Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 May 2012 Isaiah 42:1

27 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 42:1.    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.

 
Oh Friends, it’s a fact, a blessing; we’ve been granted one more day of life on Mother Earth to enjoy all her bountiful pleasures! All praise and thanks be to the great God we serve and worship, for without His invaluable input, we’d now be mere dust! And I won’t get into much preamble because I have a lot of interesting and enlightening scripture to share. Hopefully this will be the last day for this particular Bit since some of you like to have a different Bit every day. But sometimes that’s just not possible, for some Bits, like this one, have so much to say that you can’t get everything from them in one sitting, especially with the short attention spans of today. (smile) Now here’s our fabulous Bit: ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ Ah mih people, though I knew this scripture before, in dissecting it over the last few days, I’ve learned even more than I expected. That’s the beauty of studying God’s Word! There’s always so much more to it than what meets the naked eye! Now let’s check out the last part of the Bit: ‘I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ And the first scripture dealing with that comes from good, ole Isaiah, re the righteous reign of the branch of Jesse: ‘And there shall come forth a rod (shoot) out of the stem (stock or trunk) of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots (bear fruit). And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.’ (Is.11:1-2) Yuh hear all the different spirits, or strengths with which that Branch of Jesse will be endowed? But first and foremost, the overseer Spirit of the Lord, which encompasses all the others. And I want us to specifically note the last one, ‘the fear of the Lord,’ because though Jesus was a part of the Godhead, down here on earth there’s one thing He did above all others; that’s revere and respect His heavenly Father. Now in light of that, how could we, mere mortals, not do likewise eh, especially if we claim to be followers of Christ? And that’s one of the major problems of our day; not enough people hold Almighty God in true reverence. We tend to write Him off as being unimportant, irrelevant to our modern times. But that’s a major mistake my Friends, a lie perpetrated by the evil, cunning Lucifer. No wonder our world is in such a mess! Anyway, the next scripture about putting His Spirit on His elect, is one we well know and have already covered. That’s when Jesus was baptized, and when He came up out of the water; ‘lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.’ (Matt.3:16) Then we have the revealing testimony of John the Baptist on that very situation: ‘And John bare record (witness), saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode (remained) upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record (witness) that this is the Son of God.’ (John 1:32-34) Oh my brethren, there’s absolutely no disputing that testimony! Later on, during a dispute between a group of Jews and the disciples of John the Baptist, re purifying, John again testified to Jesus being the true Son of God, telling them that Jesus must increase while he decreases, because his purpose was only to introduce Jesus to the world. ‘For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father LOVETH the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.’ (John 3:34-35) That means Friends, that the Lord doesn’t or rather didn’t play stingy with the giving of His Spirit to Jesus. Likewise He’ll be very generous in giving His Spirit to us, who believe in His Son. That brings us to an interesting comment from the scholars. ‘God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him:’ Some manuscripts read: ‘He gives the Spirit without measure,’ which would then refer to the sending of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15-16; John 7:37-39) And we going to end with that last reference to the giving of the Holy Spirit. Hear these marvellous, inspiring words of Jesus! ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly (heart) shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.’ (John 7:37-39) By the way, the scripture that Jesus referred to there was a prophecy of Moses: ‘The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.’ (Deut.18:15) And that’s it for today Friends. I sure hope that you all got something worthwhile from the teaching today. I know that I did. Please ponder it in all seriousness. There was actually some more stuff I wanted to share on the Spirit, but will leave that for another day. Don’t need any criticisms about it being too long and involved. (smile) So till we meet again, God willing, let’s truly LOVE our God; sincerely LIVE our Faith and faithfully SPREAD His Word. Much LOVE!…what a drastic, but wonderful change occurs in man…when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in him…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 May 2012 Isaiah 42:1

26 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 42:1.    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.

