SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, remember it’s the weekend and that calls for some fellowship amongst the fun, frolic and rest. In fact it’s the most important aspect of them all, for if we don’t make a physical connection with other believers, and together, a spiritual connection with our Creator, then our souls will not be rejuvenated, refreshed and strengthened to go out and face Lucifer and his numerous workers of evil, come Monday morning. So please, let’s make sure we fellowship with other believers this weekend, and every weekend where humanly possible. Let’s find the time, or better yet make time, at least one day a week, to give thanks and praise, ask for mercy and forgiveness in a group of believers, so that we can bring honour and glory to our God. Wow! What a perfect lead in to our Bit the Holy Spirit just gave me there! Oh Friends, despite some small, mysterious happening every day I write the Bit, I’m still surprised when it happens, and can’t get over the Spirit’s helpful, encouraging power. Sometimes it’s just helping me to remember a name, or pointing me to a useful bit of scripture, and also sending me back to read something I’d written, only to find that I’d made a significant mistake. Yes my people, there’s absolutely no doubting of the Holy Spirit’s solid working in our lives, for as Zechariah purposefully declared: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ (Zech.4:6) And that statement is gospel truth mih breddren! However, it doesn’t just happen by chance; we have to repent and believe, then welcome that Spirit into our hearts, souls and minds, and then allow it to lead us. Friends, it cannot be just a sometime thing either, but entails total surrender to its leadership. And I have to laugh here, because that’s another thing the Spirit does; it leads me along paths that I never planned to follow, but which turn out to be very useful. This is one such time, for I never intended to run a dialogue, or rather a monologue (smile) on the ways, works and benefits of the Spirit. I simply wanted to point out its helpfulness in giving me an easy segue into the Bit, but then it led me further on, and we still haven’t gotten to the Bit. But Friends, I also just realized why, and I’ll share it in a moment. First though, let’s state our Bit; one we’ve been working on for the past few days; one that says a whole lot of wonderful things about our gracious and generous God. ‘Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ Ah mih people, doesn’t it just warm the cockles of your hearts, making them sing with joy and hope, when you hear our God described in such unique, exotic, superlative terms?  It certainly ought to, since there’s no other God but Him, and it’s those amazing attributes; ‘the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,’ which we’ve already dealt with, that actually makes Him worthy of the name God, and therefore worthy of ‘honour and glory for ever and ever,’ which we’ll deal with today. And Friends, that’s exactly why the Spirit led me where it did; so that I could get current, first hand experience of the Lord’s awesome spiritual powers and personally testify to it, thereby showering Him with the honour and glory His Holy Name so richly deserves. Oh my brethren, all of us have cause to be immensely grateful to the Lord, but unfortunately we don’t give Him the many accolades which rightfully belong to Him, and sadly that poor individual attitude morphs into a collective that doesn’t do it either. Yuh think, if we believers stood up staunchly and steadfastly and praised our God with the praise, reverence, respect, and honour truly due to Him, that our world would have slipped, and still be slipping, into the abyss of ungodliness? No way Jose! Look how Lucifer’s followers use every opportunity to laud and magnify his evil name and actions! They walk their talk. We should be doing the same for the Lord God Jehovah; even magnifying Him higher, since He is much higher than Lucifer. Just like us, Lucifer can’t do anything unless the Lord allows it. But Friends, we’re sadly lacking in the enthusiasm and lifestyle that is supposed to honour and glorify the Lord’s name. Some of us are even ashamed to talk about Him, while too many of us talk a good talk, but don’t back it up with the godly walk, which makes us all look like fools and hypocrites. That, my people, is totally unacceptable, if we claim to be serious followers of Jesus. Past generations did their part; kept the Lord’s name to the forefront through all sorts of struggles and persecutions, just like the Chinese Christians are doing right now; standing up to the godless Communist powers, to be able to freely worship the ONE, TRUE God  of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in whom they believe. Oh Friends, we need to fervently pray for them, asking the Lord to give them the necessary wherewithal to stand strong, because they are making a major difference along an entirely new frontier. On the other hand, we over here have gotten lazy and complacent with our freedom to worship. We in the West definitely have to do a better job in honouring and glorifying our God, providing we truly consider Him as mighty and magnificent as Bruh Paul says. And I’ll only quote one passage of scripture that gives an excellent example of how to do it. Yes Friends, it’s Bruh David’s famous thanksgiving and prayer. ‘Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. (1 Chr.29:10-13) Ah mih people, if we truly desire to bring the honour and glory to God’s name, that He so richly deserves, then we’ve got to break out of our complacency, break into action, go out into the world and justify our words. That’s the only way to accomplish such a worthwhile deed. Much LOVE!…the time for talk is past…now it’s time for serious action…

