Today’s Scrip-Bit 10 November 2014 Proverbs 22:13

10 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 22:13. The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

Aye my beautiful Scrip-Bit people, our nemesis Monday is here! And the ‘steupsing’ and the ‘chuhing’ along with the moaning, groaning and complaining begin. (smile)

Yeh mih breddren, I know it’s hard to get up and get going this Monday morning after either a lazy and languishing or too busy partying weekend. But do it we must. And the bigger the positive spin we put on those dreaded circumstances, the easier we’ll be able to handle them.

And the best positive spin to put on ANYTHING is prayer! Consequently, let’s get the day going by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with a true sense of purpose. Let’s reach deep down into our very souls and raise up the dormant enthusiasm and will that’s buried there.

Altogether now, in strong voice and beautiful harmony. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.

We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.

Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’

Now that was good Friends, very good! So good that it evoked a rousing cheer from the hosts of heaven, including Jesus. Yuh see what we can do when we put our minds to it! And if we can dredge up such strength and power when we’re at low ebb, just imagine the challenges we can meet and conquer, with God’s help obviously, when we are truly feeling our oats! (smile)

That’s why, to be true believers, we need to be the exact opposite of today’s Bit. ‘The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.’

That’s utter nonsense my people! But it just goes to show how low we can sink to get out of work. As the scholars say: ’22:13. The slothful man uses preposterous excuses to avoid work.’

And that’s no lie! Far too many of us in today’s leisure and pleasure driven society, have a serious apathy towards work, and will do whatever is necessary to avoid or get out of it. But we still desire to live high on the hog though. But let’s remember some of Bruh Paul’s fateful and very relevant words on the subject.

Listen to this rather sage advice in his second letter to them. ‘For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.’ (2 Thess.3:10-12)

And the scholars tell us: ‘3:10-12. Paul expounds his simple and straightforward work ethic; if a person will not work, he should not eat. The Thessalonians’ diversion encouraged their meddlesome ways, demonstrating that “idle hands are the Devil’s workshop.”

Gospel truth that, my Friends!

And in Bruh Paul’s first missive to the Thessalonians he reminds them: ‘For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail (toil): for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable (a burden) unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.’ (1 Thess.2:9)

Yes Friends, he tried to practice what he preached, actively working wherever he went, so he wouldn’t be a burden on his hosts.

And I like this bit of advice to the Ephesians. ‘Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.’ (Eph.4:28)

Ah mih people, unfortunately, the exact opposite seems to be the norm these days, for theft, fraud and other deceitful measures are rampant in blatant form, instead of being on the wane. However, as good Christian soldiers, we need to labour honestly; put in a fair day’s labor, hopefully for a fair day’s wage.

But sadly, even that is being seriously compromised in these unsavoury, rough economic times, because  far too many employees are shirking their lawful duties, and too many employers are trying to get lots on work done for too little pay, thus the very negative and unhealthy atmosphere in the workplace.

And we’ll close with an interesting piece of wisdom from Cousin Sol. ‘He that laboureth, laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him (his hungry mouth drives him on).’ (Prov.16:26)

Please let’s take that to heart my people, and allow the cravings of our mouth to lead us to work. But please note, we need to do so within reason, not overdoing it, by having the lusts of the flesh drive us, through greed and ‘gravaliciousness’ to overwork, for one extreme is just as bad as the other. Much LOVE!

…as the old people were wont to say…hard work never kill anybody yet…but laziness and sloth has…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 November 2014 Exodus 20:8

09 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Exodus 20:8.  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

And then it was Sunday…the Sabbath Day – the Day of the Lord – a special day set aside for fellowship, to give and receive encouragement from fellow believers, wherein our faith in Jehovah God is renewed, hope is engendered, and thus the strength of our spiritual man is increased!
 
Yes Friends, the Sabbath Day is very important in the life of the believer. So let’s take it from the beginning nuh, from that time when the Lord handed down the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel, through Moses, at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Horeb).
 
And the Lord considered the Sabbath Day so important that He included it in those Ten Commandments, as stated so simply but rather directly in our Bit. ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ A simple, but no nonsense statement my people!
 
And to further testify to the high esteem the Sabbath day held in God’s eyes, He went on to explain in this addendum. ‘Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
 
For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.’ (Ex.20:9-12)
 
There can therefore be no argument about the observation of the Lord’s Day my brethren! We might argue –as we so foolishly do – as to exactly which day, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, is the seventh day, and the real Sabbath. But the undeniable fact of the matter is that whichever day we choose to celebrate it, we must seriously reverence the Lord in it.
 
And it’s interesting to note that as the Israelites made their pilgrimage through the wilderness, as the Lord gave Moses directions and instructions on how His chosen people were to live, the celebration of the Sabbath was raised several times. Let’s spend the rest of the Bit looking at some of them.
 
In Exodus 23, in the section on ‘Judgements concluded,’ Moses throws in this timely reminder. ‘Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.’ (Ex.23:12)
 
There you have it Friends, in black and white, from the mouth of the Lord through Moses; the Sabbath day, besides being blessed, hallowed and holy, is a day for refreshing both body and soul!
 