 
Oh Friends, morning has broken, just like it did on that first day back in the Garden of Eden, and our God is still in control, still showering daily blessings and mercies down upon us. Please, let’s gratefully accept them and thank Him for His unstinting generosity towards undeserving children. But so great is His LOVE towards us that His compassion just naturally surrounds us anyway. We can never earn or repay His goodness, but we can certainly LOVE and revere Him with all our hearts, minds, bodies and souls as He both desires and deserves. So Friends, today, let’s faithfully promise ourselves to do just that nuh, and by so doing, bring much hope and joy to followers, both here on earth and in heaven above. Now turning to our Bit: ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ Wonderful prophecy Friends, declared centuries before Jesus came! And we shall continue looking at the second part: ‘mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth;’ Yesterday I erroneously said that there were two instances of the Father showing His great delight in Jesus, His chosen one. There are actually three. We’ve already looked at the first one; Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, with the Holy Spirit descending on Him like a dove and the Father clearly stating that He was pleased with the Son. (Matt.3:16-17) The next instance is at His transfiguration. The Good Book says that Jesus took His inner circle of Peter, James and John, up into a high mountain: ‘And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment (clothes) was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear him.’ (Matt.17:2-5) Wow mih people! What an awesome, awestruck moment that must have been for the disciples! ‘And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore (greatly) afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.’ (Matt.17:6-7) So there’s another instance showing that Jesus was clearly Deity and the Father was immensely pleased with Him. But Friends, please note the last section of the voice: ‘hear ye him.’ It’s possibly the most important part of the speech specifically aimed at the disciples and consequently all believers, including us today. Are we paying attention and listening to Jesus? I sure hope so. Now here is some info on the topic from the scholars: ‘Peter, James, and John represent the ‘inner circle’ of leadership among the disciples (Luke 8:51; Matt.26:37) and serve here as ample witnesses according to Mosaic Law. They went into a high mountain apart, meaning privately, by themselves. Tradition claims this took place at Mount Tabor, but a more probable location would be Mount Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi. Jesus was transfigured before them. The verb (Gr. metamorphoo) indicates a transformation of essential form, proceeding from within. See Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18, where it is used of the spiritual transformation of the believer’s new nature. The witness of Peter in 2 Peter 1:17, 18, verifies the testimony that this was a real experience, not a vision.’ And the third instance of the Father showing public delight in Jesus is on Palm Sunday in Jerusalem. A group of Greeks had also come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast, and asked Philip about meeting Jesus. (John 12:20-22) When this info was conveyed to Jesus, He answered them, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.’ (John 12:23) Then He began teaching them about a seed dying before it can bear fruit, also about the repercussions of hating and LOVING  this life, and that those who follow Him would be honoured by the Father and how His soul was troubled, but He couldn’t change the situation because that’s why He came to earth in human form. (John 12:24-27) Then Jesus said: ‘Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.’ (John 12:28-30) Oh Friends, how much more evidence do we need to believe that Jesus was truly the Son of God, come to earth as a human being, the integral part of God’s mighty plan to redeem our sinful souls and reconcile us to Himself? Throughout the Good Book we find references and prophecies being fulfilled centuries after by Jesus. Is our faith so small that unless we physically see it for ourselves, we can’t believe it? I hope not, otherwise we’re certainly in a bad way. This Saturday morning is a good time for us to sit and ponder those questions; to ponder our faith, our belief in Jesus, and in the Holy Word of God. So happy pondering! (smile) And I sure hope that we all conclude that out belief, faith and trust in the Godhead of the Holy Trinity is exceedingly strong. Much LOVE!…now faith is the substance of things hoped for…the evidence of things not seen… (Heb.11:1) 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 May 2012 Isaiah 42:1