Awright mih people, it’s Monday once again! But we NOT singing NO Blues today! Instead we’re hitting the road dressed in our complete suit of spiritual armour, ready, willing and able to battle the denizens of iniquity to the death, if necessary! Hn, hn! Like the ole fella in fine fettle this morning Friends. But seriously though, that’s the way we’ve got to be on those mornings when we have to go out and face the evil world that surrounds us, otherwise we’d be toast in no time at all. And like we’ve been saying for the last two days, and will reiterate again today; we can only do that successfully by putting our complete and total trust in the Lord God Jehovah, surrendering our will to Him, and allowing Him to guide our lives along the path(s) that He desires and thinks suitable, for He’s omnipotent, omniscient and ever present. Wow! What better personage is there for us to let guide out mortal earthly lives eh mih people? NONE whatsoever! How could there ever be, when the Lord’s our Creator, and also the most powerful Being in the universe? And when we surrender our all to him, place our lives totally in His control, what happens? As Isaiah, that great man of God said: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ And all the Lord’s people loudly mouthed: ‘Oh Praise the Lord God, for His great kindness and tender mercies towards us!’ Yes Friends, when we lean and depend on the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for all our needs, He fills our souls with a peace that far exceeds human comprehension and understanding. Some of you must be wondering how I could be talking about that awesome state of peace for three days and not mention the real McCoy; the Prince of Peace. But have no fear mih people, there’s method to the ole fella’s madness: I was just saving the best for last. (smile)  As Isaiah so astutely put it: ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ (Is.9:6) That’s our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ he’s talking about, centuries before He actually came to earth. But there was also another prophesy, much closer to His coming; that of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, who, filled with the Holy Ghost, declared at John’s birth:  ‘And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission (forgiveness) of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring (the Messiah) from on high hath visited us. To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:76-79) Now we know those prophesies were eventually fulfilled, but here’s some further corroboration from Bruh Paul: ‘But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes (once) were far off are made right by the blood of Christ. For he (he himself) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (division) between us.’ (Eph.2:13-14) Yes people, Jesus broke down all barriers and partitions between Jews and Gentiles, believers and heathens when He came to earth, preached, lived, and died in support of the good news of His Gospel of peace and goodwill to all mankind. Now let’s hear some words on peace from Jesus. And we’ll open with those memorable words when He promised to send the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be ye afraid.’ (John 14:27) We see there Friends that Jesus’ peace is not the same as that of the world. The peace that the world offers can easily be taken away, but not that of Jesus. Once we believe steadfastly in Him, His peace will be conferred on us forever. Now to further show how important the principle of peace was to our Lord and Saviour, listen to these words of His. When He sent out the seventy disciples to gather converts, (Luke 10) He told them: ‘Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip (bag), nor shoes (sandals): and salute (greet) no man by the way (along the road). And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.’ (Luke 10:3-7) Yes Friends, the first greeting on entering a home was to be one of peace. And if it was well received, then they should sojourn there. Then in John 20:19, when He first appears to the disciples, after His resurrection, His first words were also the uplifting greeting that He’d taught them. ‘Peace be unto you.’ And after they’d milled around Him and seen His scars, and were joyous at His presence, Jesus said to them again: ‘Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.’ (John 20:21) This all shows that peace was a basic ingredient in Jesus’ ministry, and so should it also be in ours. Now let’s end with one more of Jesus’ statements on peace, when He was trying to wrap up things with the disciples before His arrest and crucifixion. He ended it thus: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Friends, those words also apply to us today. So let’s take them to heart and do what Jesus says; be of good cheer, and go out and overcome the world just as He did, with His help obviously. Much LOVE!…the two essentials…cornerstones…building blocks of Christianity…PEACE & LOVE…