And moving right along, we come to Exodus 31, where the Sabbath is highlighted as a sign. Listen to the Good Book tell it: ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you (set you apart).
 
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth (profanes) it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul (person) shall be cut off (by death) from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
 
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.’ (Ex.32:12-17)
 
Yuh see mih breddren, the Lord’s Day was considered so important that if you breached it, death was to be the punishment!
 
Luckily for us though, we don’t go to those drastic lengths today, since Jesus came and declared: ‘The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27-28)
 
And the scholars explain that thus: ‘2:27-28. Jesus’ reasoning is that divine intuitions on earth are to have a God-honouring, noble, and liberating function. Sabbath laws had for some degenerated into a mockery of God’s intent. Jesus, the Son of man and Lord…of the sabbath, having power to forgive sin, can also teach rightly regarding proper observance of the Jewish Sabbath. Jesus here touches a raw nerve, as the next incident shows.’ That’s His healing of a lame man on the Sabbath day. (Mark 3:1-6)
 
However Friends, it still behoves us to keep the Sabbath day holy, and fellowship with each other, because that is exactly what Jesus did. Wherever He was on the Sabbath day, He made sure that He attended the synagogue to fellowship and hear the Word.
 
Then in Leviticus 19, re the laws of holiness and justice, this little tidbit on the Sabbath is thrown in. ‘Ye shall keep (observe) my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.’ (Lev.19:30) And the same thing is thrown in again on the chapter on Idolatry. (Lev.26:2)
 
Then in Deuteronomy 5, when Moses reminds them of the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), he goes through the Ten Commandments again, including: ‘Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it (keep it holy), as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.’ (Deut.5:12)
 
And we’ll close with a word from Isaiah on the observance of the Sabbath. ‘If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
 
Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places (hills) of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Is.58:13-14)
 
Yes Friends, if we truly honour the Lord on the Sabbath, then we will surely be blessed! That’s God’s promise. And we know He never breaks them, so let’s go out and honour Him today nuh, on His special day, and keep it as holy and restful as we can. That’s the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
 
…if the Creator of the universe could rest from His labour for one day…why can’t His greatest creation faithfully do the same eh…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 November 2014 Psalm 118:21

08 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 118:21.   I will praise thee: for thou hast heard (and answered) me, and art become my salvation.

Well it’s Saturday Friends… the day for sleeping in late and/or getting up early to do the household chores and run the errands that we couldn’t do during the workweek. Oh, in this go, go, go society of ours, there is always something else to do, something else that’s demanding, that’s screaming out for our time and attention. 
 
But you know what my people? In this rat-race society we have to make definite time for two things; rest, and quiet time with Almighty God!
 
Without those two things running at optimum levels, regardless of how good, how accomplished we are in the ways and busyness of the world, our brilliant construction will collapse and fall as soon as anything strong comes against it, because our physical and spiritual foundations are insufficient to support the worldly structure we’re trying to build. 
 

That reminds me of Jesus talking about the two men, one who built his house on a poor foundation of sand (the world and its values) and the other who constructed his on the strong foundation of rock (Jesus Christ).
 
And when the storms came, as they invariably do, the wind and rain washed away the foundation of the house built on the sand and the house itself collapsed. But the one built on the foundation of rock staunchly withstood the elements. (Luke 6:46-48)
 
That my Friends, is what happens when we rush about madly, trying to achieve and acquire the things the world considers important, of top priority, and we’re not kind and considerate to our physical and spiritual needs.
 
And the sad part is that we now see such foundations crumbling much more often than we did a generation or two ago, when the pace of life was much slower and more in tune with God. Unfortunately it is also happening to younger and younger persons all the time.
 
The unrelenting thrust of today’s pace of life, and the resultant stress and strain are taking a serious toll on the society’s young, because that’s all a lot of them know – always in a rush, multitasking, constantly on the social media networks – and neither the body nor the mind were built to withstand such abnormal pressures.
 
Anyway my brethren, for those of us who have learned the lesson of life – many the hard way – to build our structures on the strong foundation of Jesus, our Bit today helps us to acknowledge where our wisdom and contentment come from. ‘I will praise thee: for thou hast heard (and answered) me, and art become my salvation.’
 
And that’s no lie, my fellow believers, for our God is ever so worthy of praise, because he has heard and answered our heartfelt prayers, even to the sending of His only son Jesus to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins, and thus ultimately our Saviour, the reason for our reconciliation to the Father, and therefore our salvation.
 
And the sound of God’s people suddenly and solemnly ring out to high heaven: ‘Thank You Father! Thank You for sending Jesus to bring us back to You. We LOVE and adore You, and praise Your Holy Name!’
 
And that’s why the psalmist began Psalm 118 – Thanksgiving for the Lord’s salvation- this way. ‘O give thanks unto the Lord: for he is good: because his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever.’ (Ps.118:1) And throughout the psalm he continually repeats that verse, so by the end, that thought, those serious and sacred words have been indelibly written in your soul.
 