25 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 42:1.    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday once again! And I can just imagine the joy, the euphoria that’s bubbling up in some of us, so much so, that we’re jubilantly crying out: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday!’ Yes mih people, I know how it feels to be finally set free from a week of intensive labour, even though it’s only for a mere two days. And to help us handle those two days off properly, let’s chant our Friday Chant, with all the exuberance we can muster. As one 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 that ought to keep us enthused and help us use those two day off wisely. So then, let’s turn to our Bit, that awesome prophesy, foreseen so clearly by Isaiah: ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ Yesterday we looked at the servant aspect of the prophecy and clearly saw the servanthood brought by Jesus to His unenviable task. That same attitude of humility and helping others should also be found in true believers. We all know that, though we don’t always follow it. Right here however, I want to share a glorious scripture dealing partly with the servant aspect of our Bit, but even more strongly with the Word of God, re our creation and salvation. Isaiah here is talking about the Lord, the only Redeemer. ‘Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.’ (Is.43:10-11) Oh mih breddren, that’s gospel truth like nothing else! In those two verses, the Lord spells out His raison d’être, so that we can truly understand who He is, His power and purpose. Please, let’s take those words seriously, write them indelibly in our hearts, souls and minds, then genuinely live our lives with them being the foundation, the root of our earthly pilgrimage. Now let’s look at the second part of our Bit: ‘mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth;’ There again Friends, the prophecy of Isaiah was so prophetic that I don’t understand how people can doubt the Word. We have two perfect instances of the Father showing His great delight in His elect, His chosen one, Jesus. The first is when John the Baptist baptizes Jesus in the river Jordan. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Matt.3:16-17) Isn’t that just a wonderful scene! Only God writes them like that! Now here’s some input on the matter from the scholars. ‘In the process of His baptism, Jesus went up…out of the water, the prepositions suggesting that He was completely in the water and came up out from it, again indicating immersion. The descending of the Spirit of God fulfilled the predicted sign to John in order to indicate the true Messiah (c.f. John 1:33, Is.11:2). The dove was a symbol of innocence and purity (c.f  Matt.10:16) and served as an ideal symbolic representation of the Holy Spirit. The voice from heaven is that of the Father (see also Matt.17:5; John 12:28 where He speaks at the Transfiguration and  just prior to the Crucifixion), giving His verbal approval to the ministry of His beloved Son. There can be no doubt that all three persons of the Trinity are actively involved here as distinct persons of the Godhead. The Father speaks, the Spirit descends, and the Son is baptized.’ And yet people don’t take the Good Book seriously. What a crying shame! Anyway Friends, enough for today. There’s lots of stuff there for us to ponder, so please do so, because it’s only by reading, pondering and understanding the Word, that we are able to live successful lives here on earth. More on this tomorrow, if God so desires. Till then, please, let’s try to be the true believers we ought to be nuh. Much LOVE!…to be a true follower…one must know the what, where, and when…of the leader’s plans… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 May 2012 Isaiah 42:1

24 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Isaiah 42:1.    Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles.
 
