Numbers 13:20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. and be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.
And now Friends, what wait we for? The coming again in glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Why? Because He promised to return and receive us to Himself? And why is that so important? Ah mih people, because the precious blood of the Innocent Lamb, the Son of God, was shed on Calvary Hill as an eternal sacrifice on our behalf. Consequently, our awful sins were washed away and our sinful souls redeemed to a right relationship with the Holy Father. Because our Saviour Christ rose from the dead that first Easter morn, we who believe in Him, will do likewise. And because He ascended into the heavens and sits at the right hand of the One who is Infinitely Everything, seeking our interests, we believers here on earth can have immense hope of a bright tomorrow. Oh Friends, it’s so much more than we deserve, can ask for, or even imagine. But it all carries a serious responsibility to live in Peace, LOVE and fellowship with each other. That’s awfully hard to do though in a cruel, violent, evil, blood thirsty world, where the majority are unbelievers. That’s why it requires great strength of purpose, faith, hope and courage to make it in this ungodly world as a believer in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And what were Bruh David’s memorable words on the subject? ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ (Ps.27:13) And so will we my people, if we don’t expect to see God’s goodness here on earth. Therefore, he continues: ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:14) Truthful words, if there ever were any! Mih breddren, we’ve got to learn to wait on the Lord with faith and courage. Obviously those Israelites that came out of Egypt never learned that lesson, for their reaction to their leaders’ entreaty not to rebel against their God was abominable: ‘But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.’ (Num.14:10) Can you believe it people? It’s certainly mind boggling that their reaction would be so ignorant and violent towards their own leaders, while towards the enemy they were scared wimps. And yuh know Friends, if anybody had real reason to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was this group of people. The God of their fathers had promised to take them out of slavery in Egypt and lead them safely to a land of abundance, which He did. But they must have expected everything to be a bed of roses, with no hardship or responsibility whatsoever on their part. From their violent reaction, they must have thought they’d just walk on to the land and enjoy its bounty with no adversarial challenges. But Friends, please understand that our God doesn’t operate in that manner. He will give us all the good desires of our hearts, but He expects in return, at least some obedience and gratitude. He’s not a feel good God, who gives you whatever you want, no questions asked or responsibility implied. Unfortunately, many of us believers today also seem to have that incorrect attitude; a ‘wanty, wanty, gimme, gimme’ state of mind. And if we don’t get what we want, when we want it, we get discouraged, displeased and angry with God, and do all sorts of nonsense, just like the Israelites. Friends, we’ve got to get one thing straight. God LOVES us oodles, but He doesn’t really need us nuh. We have little to offer Him besides a little praise and thanks, which we often offer grudgingly anyway, without a real truthful heart. The real truth of the matter is that we DESPERATELY NEED God. We need His LOVE, forgiveness, mercy, grace, protection, guidance, salvation and eternal life, otherwise we’re hell bound, damnation and eternal darkness is our lot. So please, let’s get our priorities straight nuh, let’s truly realize and recognize who is the BOSS; the Lord God Almighty, and who are the dependent ones; we mortals, born in sin and sorrow. And now that we’ve set the record straight, let’s look at the Lord’s reaction to the rebellion, the disgusting behaviour of His chosen people. ‘And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have showed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num.14:10-12) Oh Friends, yuh see, it’s not only my mind that their irrational behaviour boggled, but also the Lord’s. After all He’d done for them, all the signs and promises He’d fulfilled, He too couldn’t believe their behaviour. And it’s so sad, for from the beginning of time, even until now, no other group of humans have had the honour to witness and personally experience so much of God’s omnipotence, magnanimity, LOVE, guidance and protection in their everyday lives as that one. And yet their negative, disobedient reaction when called on for a little courage. Hn! What more could the Lord do eh? Not much. But just like when our children disobey and act up, we get angry and seek to lay down the law, God got tired and fed up with the petty, grumbling, fearful ways of the Israelites and was prepared to destroy them and start all over again. Oh mih people, don’t you think He’s probably fed up with our world too, and probably also considering our destruction because of our overwhelming ungodliness? Judging from the stories in the Good Book, it’s highly likely. The Lord is patient and long suffering, but even He has a breaking point. So just in case He’s planning something, it’s better to be safe than sorry. For who knows whether the recent spate of natural disasters, wars, economic breakdown, famine and sickness aren’t warnings? Let’s give up our wishy-washy, gimme, gimme, ungodly behaviour and stand strong in His name. Perhaps that might soften His wrath towards us. Oh Friends, I firmly believe that a new, right and godly attitude by the majority of the world could only help our cause in the eyes and heart of our wonderful, LOVING, merciful and forgiving God. Let’s try it and see nuh. We have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. More tomorrow, God willing. Till then, stand strong, consciously LOVE your God, LIVE your Faith, and SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…it is no secret…what God can do…what he’s done for others…He’ll do for you…