And talking about answered prayer, listen to these verses from Psalm 116 – Praise for deliverance from death. ‘I LOVE the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me (listened to me), therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.’ (Ps.116:1-2)
 
Oh my people, that’s simple logic and common sense! If you’ve called upon the Lord, and He heard and answered you, then you’d be a fool not to keep on calling on Him. And as I researched our Bit, I was amazed to find some very poignant and prominent verses of scripture in rather close proximity to it. I had some idea of where they were to be found, but never really made the connection until now.
 
Hear these memorable verses of scripture that follow our Bit. ‘The stone which the builders refused (rejected) is become the head stone of the corner (the chief cornerstone). This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ (Ps.118:22-24)
 
Yes Friends, most of us know those scriptures, but I suspect that only a few know that they come one right after the other in the same psalm.
 
And we’ll close, most appropriately with the last two verses of Psalm 118, ‘Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.’ (Ps.118:28-29)
 
Gospel truth Friends, gospel truth! Let’s remember that, and wisely build our lives around them. Much LOVE!
 
…any structure, edifice, family or organization…is only as strong as its foundation…and the best, the strongest  foundation is Jesus Christ…

 

 


 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 November 2014 Isaiah 61:11

07 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 61:11.   For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

 
Aye Friends, what’s up this damp and chilly Friday morning eh?
 
And the answer immediately comes back: ‘How yuh mean what’s up? It’s Friday…therefore we’re joyful, because the slave labour soon finish for another week! We get to do our own thing for two big, whole days.
 
Wow! That’s why we cry out in grateful praise: TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! And our wonderful God will soon give us some relief from the ungodly bondage of 9 to 5! So let’s rejoice and be glad in this day that the Lord has so graciously made and given to us!’
 
And that’s exactly as it ought to be my people. Rejoicing in God’s goodness and mercy should be the norm everyday that we awake with His awesome breath of life pulsating through our mortal bodies!
 
We should be declaring that we have such a joy deep down in our souls that it just makes us want to shout it out; to tell the whole wide world about it! To tell them what an amazing God we serve and worship!
 
To testify about all the wonderful and amazing things He’s done in our lives, is currently doing, and has promised to do in the future! That’s true discipleship and ambassadorial duty for Jesus Christ!
 
And as our Bit – taken from Isaiah’s prophetic declaration of good tidings of salvation to Zion – so wisely and truthfully tells us: ‘For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.’
 
And all God’s children gave a mighty and joyful shout of ‘Praise the Lord! Let all creation give Him thanks and praise! For He is indeed worthy to be praised!’
 
Yes my people, we have to believe God’s Word; see it through our eyes of faith; see a time when our God will cause righteousness and praise to cover the earth. He promises it… and He WILL deliver, because He is ever faithful to keep His promises! He hasn’t broken one yet, since the beginning of time.
 
As the Jermaine Cowan reggae song declares, the Lord will give us: ‘Beauty for ashes… In a shower of grace. Hope for tomorrow – It’s a brand new day. He took away my sorrow. Put a smile on my face. Beauty for ashes… In a shower of grace…’ Yes Friends, that’s the way of our wonderful God!
 
And in Psalm 72 – the reign of the righteous king – one of two authored by Cousin Sol (Psalm 127 is the other), he mirrors our Bit by proclaiming: ‘The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.’ (Ps.72:3)
 
Of a truth my brethren, our great King Jesus Christ will bring about a golden age, one of peace, LOVE and prosperity when the time is right!
 
This at a time when the Lord has removed His anger from Israel, as the sons of Korah proclaim in Psalm 85. ‘Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
 
Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps (make His footsteps into a way).’ (Ps.85:10-13)
 
Oh my people, how beautiful, heartwarming and reassuring are those words!
 
That brings us back to Isaiah’s words, re the future glory of Zion. ‘Violence shall no more (no longer) be heard in thy land, wasting (devastation) nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
 
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.’ (Is.60:16-19)
 
Oh my fellow believers, how we all wish those times were taking place right now, instead of the exact opposite conditions –devastation and destruction – of our current world order. But we cannot give up on the beauty of that vision; we have to persevere until it comes to pass.
 
As Isaiah reminds us, re the restoration of Zion: ‘For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
 
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace (keep silent) day nor night: ye that make mention of (remember) the Lord, keep not silence. And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.’ (Is.62:5-7)
 
So Friends, in accordance with God’s request, let’s not keep silent nuh. Let’s continually make mention of, and give praise to our amazing and merciful God – starting right now, with our Friday Chant.
 
As one voice now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.
 
Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’
 
Now let’s go out sincerely believing the Word of the Lord, holding it up always in our mind’s eye, as the eternal vision, and doing whatever we can to help it be fulfilled. That’s all that Jesus asks of us. Much LOVE!
 
…in a world where Jesus reigns supreme…only praise and righteousness are worthy to be present…

 

 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 6 November 2014 2 Corinthians 2:14.

