat.3:8) Because once we’ve repented of our sin, we ought to go out and do better. And we have two instances where men of great faith stepped off that narrow path, but once they realized their errors, went right to the source of all mercy. Let’s start with Bruh David, when he schemed to get Uriah killed, so he could have his wife Bathsheba. But once the prophet Nathan confronted him with his evil deed, Bruh David immediately confessed and sought forgiveness. ‘And David said unto Nathan; I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.’ (2 Sam.12:13-14) So though Bruh David was forgiven, he did pay for his evil deed through the death of his first-born son by Bathsheba. The second example of Christian faltering is one that we all know quite well; that very unfortunate time when the Rock, the foundation of Christ’s Church, Peter, denied knowing Him. Hn! Jesus had warned Peter about the denial, but the big, burly, brash fisher of men thoroughly rejected the idea, though he should have known better, having been with Jesus so long and having seen all of His prophecies come true. However, after the incident, after the cock crowed, ‘Peter remembered the words of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.’ (Mat.27:75) Oh mih Friends, if the foundation of Christ’s Church denied Him and was later forgiven, then so too shall we, if we go to Jesus and sincerely say we’re sorry. For as Peter and the other Apostles declared before the Jewish council; ‘Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.’ (Acts 5:31) Ah mih people, it’s a rough, sinful world we live in, but please remember that Jesus died for us, relieved and cleansed us of our burden of sins. So all we have to do now is believe that He is truly Our Saviour and live by His rules, and we’ll be all right, our salvation is assured. In closing, let’s listen to some encouraging and reassuring words from Bruh David. ‘Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass (surround) him about. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.’ (Ps.32:10-11) And we all sang; ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Much LOVE!…let not the world’s sorrow steal your joy…turn to Jesus… because His outstretched hand…is always waiting there to help…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 October 2009 Psalm 104:24‏

14 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Psalm 104:24     O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
 
Oh Friends, another day is dawning in the West, while the sun’s setting in the East. Our eyes are opening after a refreshing night’s sleep, while theirs are closing to go and gain that renewal of energy and enthusiasm for life. And who is responsible for all the factors that cause such wonders to happen day after day, with no apparent guide or director? The Most High God Jehovah! Our God! The One and Only True God, who created the world by speaking it into existence. That’s why in Psalm 104, dedicated to God’s preservation of Nature, the Psalmist lavishes such glorious praise on the Creator of such ingenious works as the earth, the heavens, the seas, and all the fish, flowers and fauna within them. On a point of interest, the scholars consider Psalm 104, a truly joyful hymn of praise to the Creator, and along with Psalms 8, 29; Job 38, 39, conclude they form a divine poetic commentary on the Creation. And they have a valid opinion, because those writings really describe the exceptional beauty and infinite precision of Mother Nature that defies logic and recreation. Read them yourself sometime and enjoy the beautiful poetry and enthusiastic praise the writers give our God. Here we barely have time to touch on the wonders of the Lord’s magnificent creation(s). As the Psalmist exclaims in awe: ‘O Lord, how manifold are thy works!’ Oh Friends, they are not only awesome in beauty and technicality, but they’re so plentiful in number that we can spend a whole lifetime and not consider them all. And nobody says it better than Bruh David when he declares: ‘Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and by thy thoughts which are to us-ward; they cannot be reckoned up (recounted) in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’ (Ps.40:5) Wow! Now that’s really laying it on thick, (smile) but it’s the gospel truth. Meanwhile, Jeremiah, when talking to Israel about God and the idols they were worshipping, put it this way. ‘He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his discretion.’ (Jer.10:12) Jeremiah considered that statement so important that when he spoke of Lord’s judgement on Babylon, he repeated it with just a slight variation at the end; ‘and stretched out the heaven by his understanding.’ (Jer.51:15) The same idea, just a different word. The Psalmist then continues his praise by extolling God’s wisdom. ‘In wisdom hast thou made them all:’ But my people we expect nothing less from our magnificent and majestic God, for He’s the fount of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding! And when coming to wisdom and understanding, yuh know nobody does that better than Sol. ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.’ (Prov.3:19-20) Yes Friends, that’s the wisest man ever. And, if possible, he outdoes himself later on when he declares that Wisdom is everlasting. ‘When he prepared the heavens, I (wisdom) was there: when he set a compass (drew a circle) upon the face of the depth (sea) When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree (its limit), that the waters should not pass (transgress) his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I (wisdom) was by him, as one brought up by him (a master craftsman); and I was daily his delight; rejoicing always before him.’ (Prov.8:27-30) Yes mih breddren, that’s how important wisdom was in laying the foundations of the world, always with our God, his daily delight, constantly rejoicing in His presence. And so should it be with us. A true believer, a wise Christian ought to obey the wisdom of God, for if we don’t, we’ll surely be led astray by the wicked wiles of the enemy. It’s only with God’s wisdom in our back pocket that we are able to withstand the strenuous efforts of Lucifer and his evil cohorts. Then the last part of the Bit states; ‘the earth is full of thy riches (possessions)’ Now Friends, of that there can be no dispute, because everything in the universe belongs to the Creator, we’re just stewards of anything we hold. We really don’t possess anything, and that’s borne out by the fact that when we die, we leave everything we claimed to own behind, in someone else’s stewardship. Bruh David gives us two nice verses to close with re the riches of nature. ‘Thou visitest (give attention to) the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn (grain), when thou hast so provided for it…Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness (abundance). They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.’ (Ps.65:9,11-13) Yes Friends, that’s the overwhelming generosity of our God. He enriches the earth so much that the very pastures of animals and fields of grain shout for joy and sing. And since He does the same, and even better for us, His beloved children, shouldn’t we also shout for joy and sing? Of course my people! So let’s keep at it, singing and shouting for joy, as we ought to. Much LOVE!…heaven should never a silent moment hear…our thanks and praise should constantly echo there…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 October 2009 Matthew 3:11‏