Oh my wonderful Friends in Christ, another beautiful day is in the offing! And since we’re all alive to witness and experience its many joys and sorrows, let’s offer a heartfelt, ‘Thank you Lord!’ Now here’s an interesting quote from Mary Knowles. ‘Eat little at night, open your windows, drive out often, and look for the good in things and people…you will no longer be sad, or bored, or ill.’ Oh that’s excellent advice mih people! I agree with everything except eat little at night, because I’m a night owl and can’t stay up without some decent victuals. And I even opened my windows to day because it was fairly cool outside. The truth is Friends that nothing Mary says there is rocket science, just basic common sense; enjoying nature and taking a positive approach to life. We talk a lot about God but forget to enjoy the good and beautiful things He made especially for our pleasure, and our enthusiasm is further killed by the negative approach we take to life, always looking for the bad in both things and people. That is in effect a symptom of our lack of trust; first in ourselves, because we’re basically afraid that if we get too close, too soon, to certain things and people, we’ll get hurt. And secondly, it’s a lack of trust in Almighty God; not having enough faith in Him to lead and guide us safely, without too much pain and sorrow. Now that’s exactly where our Bit comes in my people. ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on (sustained by) thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That’s pure gospel Friends, pure gospel! If we get nothing else from the Good Book and all the religious hoopla out there, let’s make sure we get that. Write it indelibly in our hearts souls and minds. Oh Friends I’m chuckling because instead of writing minds just now, I wrote behinds. But that’s also a good place to write them, just in raised letters, for since we sit on them so much, we’d always be reminded. (smile) Anyway, we need that Bit carved into us because it’s the basic premise of our Christian faith; supreme trust in and constant communication with the Father through His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If we don’t have that strong foundation my brethren, then we’ll always struggle with the faith, always be searching, unsure and insecure. Like everything else in life, we too need proper foundations to build on, and that’s what our Bit helps us to do. Oh my people, that perfect peace of mind we’re talking about is such a wonderful state of mind and soul, that the scholars dub it thus: ‘This emphatic expression indicates a peace that goes beyond human comprehension,’ which brings us to Bruh Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Jesus.’ (Phil.4:6-7) However Friends, to do that, our minds must be ‘stayed on’ the Lord, which means leaning on God in complete surrender, total, unwavering confidence and security. That in turn breeds the trust we’re talking about. The scholars label that trust as ‘the ultimate expression of that confidence.’ And they also note, truthfully, that the object of our faith is also as important as our act of trust, which in this instance is the Lord God Jehovah. Oh my brethren, I doubt if any of us will ever experience that perfect level of peace here on earth in these evil, ungodly times, but it sure is a worthwhile goal to shoot for. And I can tell you, from personal experience, the more you mature in the faith, the greater or higher your level of peace becomes. And Friends, peace in your soul is such a wonderful exhilarating, relaxing, refreshing experience, all at the same time. It doesn’t mean you don’t have problems or concerns, but that the negatives in your life are not wearing you down, depressing and worrying you. As Isaiah says: ‘And the work of the righteous shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.’ (Is.32:17) Yes mih people, that’s what peace in our souls brings; ‘quietness and assurance for ever.’ You can’t beat that, especially in this mish-mash, confused, strife-torn, angry, resentful, greedy, selfish, ungodly world we now live in. Ah Friends, I know that it’s not easy to live righteously in this current world, and it might just get more difficult if we don’t reduce the enemy’s hold and power over it, but that’s exactly why we have faith and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, for He has promised to see us through this life safely, if we believe in Him. And it certainly does take a great mental leap of faith to let go, to surrender your all to an unseen Being, no matter how powerful they are. But the fruit of the Lord’s Word, His faithfully fulfilled Promises, His unconditional LOVE for us that culminated in His Son Jesus’ Sacrificial Death, His Mercy, Forgiveness, Salvation and Eternal Life are all there on plain view for us to see. So don’t be afraid to let go and put your total trust in the Lord God Jehovah.  And although miracles can happen overnight, they usually don’t, because the whole faith and trust thing is a process of growth; gradual and maturing like a child growing up. So if you don’t see any real improvement at first, please don’t get worried and give up, since it’s often then that the Lord’s testing us to see if we really and truly believe and want to make Him our be all and end all. Till tomorrow then, God willing, when we’ll talk some more about that awesome, mountain moving topic of peace. Stand strong and relentless in the faith, and remember the Lord LOVES you unconditionally, and will never leave nor forsake those who sincerely seek Him. Much LOVE! … the Christian motto…NEVER GIVE UP…