06 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Corinthians 2:14.   Now thanks be unto God , which always causeth (leads) us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (fragrance) of his knowledge by us in every place.
 
Well a good Thursday morning to you my Friends and Scrip-Bit family members! And isn’t it wonderful and immensely reassuring to know without a doubt, that the universe is unfolding as it ought to, under the ever-watchful eye and wise guidance of its awesome Creator, Jehovah God?
 
Ah my people, it certainly is! When we have Jesus occupying First Place in our lives, then there’s NOTHING we ought to worry about, for He has promised to NEVER leave us, to NEVER forsake us, and to ALWAYS lead and guide us through His Holy Spirit which dwells in the body of every single person who believes that He is indeed the Way, the Truth, the Light and the Life, and has surrendered their lives to His will, His wise plan of action for them.
 
Hn, hn, hn! What a sentence Friends, but one of indisputable truth! That’s why we believers can all genuinely declare: ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!’ (Phil.4:13)
 
And that’s also why American author and poet, Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919) could convincingly say that ‘There is nothing we cannot live down, rise above and overcome.’ We become empowered through the Spirit of Jesus Christ, so that we can triumph over whatever adversity or trouble that comes against us.
 
And that word ‘TRIUMPH’ is one we ought to think about continually, use often and get excited about my people, because there’s been no greater triumph in this world than that of Jesus over Lucifer, death and the grave, obtained by His sacrificial death on the cross, that was then solidified by His glorious resurrection on that joyful and triumphant Easter morn!
 
No wonder Bruh Paul could say in our Bit to the church at Corinth: ‘Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth (leads) us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour (fragrance) of his knowledge by us in every place.’
 
Yes Friends, victory is ours, if we walk hand in hand with Jesus!
 
For as Bruh Paul continues after our Bit: ‘For we are unto God a sweet savour (the sweet fragrance) of Christ, in (among) them that are saved, and in (among) them that perish: To the one we are the savour (aroma) of death unto death; and to the other the savour (aroma) of life unto life.
 
And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not as many, which corrupt (peddle by trickery) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of (from) God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.’ (2 Cor.2:15-17)
 
And the scholars explain all of that thus: ‘2:14-17. Triumph (cf.Col.2:9-15): The imagery conveyed in use of this term is of the Roman general who marched in victory with his entourage, consisting of two groups: them that are saved, and …them that perish.
 
The former group referred to those allowed to live as slaves of the empire. The latter group comprised the condemned, who were being led to their death. Each group carried burning incense. The one was, verse 16, a savour of death unto death, the other was a fragrance of life unto life.
 
Calvary was the mighty display of the infinite power of a sovereign God. The human race was divided into two categories: those of life unto life and those of death unto death.’
 
Thank God, my people, that we are firmly ensconced in the life unto life group, which holds Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, as Calvary was indeed a triumphant display of God’s awesome might and power! And most important of all, it brought us Gentiles into the sphere, the fold of Jesus, a most sacred and holy place where we’d never been before.
 
And all God’s people gave out with a loud and appreciative shout of: ‘Praise God! Praise His Holy Name, for He is indeed worthy to be praised and glorified!’
 
Yes Friends, Jesus has triumphed over the powers of darkness and evil! ‘And having spoiled (disarmed) principalities and powers, he made a show (spectacle) of them openly, triumphing over them in it.’ (Col.2:15) That’s for certain sure my brethren!
 
And here is an interesting explanation of that verse by the scholars. ‘2:15. Having spoiled principalities and powers: By the Cross God disarmed or deprived Satan and all his demonic horde of the power and sway with which they formerly gripped the Colossians. By this statement Paul might well have asked the Colossians, How can you give ear to any doctrine advocating angel worship (v.18), when they are all subject to God?’
 
And so they truly are! But unfortunately these evil powers of darkness refuse to give up the fight, although they know that they have lost the war, and we live in a world where they still rule and control a lot of people and stuff.
 
That’s why Bruh Paul wisely reminds us to: ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that ye might be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world (age), against spiritual (spiritual hosts of) wickedness in high places.
 
Wherefore take unto you (take up) the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ (Eph.6:11-13)
 
Yes my people, everyday when we arise, we need to put on the spiritual armour of God – helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sandals of peace, belt of truth, shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit – so that we are protected from the enemy’s wickedness.
 
Otherwise, he is going to find some dark and dismal means to invade, to infiltrate our souls. And we definitely don’t want that to happen. So let’s make sure that we’re clothed at all times in that protective armour!
 
And we’ll close with a simple statement made by a psalmist long ago, but one which displays great faith and assurance in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In praising God for His goodness, the psalmist unequivocally declares: ‘For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.’ (Ps.92:4)
 
And that my people is gospel truth! So let’s go out today, and everyday, believing it, so that we can do wonders, be triumphant in the name of Jesus Christ! Much LOVE!
 
…when the great triumphs of this world are listed…Jesus at Calvary…is ALWAYS NUMBER ONE…

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 November 2014 Romans 5:8.