13 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

Matthew 3:11     I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
 
Well Friends, the day for the giving of communal thanks is over. I surely hope we all made a satisfactory…sorry, an excellent showing and did not overdo the eating, drinking and partying. Unfortunately, it’s time to begin the cycle all over again; clear the land, plough it, and sow fruitful seed, so that we can reap another bumper crop at next year’s harvest, obviously with the Lord’s blessings and mercies. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop giving individual thanks, for remember Bruh Paul’s advice: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (Eph.5:20) And remember too that we only sow the seed, it’s God who gives the increase. That means to have a good harvest we’ve got to be faithful all year round. And those terms don’t only apply to the actual sowing of the land, but to all and any endeavours on which we embark. They will only be as successful as we are faithful. And now that I’ve gotten you in the mood, (smile) let’s embark on Today’s Bit; check out those momentous words of John the Baptist. John had been going around the Judean countryside preaching repentance to all and sundry, crying out: ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. for this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ (Mat.3:2-3) Isaiah did prophecy of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Messiah. (Is.40:3) And now that prophecy was coming through with John; this man dressed in camel hair clothes and a leather belt, with a reputed diet of wild locusts and honey, whom all the people of the area were going out to see. No doubt many went out expecting a spectacle, the way we still behave when there’s an eccentric person amongst us. However, when they got there and heard his powerful teaching and testimony, many of them ‘were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.’ (Mat.3:6) The power of God mih people! They were unable to resist it. They went seeking entertainment, a freak show, but thankfully ended up believing and baptized. And just like Jesus did later on, when John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees come to be baptized, he taunted them. ‘O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for (worthy of) repentance…for every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.’ (Mat.3:7-8,10) Oh Friends, those words still apply to us today. If we don’t do useful works and be steadfast in the faith, hellfire and damnation will also engulf us. Luke’s gospel relates that John also gave, practical, worthwhile advice to those who came to be baptized, as many asked how they should live after repentance and baptism. To the ordinary folk he said: ‘He that hath two coats, let him impart (give) to him that hath none; and he that hath meat (food), let him do likewise.’ To the publicans (tax collectors), he said: ‘Exact no more than that which is appointed of you.’ His advice to the soldiers was: ‘Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.’ (Luke 3:10-14) Yes people, John was doing an excellent job setting up the Messiah’s coming, and in the early stages his ministry was very successful. But Luke also tells; ‘And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused (reasoned) in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ or not.’ (Luke 3:15) That’s when John uttered those memorable words that have so greatly impacted our faith even to this day. ‘I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Yes mih breddren, John certainly knew his place in the scheme of things; he was the just the messenger, just the harbinger of the good news; the Messiah is coming. We should note though that, per the scholars, John’s baptism wasn’t the Christian baptism that we now know, since Christ’s death and resurrection hadn’t yet taken place. Only after those monumental occurrences did Christian baptism begin. They classify it with ‘the Old Testament offerings (washings) that symbolized a cleansing of personal repentance on the part of a believer.’ I guess a lot of the listeners must have either been scared or considered John mad, or even both, for his concluding statement; ‘he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.’ Today we all know that he was referring to the spiritual rebirth of the person who repents and sincerely receives Jesus as His Lord and Saviour, as Bruh Paul declares: ‘For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.’ (1 Cor.12:13) And that’s the Holy Spirit of Jesus which all believers now receive when they are born again. We all have that same Spirit. It’s no different from person to person, because we’re all one in the body, the church of Christ. We also know that the first anointing of the Holy Spirit blessed the disciples on the first day of the feast of Pentecost. Let’s listen to Luke tell it. ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they (the disciples) were all with one accord (one purpose in mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4) Yes my Friends, that first blessing of the Holy Spirit on the disciples was such a strong anointing that it even enabled them to speak in languages they were not accustomed to, and it certainly seized everybody’s attention, especially those foreigners who later heard the disciples speak to them in their own tongue. Ah my people, so mighty is our God, that He can do untold wonders as He did on that Day of Pentecost, when the mighty wind, which the Jews associated with the Spirit, and the tongues of fire that divided and rested on each disciple proclaimed that the Spirit’s baptism was all inclusive, lacked nothing. That’s the same Spirit which also dwells in us my Friends and gives us wisdom, guidance, protection and many other good things, so please, let’s use it wisely, for good, and not for ill. Much LOVE!…oh what a beautiful feeling…when we believe…and are born again…through the Holy Spirit…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 October 2009 1 John 1:1‏

12 Oct 2009 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living

HAPPY  THANKSGIVING  DAY  CANADA!