Top o’ the morning to all you godly Friends and neighbours in Jesus Christ! I sure hope this missive reaches you all in good health and wealth. And if perchance it doesn’t, then when you read it, you will be buoyed by the good news it brings, and the Holy Spirit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus will course through your mind, body and soul to bring healing and cleansing. This is my prayer for all of us this beautiful Thursday morning, as new mercies and blessings rain down from heaven through the exceptional grace and unconditional LOVE of our Creator, Provider and Holy God. Now, without further ado, let’s turn to our Bit; one of the most powerful and prophetic prophesies (smile) found in the Good Book. ‘Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (my chosen one), in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgement (justice) to the Gentiles.’ Yes Friends, it’s all about Jesus; His coming to earth to save our sinful souls. Listen to the scholars’ take on it. ‘My servant is identified here as a person rather than a personification of the nation of Israel. With all the traits of King, Prophet, and High Priest. He is none other than the Messiah, Jesus Christ Himself. He is also called mine elect (bechiri; set apart for a definite purpose) and the One in whom I have put my spirit. The New Testament quotes this prophecy as being fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt.12:8-21) The ministry of the Servant of the Lord will be to bring forth judgement (or justice) to the Gentiles and in the earth. His kingdom knows no barriers of nationality or race. Of all the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah saw this fact the most clearly. While Jesus’ early ministry was to the house of Israel, His ultimate commission extended to the Gentiles as well.’ What a truly wonderful God we serve my people! It boggles my mind when I think of how His LOVE for us was so great that He sacrificed the holy, sinless life of His only Son to bring redemption and reconciliation to our worthless, sinful souls. And all God’s people raised their voices heavenward in a mighty shout of joy, praise and gratitude: ‘Oh thank You heavenly Father! Thank You for sending your Son Jesus to shed His precious blood as a sacrifice, so that our sin debt could be pain in full! We praise You, and bless Your Holy Name! Amen!’ Ah mih people, the story of Jesus, Holy God, coming to earth and doing what He did, is the most awesome and amazing one ever told and also fulfilled. Wow! And Jesus was the sure personification of that prophecy, as Matthew 12:17 declares: ‘That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying…’ And Matthew goes on to quote Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:3, as evidence for the fulfillment of the prophecy. (Matt.12:18-21) Now let’s touch on the first important point in our Bit: ‘Behold my servant…’ Yes Friends, that word ‘servant’ is ever so important in our Christian faith, because that’s the way Jesus came a calling; as a humble servant. ‘And whosoever will be chief (first) among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto (served), but to minister (serve), and to give his life a ransom for many.’ (Matt.20:27-28) That definitely means, my fellow believers, that we should ALL have that spirit of servanthood in us, if we’re true believers! And if we don’t, then our faith is false, it’s not a true reflection of the character of Jesus. Now let’s close with this definitive statement on the matter from Bruh Paul to the Philippians: ‘Let this mind be in you, (keep thinking this, constantly maintain this attitude) which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God (didn’t assume God-like qualities); But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion (appearance) as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.’ (Phil.2:5-8) Friends, oh Friends, it’s that kind of humility which our world so sadly lacks and so badly needs today! Instead of everybody wanting to be el numero uno, the first, the most powerful and popular, and sitting at the highest seat, let’s bring back the true spirit of Jesus nuh, where He desires to see us graciously and humbly serving each other, not always jockeying for the top spot. That way others will truly see His wonderful character shining out from us like the bright Morning Star which He so avidly personifies, and will come to LOVE and serve Him just as much as we do. Oh my brethren, that’s how we should be winning souls for Jesus! More on this tomorrow, the Lord willing. Till then, please let’s come down off of our high horses and walk the humble walk of Jesus. Much LOVE!…without the attributes of humility and servanthood…no man can be a true believer in Jesus…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 May 2012 Psalm 139:1‏

23 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

 Psalm 139:1.    O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.