05 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Romans 5:8.  But God commendeth (demonstrates) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Well well mih breddren, it’s Wednesday…! We’re halfway home in our workweek race…and we’re winning too! So please don’t let up, keep the pedal to the metal (smile) and just keep on doing whatever has been working for you so far.

Our omnipotent and merciful God is still on the throne, still in control, and He has the lives of all His children in good standing, calmly and blessedly working out His glorious plan for their good.

And all God’s children boldly and gratefully declared: ‘All praise and thanks be to the Lord our God, who in His great unconditional LOVE reconciled us to Himself, through the sacrifice of His son Jesus, while we were yet sinners!’

Oh what a truly wonderful and glorious God we serve and worship, my people!

And if by sad chance, you don’t happen to know that awesome Deity, or don’t know Him well enough, then here’s a li’l something from Gramps Schuller’s (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) Hour of Power Devotional to help you ‘Learn to Know God.’

Please acclaim with me: ‘Dear Jesus, I’ve got to get to know you better. Please help me! I can feel my spiritual and emotional walls crack. I can hear old chains break. I can feel my heart opening like a heavy door whose ancient seals have just begun to break.

I can sense the footsteps of Jesus walking into my life. I am beginning to experience the joy of a soul that is being saved, a life that is being born again. Thank You, Lord! Life’s not fair, but God is good. Amen.’

And if you said that prayer sincerely, then you will indeed feel all those old walls and encumbrances breaking down, falling apart, as Jesus fully enters your life. Wow Friends, our God is truly awesome, truly something else yes! 

And Bruh Paul points it out so clearly in our Bit: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrates) his (own) LOVE toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’

And all God’s children declared a loud and thankful: ‘Glory Hallelujah! All thanks and praise be to the Lamb who was slain for us!’ Yes my people, we can never repay, or thank Jesus enough for dying in our place.

As the scholars explain it: ‘5:8. Christ died for us: His death was vicarious. That is, He did not die merely for our benefit but in our place. His was a substitutionary sacrifice.’

That means we don’t have to die again for our sins; Jesus’ death paid for everything! Glory Be! And that’s why I can’t understand why so many people today are running away from Jesus instead of running towards Him.

But yuh know what my brethren, it all stemmed from the Father’s great LOVE for us! He didn’t have to send Jesus to the cross on our behalf nuh, He could just have left us to wallow in our abominable sins and end up in death and eternal separation from Him.

But His undying LOVE for us, His greatest creation, was so strong, it outweighed the grief, losing us would have caused Him. So in His vast, unending wisdom, He devised a plan to give us access to His holiness, righteousness and justice. Now, offering His One Son as a sacrifice hurt Him too, but He considered it the lesser of two evils.

As Jesus so boldly proclaims in a scripture we all know: ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16)

Oh Friends, I can’t think of a greater sacrifice than that; a Father giving up His only Son for a bunch of obnoxious, sinful ingrates!

But then again, as Jesus so poignantly declares: ‘Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13) Then He went out and died for us to prove it.

Friends, Jesus put His money where His mouth was, are we doing the same? I certainly hope so, because there’s a very important addendum to that statement He made above there. ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ (John 15:14)

Yes my fellow believers, we can only be His true friends if we are obedient to His commands! If we are disobedient to His dictates, then we are not His friends. And that’s quite logical. It doesn’t make sense my dying for you, if you won’t live for me.

Now here’s an interesting bit of scripture on the subject from Peter, with which we’ll close today’s proceedings. Peter talks somewhat graphically about Christ’s suffering.

‘Who in his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet.2:24-25)

Oh my people, please, let’s put that on our plate to ponder on today nuh. Let that image of Christ on the cross be in our mind’s eye today, as we journey through life in this sinful and ungodly world, being His friend, doing as He commands, remembering that it was by His ‘sufferation’ that we were made whole, and given a once in a lifetime chance to return to the safe and LOVING fold of our great God and Creator: Yahweh! Much LOVE!

…friends stand by each other…so let’s stand by Jesus…as He stood by us two thousand years ago…and still stands by us everyday…

P.S. Oh Friends, it’s so short and sweet today! Glory be! So no complaints from the penny section. (smile) Much LOVE!

P.S.S. Would you believe that as soon as I was ready to send out the Bit, the ole computer froze on me. Chuh! It sure is trying to drive me crazy! But with the awesome help of Jesus, I won’t allow it to do so. (smile) Much LOVE!

 

 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 November 2014 Psalm 4:1.

04 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 4:1.      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.
 
Ah Friends, can you believe it’s already Tuesday? Wow! The days are certainly flying by quickly, which means we have no time to lose in getting to know our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
 
We need to make our peace with Him ASAP; in fact RIGHT NOW, for who knows if He will come without warning today and pluck His people from wherever they are, and from whatever they are doing. And once He comes, heralded by the sound of the mighty trump, all bets are off, or as they say, who don’t win lose.
 