And now Friends, what wait we for? The coming again in glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Why? Because He promised to return and receive us to Himself? And why is that so important? Ah mih people, because the precious blood of the Innocent Lamb, the Son of God, was shed on Calvary Hill as an eternal sacrifice on our behalf. Consequently, our awful sins were washed away and our sinful souls redeemed to a right relationship with the Holy Father. Because our Saviour Christ rose from the dead that first Easter morn, we who believe in Him, will do likewise. And because He ascended into the heavens and sits at the right hand of the One who is Infinitely Everything, seeking our interests, we believers here on earth can have immense hope of a bright tomorrow. Oh Friends, it’s so much more than we deserve, can ask for, or even imagine. But it all carries a serious responsibility to live in Peace, LOVE and fellowship with each other. That’s awfully hard to do though in a cruel, violent, evil, blood thirsty world, where the majority are unbelievers. That’s why it requires great strength of purpose, faith, hope and courage to make it in this ungodly world as a believer in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And what were Bruh David’s memorable words on the subject? ‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.’ (Ps.27:13) And so will we my people, if we don’t expect to see God’s goodness here on earth. Therefore, he continues: ‘Wait (in faith) on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.’ (Ps.27:14) Truthful words, if there ever were any! Mih breddren, we’ve got to learn to wait on the Lord with faith and courage. Obviously those Israelites that came out of Egypt never learned that lesson, for their reaction to their leaders’ entreaty not to rebel against their God was abominable: ‘But all the congregation bade stone them with stones.’ (Num.14:10) Can you believe it people? It’s certainly mind boggling that their reaction would be so ignorant and violent towards their own leaders, while towards the enemy they were scared wimps. And yuh know Friends, if anybody had real reason to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was this group of people. The God of their fathers had promised to take them out of slavery in Egypt and lead them safely to a land of abundance, which He did. But they must have expected everything to be a bed of roses, with no hardship or responsibility whatsoever on their part. From their violent reaction, they must have thought they’d just walk on to the land and enjoy its bounty with no adversarial challenges. But Friends, please understand that our God doesn’t operate in that manner. He will give us all the good desires of our hearts, but He expects in return, at least some obedience and gratitude. He’s not a feel good God, who gives you whatever you want, no questions asked or responsibility implied. Unfortunately, many of us believers today also seem to have that incorrect attitude; a ‘wanty, wanty, gimme, gimme’ state of mind. And if we don’t get what we want, when we want it, we get discouraged, displeased and angry with God, and do all sorts of nonsense, just like the Israelites. Friends, we’ve got to get one thing straight. God LOVES us oodles, but He doesn’t really need us nuh. We have little to offer Him besides a little praise and thanks, which we often offer grudgingly anyway, without a real truthful heart. The real truth of the matter is that we DESPERATELY NEED God. We need His LOVE, forgiveness, mercy, grace, protection, guidance, salvation and eternal life, otherwise we’re hell bound, damnation and eternal darkness is our lot. So please, let’s get our priorities straight nuh, let’s truly realize and recognize who is the BOSS; the Lord God Almighty, and who are the dependent ones; we mortals, born in sin and sorrow. And now that we’ve set the record straight, let’s look at the Lord’s reaction to the rebellion, the disgusting behaviour of His chosen people. ‘And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have showed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num.14:10-12) Oh Friends, yuh see, it’s not only my mind that their irrational behaviour boggled, but also the Lord’s. After all He’d done for them, all the signs and promises He’d fulfilled, He too couldn’t believe their behaviour. And it’s so sad, for from the beginning of time, even until now, no other group of humans have had the honour to witness and personally experience so much of God’s omnipotence, magnanimity, LOVE, guidance and protection in their everyday lives as that one. And yet their negative, disobedient reaction when called on for a little courage. Hn! What more could the Lord do eh? Not much. But just like when our children disobey and act up, we get angry and seek to lay down the law, God got tired and fed up with the petty, grumbling, fearful ways of the Israelites and was prepared to destroy them and start all over again. Oh mih people, don’t you think He’s probably fed up with our world too, and probably also considering our destruction because of our overwhelming ungodliness? Judging from the stories in the Good Book, it’s highly likely. The Lord is patient and long suffering, but even He has a breaking point. So just in case He’s planning something, it’s better to be safe than sorry. For who knows whether the recent spate of natural disasters, wars, economic breakdown, famine and sickness aren’t warnings? Let’s give up our wishy-washy, gimme, gimme, ungodly behaviour and stand strong in His name. Perhaps that might soften His wrath towards us. Oh Friends, I firmly believe that a new, right and godly attitude by the majority of the world could only help our cause in the eyes and heart of our wonderful, LOVING, merciful and forgiving God. Let’s try it and see nuh. We have nothing to lose, and so much to gain. More tomorrow, God willing. Till then, stand strong, consciously LOVE your God, LIVE your Faith, and SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…it is no secret…what God can do…what he’s done for others…He’ll do for you…
SCRIP-BITS 