 1 John 1:1.    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and which our hands have handled, of the Word of life.

 Well my Friends, Neighbours and Country-men, it’s time once again for us all to give much glorious praise and joyful, heartfelt thanks to our Father, Lord, Creator and generous Provider for the many wonderful blessings He’s bestowed this past year on our rugged, beautiful and prosperous land of Canada! Wow! Canada; the Queen of the North! Where we have it better than ninety something percent of the world, but still find so many things to gripe and complain about. The problem is that we really don’t know how good we have it, and would be much more appreciative if we could only see and/or experience the poor, unsanitary, unhealthy conditions so much of the world lives in, especially with the many natural disasters recently taking place in the East. I know we have our fair share of poverty, homelessness, joblessness, violence and all those negative things, but compared to much of the world, we’re living in a virtual paradise, so please, let’s appreciate it, and instead of constantly complaining, work to improve it. That’s the end of my Thanksgiving spiel. (smile) And for those of you who wonder if I practice what I preach, the answer is yes, to most things, and I try, to the others, since I’m only human and thus fallible. Possibly that’s why the Most High conscripted me to write this Bit; He must have thought I needed some work. (smile) But as I implored those who celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday to do, I did go to church today and fellowshipped with other believers, and Rev. Ann preached on the same things I mentioned above; being too absorbed in the things of the world and worrying too much about our earthly problems, and not thankful enough for what we do have, or concerned enough with the things of God. And a cartoon in the Bulletin was ever so appropriate. It showed a human sitting with his elbows on a desk littered with bills, his hands covering his ears, his already sparse hair standing on end, his eyes helplessly staring at an adding machine and written around his head in a clockwise circle were the words, expenses, anxieties, bills, debts, worries, with a dollar ($) sign interspersed between each. But the great part is that at an open window, two birds sat on the ledge looking at him. One asked the other,’ What’s eating him?’ His companion replied, ‘I guess God doesn’t take care of him like he does us.’ And underneath were Jesus’ words, which we all know, but still refuse to follow. ”Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?’ (Mat.6:26,27) My Friends, none of us can add to our life span by worrying, but we can certainly shorten it by so doing. Anyway, it’s time to get to our Bit. Yesterday we stopped on the part ‘and our hands have handled,’ where Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples and invited them to touch Him and inspect His hands and feet. He also ate broiled fish and honey to assuage their doubts and fears and show that He was real. But my people, there’s even more evidence to show Jesus’ reality wasn’t virtual. We all know the story of Doubting Thomas, so named because He was the one absent when Jesus first appeared to the disciples, and when they told him that they’d seen the Master, he refuted their testimony, saying; ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20:25) And knowing our Saviour’s penchant to satisfy our doubts, eight days later, He again appeared to the disciples behind closed doors. This time all twelve were there. And after His usual greeting of ‘Peace be unto you. Then saith he unto Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless (unbelieving), but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’ (John 20:26-29) Oh Friends, what good news! That certainly includes us, who’ve never seen Jesus in the flesh, yet believe. We are blessed! Praise His Holy Name! Now let’s turn to the last part of the Bit; ‘of the Word of life.’ Here John’s referring to the statement in his gospel: ‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’ (John 1:4-5) According to the scholars, when John talks about life, he’s referring to salvation and deliverance through Christ, and light denotes the revelation of God that Jesus proclaimed, which holds all men accountable. Defined that way, what John’s saying ‘of the Word of life,’ is very true. Through one third of the Trinity, the Son, He has indeed seen, heard, and touched the ultimate ‘I AM,’ that existed from the beginning, and will continue to exist for all time, thus giving absolute verification to our Saviour’s sojourn here on earth. Oh Friends, let me close with two important statements. The first is the major purpose of 1 John. ‘These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.’ (1 John 5:13) The next statement is the secondary purpose: ‘And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.’ (1 John 1:4) Yes Friends, it’s also to enlighten us, to show us the enjoyment and share with us the deep sense of satisfaction and purpose that knowing Christ and walking with Him brings to believers. May we all find that joy, that sense of purpose and satisfaction in our daily walk with Him, I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE mih people!…enjoy the day…give much thanks…but don’t overdo it…

 

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