And I’m sure you don’t want everlasting separation from God to be your eternal lot and destiny. So please get a move on, give your all to Jesus Christ! It’s the best decision you can ever make as a mortal being!
 
Now here is another excerpt from the One Year Book of Bible Promises, one that’s rather appropriate for our current, modern-day lifestyle. It’s titled ‘Busy Day,’ and says: ‘Lord, this is one of those days I must ask You to preserve my sanity In the midst of turmoil. I’m so pressed by commitments– Plus a thousand trivial tasks- That I can scarcely see over my head.
 
So I plead for enough wisdom To sort my priorities carefully. Regardless of my frenzied schedule May I keep my sense of humour And even enjoy a hearty chuckle or two. Calm my quivering nerves With mental flashes from Your Word. Help me to maintain At least a semblance Of Mary-Martha balance.
 
And tonight when we’re together again Should my husband confront me with “What have you been doing today?” May my answer be genuine and gentle: “Part of the time, darling I’ve thanked God for you.’
 
Yes Friends, that definitely sounds like many of us! And the accompanying scripture is: ‘And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful (worried) and troubled about many things (the little details).’ (Luke 10:41)
 
Ah mih people, balance is so sadly lacking in so many -too many- of our lives, that most days we don’t know whether we’re coming or going! And balance is ever so important, if we want to live fruitful and faithful lives.
 
And the best way to achieve balance is by keeping Jehovah God in first place in our lives, and giving ourselves to continual prayer, which brings us to our Bit. ‘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.’
 
And some of you will be glad to hear that this is the last day for that particular Bit. (smile) And as usual, we’ll get into the scriptures with a story about Jesus on the subject; the one where He cleanses the temple.
 
The Good Book tells it thus: ‘And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew (overturned) the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
 
And would not suffer that (allow) any man should carry any vessel (wares) through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of (for) all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.’ (Mark 11:15-17)
 
Yuh see Friends, the constant desecration of the Lord’s house, His haven for prayer, was one of the few things that made Jesus so angry that He resorted to violence.
 
Meanwhile, the awesome power of prayer is shown in Acts, where Bruh Paul is in Macedonia. ‘And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be (customarily) made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither (met there).
 
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple (purple dye), of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto (took heed of) the things which were spoken of Paul.
 
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought (begged) us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained (compelled) us.’ (Acts 16:13-15)
 
Oh my people, how great indeed is the power of prayer, because it works through the omnipotence of the Creator of the universe and all therein!
 
And I don’t believe that there’s anybody who cried out to Jehovah God as much as Bruh David did. Listen to his plea from the opening verses of Psalm 5 – a prayer for protection. ‘Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my meditation (groaning). Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
 
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell (sojourn) in thee.’ (Ps.5:1-4)
 
And we’ll close this series of messages on prayer; its uses and its amazing power, with the moving and memorable words of Jesus’ half brother James, who only came to faith after the resurrection.
 
‘Is any among you afflicted (suffering)? let him pray. Is any merry (cheerful)? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
 
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults (trespasses) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual (effective) fervent prayer (supplication) of a righteous man availeth much.
 
Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are (with a nature like ours), and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by (land for) the space of three years ans six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.’ (James 5:13-18)
 
Oh my fellow believers, those are indeed words of awesome wisdom! It is ever so important that prayer occupies a central place in our daily lives. As such, we ought to be devoted to prayer, because it’s the strong lifeline, the umbilical cord between our mortal selves and the divine God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
 
If it’s broken, then we perish, like a baby in its mother’s womb when its lifeline breaks. So please, I implore us to be wise and not break that very tenuous connection, reach out to God with prayer, in hungry hope and expectant faith. Much LOVE!
 
…continue in prayer…and watch in the same…with thanksgiving… (Col.4:2)

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 3 November 2014 Psalm 4:1.

03 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 4:1.  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.

Awright Friends, here’s today’s good news: that day which we all tend to dislike, despise and shout out all sorts of deleted expletives at….well it has rolled around again.
 
Yes, my people, it’s Monday once again; a big, bright, bold, beautiful, juicy, edible Monday! (smile) So please don’t pour out any invective at it, just nibble quietly on its tantalizing parts, as we do whatever is necessary to get ourselves to go out and labour.
 
And if we worshipped and fellowshipped and gave thanks and praise to Almighty God yesterday, and wisely basked in His LOVE and peace, then getting ourselves together shouldn’t be too hard to do, because our spirits would already have been prepared to go out and battle the infidel this morning.
 
But regardless of what action we took yesterday, useful or harmful, let’s ratchet up our desire for Jesus this morning by singing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with all the oomph and Christ-like enthusiasm we can muster.
 
So in strong, harmonious and melodic voice, let’s sing. ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together.
 
We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies.
 
But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle.
 
Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’  
 
Steupssss! What was that eh mh people? That was only a so-so rendition. Too many hoarse, out of tune, off key voices! What with all the rehearsals and the reminders to practice on your own, we should be doing much better by now. 
 