Oh Friends, it’s the weekend! Whoopee! But remember that the fellowship aspect is just as important as the fun and rest, so please don’t ignore it. Now hear this quote from Helen Keller. ‘Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.’ And that’s a tried and proven fact my people! The best remedy for unhappiness is helping someone else, and once we can lighten someone else’s pain, then our lives are not wasted. That ties in very nicely with the good deed we’ve promised ourselves to do every day. Remember to do it today, no matter how small, and make a difference, for that’s what Jesus expects of us. Turning to our Bit, which deals with Peace – one of the two most important things in the world, the other obviously being LOVE – we can talk about it for the whole day and not run out of scriptures. So let’s see where the Spirit leads us. In his hymn of praise, when the redeemed Israel enters New Jerusalem, Isaiah proudly declares: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.’ That statement Friends has been true from day one, and will continue to be true forever. Peace is basically important for mankind in two ways; so that civilization can be advanced and enlightened, and also to live the good life ordained by our Creator. One of the first directions the Lord gave Moses, re Aaron and the priests, was the manner in which they should bless the Israelites, which included: ‘The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee (look on you with favour), and give thee peace.’ (Num.7:26) The psalmists too, especially Bruh David, talked a lot about peace. In Psalm 34:14 he solemnly advises us to: ‘Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace and pursue it.’ That doesn’t mean simply looking for peace, but more importantly, setting it as a goal of your life and actively pursuing it. Then in Psalm 29:11 he staunchly declares: ‘The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.’ This rightly indicates that peace comes from God. And Jeremiah, when lamenting the desperate state of Israel mournfully stated: ‘…for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall (bitter or poisonous water) to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!’ (Jer.8:14-15) That solidifies the argument my people! There is no peace where sin reigns and ungodliness abounds. No wonder our current world is fraught with so much strife and turmoil, for we have become one of the most sinful, ungodly and idolatrous generations ever. Our state of sinfulness would totally amaze and sadly dismay our forefathers of just two generations ago. We’ve attained such heights of ungodliness in such a short time that it’s a wonder the Lord hasn’t wiped us off the earth as yet. There’s been ample warning though, which in our arrogant pride and fool’s wisdom we’re not heeding, so who knows what the final outcome will be. Oh Friends, the Lord promised perfect spiritual peace to the redeemed Israel in the New Jerusalem because as Isaiah joyfully declares: ‘Open ye the gates that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.’ (Is.26:2) That’s right Friends! Israel had become an obedient, God-fearing, nation, deserving of His blessings of peace. And until our society does the same, we will never find peace; there will always be an inordinate amount of strife and war. Obviously we can’t completely remove the negatives that cause strife, for some of us are so inherently evil that only a miraculous zap from the Lord will ever change us. But we surely can reduce them to insignificant amounts if we seriously try. But are we trying, even half-heartedly? I don’t know mih people, but it sure doesn’t seem so, since the ungodly and the wicked appear to be getting more popular and powerful every day. Listen to this passage from Isaiah that describes a society like ours. ‘I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.’ (Is.57:19-21) Friends, we all know that the Word of the Lord does not change, so that declaration also applies to us today and to those who come long after us. What can we do about the sorrowful situation in which we’re enveloped? Lots! But the more insightful question is what are we prepared to do about it? Talk is dirt cheap, no, even cheaper than dirt, and you know that we Christians are great talkers but not such great doers. Anyway Friends, we’ll end here for today. I’ll leave us with the brightly lit scenario of our evil, ungodly society on our minds, knowing that we’re on a sure path to destruction if we continue in this direction. Destruction that will come either from an angry, fed up God, or by our own, stupid, selfish efforts. Let’s all sit and think seriously about the choices we have, and what we’re willing to do to alleviate the situation. Remember, if the situation is to improve at all, it will be strictly up to us believers to do so, since the iniquity workers are quite enamoured of the status quo. Oh my people, let’s think about the generations to come, is this the legacy we want to leave them? And all God’s people shouted in unison, ‘NO!’ Then let’s get up and do something concrete about it nuh!  Now go in peace, and may the Lord bless and keep us till tomorrow, when we’ll continue talking about that controversial, hard to find, but oh so important and invaluable state of peace. Much LOVE!…only those who sow peace…will ever reap peace…