But as the old people would say, like we going from bad to worse! And that’s no lie! But it is certainly unacceptable. Even Jesus had to shake His head in concern for our poor performance.
 
But yuh know what Friends, our God is so wonderful, that He will forgive us, because He knows that we are sincerely trying, that our spirits are willing but our flesh is weak. So please, let’s not get down on ourselves. Instead, let’s cry out to Him in the words of our Bit, like Bruh David did in his time of need and anguish.
 
‘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.’
 
Ah my people, the power of prayer is the most valuable commodity, as well as the mightiest weapon in our earthly arsenal! That’s because it connects us to the most powerful force in the universe; Jehovah God, its Creator and Controller!  
 
Now here’s another instance from the Good Book, where our Poster Boy, Jesus Christ, our supreme example of the need for, and the efficacy and effectiveness of prayer, shrugs off everything else and gets quiet with the Father.
 
After He heals a leper and His fame is so noised abroad that multitudes begin coming to Him for healing, what does He do? ‘And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.’ (Luke 5:16)
 
Yes my brethren, even Jesus had to renew His spirit through peaceful communication with His heavenly Father. And that only highlights our desperate need for the same, especially since we’re of such sinful nature.  
 
Now listen to these verses on prayer from Psalm 66, which extols the great works of God. The psalmist wisely cries out in testimony: ‘Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled (praised, exalted) with my tongue.
 
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.’ (Ps.66:16-20)
 
Ah Friends, what godly wisdom is ensconced therein! Please let’s show our own wisdom and accept it; write it indelibly in our hearts, souls and minds, so that we can, and will have prayer power always at hand!
 
And here’s a most appropriate ending from Peter. ‘But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.’ (1 Pet.4:7) That’s gospel truth Friends!
 
So till we meet again, may the Lord bless and keep us safe on our pilgrim’s journey; may He shine His radiant countenance upon us and give us His peace which passes all mortal understanding, and the wisdom to come to Him in prayer at ALL times, be they good or bad. Much LOVE!
 
…the result of prayer is life… (St. Francis of Assisi) 
 
P.S. Chuh! I was less than perfect yesterday when I gave the reading for the poem ‘Enormous Rewards’ as being Ephesians 5:20. It should have been 3:20: ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’
 
Now that’s a much more appropriate scripture. I never felt right about it yesterday, but figured if that’s what the author said, who was I to question it? Then today I was drawn to the poem and discovered my error. Please accept my humble apology. The ole fella is only human…and getting on in age too, so he’s not as mentally nimble as he once was, or his eyesight as good. (smile) Much LOVE!

 

 

 


 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 November 2014 Psalm 4:1

02 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 4:1.   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.
 
Oh my Friends, it’s Sunday; the Sabbath Day, that blessed day of the Lord, when He rested from all His workweek labour! Oh Glory be! Let’s try and follow His example and do the same today nuh, as much as we can, or allowed to do in this 24/7 society.
 
And that includes fellowshipping with other believers at His sanctuary, where we can increase our faith, hope and trust in Almighty God through communal praise and worship. Yes my people, gathering together to magnify our mighty and magnanimous God is filled with all sorts of rewards.
 
And talking about rewards, here is a poem from that new to me, but old in actual age Devotional – The One Year Book of Bible Promises. The poem is titled ‘Enormous Rewards’ and says: ‘O dear God  Thank you for teaching me  The enormous rewards of walking obediently with You: There is joy without guilt  Freedom without fear  Satisfaction without sordidness  Purpose without confusion Friendship without compromise  Forgiveness without penance  Fulfilment without disappointment.’
 
And the scripture reading that comes with it is: ‘Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;’ (Eph.5:20) Not a bad idea at all my people, in fact a rather wise and advisable one for ALL believers, from the many that Bruh Paul declared.  
 
Now let’s turn to our Bit, where Bruh David is calling out for help through prayer, to the God of his fathers. ‘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.’
 
Ah mih breddren, that is indeed a most worthy plea, but are our hearts in sync with God’s Word? That’s the big question? As our poem above talks about, are we walking obediently with Him? Hopefully the answer is a vigorous and truthful ‘Yes!’
 
And Bruh David continues thus with his evening prayer of trust in God: ‘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.
 
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call upon him. Stand in awe (tremble, be agitated), and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.  Selah. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.’ (Ps.4:2-5)
 
Oh Friends, we couldn’t get any better advice than that!  Put your trust in God and talk to Him in prayer!
 
And Jesus is our poster boy, our most worthy example of that. Check out the night before His crucifixion, when He went up to the Garden of Gethsemane, and said to the disciples ‘Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder (over there) And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful (grieved) and very heavy (deeply distressed).
 
Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry (stay) ye here and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
 
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week.
 
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except (unless) I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.’ (Matt.26:36-44)
 
Oh Friends, what more do we need to make us believe in the necessity for prayer eh? There we have the Son of God, in His passion, beseeching His heavenly Father for mercy and help to endure His upcoming tribulations. Note too though, that regardless of all His pleas, one thing remained constant; He always acknowledged, it was the Father’s will that would be done.
 
And our prayers ought always to have that same acknowledgement my people. Regardless of what we desire, we must always be prepared to do the Lord’s bidding, to endure His will, because His will is paramount over everything. If Jesus recognized that, then as His followers, we should be wise enough to do so too.  
 
Now let’s look at one more example of the power of prayer: this when Herod kills James and imprisons Peter, having him personally watched by a squad of four soldiers, intending to put him on trial after the Passover. The Good Book relates: ‘Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.’  (Just as Bruh Paul advises in 1 Thess.17)
 
‘And when Herod would have brought (was about to bring) him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers (guards) before the door kept the prison. And behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him (stood by), and he smote Peter on the side, and raise him up saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
 
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist (knew) not that it was true (real) which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.
 
When they were past the first and second ward (guard posts), they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
 
And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety (for certain), that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.’ (Acts 12:5-11)
 
Yes Friends, that’s the awesome power of sincere prayer! Please let it reassure and encourage us in all our worldly dealings. We do have an omnipotent and merciful God to call upon in times of need. Let’s make full use of that wonderful option, for it is indeed the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
 
…prayer is our number one source of communication with our Creator…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 November 2014 Psalm 4:1.

01 Nov 2014 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 4:1.  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.

And then it was Saturday…time for sleeping in late and all that good stuff! Chuh! Some of us just don’t have time for such luxuries nuh, we have to be up and about God’s business. (smile)  But our wonderful God rewards us in other ways, so we really can’t complain.

And talking about complaining, I believe that’s one of the serious problems in our society. We have been so spoiled by God’s goodness and mercy over the years, that now things have become somewhat rough, our pampered bodies and souls can’t handle it, and we end up complaining about small, petty things which makes us sound like spoiled brats.
 
The petty things that we complain about, 80 % of the world would gladly take, as opposed to the real serious problems they have. The technological and communications revolutions haven’t helped matters either, making us ever more in need for speed and dependent on them, so that when they fail, or break down, as man made things are wont to do, we get very testy and impatient.
 
Impatience is another one of the great flaws of our Western society, and we exemplify it even in our prayers to Almighty God. But God knows what we need and what we want, and gives it to us at the right time, if He sees fit.
 
But many of us turn away from God because of the foolish reasoning that we prayed, waited – possibly for a couple of hours or days – and didn’t receive what we prayed for, be it legitimate or fanciful, and then decide that God either doesn’t exist or doesn’t truly answer prayer.
 
But Friends, I’m here to tell us that that’s just another one of the enemy’s cruel deceptions. Our God is alive and on His throne, in control of everything! And He does hear and answer prayer – sincere ones that is, those which come from a heart with pure and sincere motives.
 
And our Bit aptly demonstrates that, as Bruh David cries out to the God of his fathers. ‘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.’  
 
Obviously the Lord had heard his prayer of distress sometime before and had helped him out of it. That only boosted Bruh David’s faith, as it should ours, when God faithfully answers our sincere prayers.
 
And once again we’ll proclaim that the greatest example of the need for prayer comes from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Yesterday we highlighted a scripture passage which showed His prayerfulness (Luke 6:12).
 
Today we’ll highlight another one. The Good Book tells us: ‘And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary (deserted) place, and there prayed.’ (Mark 1:35)
 
And since that comes from God’s Word, my brethren, that means it’s gospel truth! So, as we also said yesterday, if Jesus felt the need for prayer, why should we, mere mortals, not feel it too eh? We’re just too full of foolish pride and stubborn, rebellious ego, thinking that we’re so great, when all we are is a collection of fallible flesh and bones, which eventually returns to the dust from which it was formed.
 
Anyway, let’s look at some more scriptures which highlight the importance of prayer. Listen to the wisdom of Cousin Sol. ‘The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.’ (Prov.15:8)
 
And the scholars say of that: ’15:8. The best that the wicked can offer God religiously is completely rejected.’ For good reason too!
 
Meanwhile, in Acts, after the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on ALL believers, and the Christian communal community was growing at a fast rate, the apostles decided that they had more important things to do than running around doing pantry duty. (smile)
 
‘It is not reason (desirable) that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore brethren, look (seek) ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.’ (Acts 6:2-4) And that’s when Stephen was chosen.
 
And then, as today’s last example, there’s Bruh Paul, who, in his usual zealous fervour, tells the Philippians: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation (graciousness, reasonableness) be known to all men. The Lord is at hand (His coming is imminent).
 
Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil.4:4-7)
 
Yes my people, there’s no greater service that we can perform than prayer…with some thanksgiving too!
 
So let’s take that wonderful advice of Bruh Paul’s to heart nuh, and thus reform and/or reinvigorate our prayer lives, and consequently the lives of all those around us. That’s the wisdom of God, my fellow believers! Much LOVE!
 
…when we pray…we communicate with our heavenly Father…the One who created us…and who controls our life strings…and without whom we can’t do anything substantial…

 

 

 

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