Oh Friends, oh Friends, we’re alive and kicking! Wow! The Lord has granted us another day on this beautiful earth! Praise and bless His Holy Name, for He’s so good to us, His undeserving children! And on this Wednesday morning, with all the exuberance and enthusiasm for Almighty God coursing through our hearts, bodies and minds, let’s take the bull by the horns and get out into the evil and ungodly world and win some souls for Him nuh. Let’s show a disbelieving world the true character of Jesus in all our doings today. Instead of showing resentment, anger, hate and strife, let’s advance, put forward LOVE, peace, joy, and togetherness to all whom we come into contact with today! I think that just as the Lord fills us with new mercies and blessings everyday, in the same manner, we should go out everyday with a new, or at least improved attitude, using those same new gifts of grace to improve on our Christian walk of the day before. That means everyday our walk should be more Christ-like. It would be so refreshing and rejuvenating if we Christians could just adopt the kind, friendly attitude of Jesus in most of our daily dealings. We don’t have to let others run over us, or beat us down, but neither do we have to fuss, fume and fight over the many petty things that disturb our souls. And we don’t have to worry either about not being up to scratch, as Jesus-like as we ought to be. The Lord knows our frailties, for as Bruh David says in our Bit: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.’ Oh yes Friends, the Lord knows all about us, but He wants us to come to Him and acknowledge those frailties and weaknesses, come confidently, but humbly before the throne of grace and ask for His help. And believe me, when we do that, He will look favourably upon us. Remember we can fool others and ourselves, but we can’t fool God, so it’s best just to come clean with Him, tell Him all that’s troubling our hearts. And once we do that, we’ll be pleasantly surprised by the peace that will flow through us. Oh my people, there’s no better way of obtaining peace than by baring our souls to Almighty God! And with those words of wisdom, let’s get back to our Bit, before I get too carried away. (smile) Today I want to share some more scriptures that pertain to it. The psalmist in Psalm 66, the great works of God, states: ‘For thou, O God, hast proved (tested) us: thou hast tried (refined) us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy (an abundant) place.’ (Ps.66:10-12) Yes mih breddren, the Lord’s testing can be rough, but there is always the surety that if we bear up under it, He will bring us out better than before. That’s the beauty of living for and working with Jehovah God! Meanwhile, the prophet Zechariah declares, re the cleansing of Jerusalem: ‘And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and I will try (test) them as gold is tried (tested): they shall call on my name, and I will hear (answer) them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.’ (Zec.13:8-9) Now Friends, that sounds pretty rough, but remember the Lord always helps us go through our trials. Listen to Peter now, who makes it sound a trifle easier. ‘Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (distressed) through manifold temptations: That the trial (genuineness) of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried (tested) with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing (revelation) of Jesus Christ. Whom having not seen, ye LOVE; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’ (1 Pet.1:6-9) Yes mih people, our faith will be tried a lot on this earth, but if it’s true faith, then it will not be destroyed even when it passes through the testing by fire. And then, when Jesus comes again, this time in glory, we will certainly be looked upon with praise and honour. Oh Friends, the glory of heaven is definitely worth the hell we often experience here on earth, so please don’t give up, don’t let the temporary afflictions of this life kill your spirit and your faith in Jesus. It’s not always easy to do, but with Jesus’ help we can surely accomplish it. When times get rough, pleas turn to Jesus; cry out to Him for assistance. You’ll be surprised at the help you’ll receive. Don’t be afraid or embarrassed. Remember Jesus knows all about us and our earthly troubles, because he experienced them too. It would surely be wonderful though, if we could all say like Bruh David: ‘Thou hast proved (tested) mine heart; thou hast visited me (searched me out) in the night; thou hast tried (tested) me, and shalt find nothing (evil): I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.’ (Ps.17:3) Friends, I think that’s a worthy goal to work towards. So let’s start today, right now nuh. It could only help our faith successfully go through the fire of testing, and would greatly please our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Much LOVE!…oh that all believers…could have a faith…that’s successfully refined…through the fires of temptation…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 May 2012 Psalm 139:1

22 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 139:1.    O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
 
Oh Friends, another day has dawned bright and beautiful in the north country! Praise the Lord, for He is worthy to be praised! Are you feeling the excitement, the enthusiasm and the zest for life that a new day brings? I sure hope so, because otherwise you’ll be missing out on God’s goodness, the new mercies and blessings He’s planned for us every day. It’s a simple matter Friends; if we’re alive, then we might as well enjoy life, especially since that’s one of the reasons Jesus died: ‘The thief cometh not but for (except) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ (John 10:10) That means Christians ought to be generally speaking, joyful, happy people, both internally and externally, starting right down here on earth, not waiting until we get to heaven! We should definitely not be the dragging, sad, poor me one, head down caricatures that so many of us are. Why would anybody want to come to Jesus if His followers demeanour and disposition is sad and sour eh? So please pluck up my people! Remember the joy of the Lord is our strength, (Neh.8:10) therefore let’s display a sunny disposition to all and sundry, so that they can wonder why we’re always so pleasant and gracious even in times of despair. That’s the attitude that draws others to Jesus! And we’re able to display that wonderful attitude because of the everlasting presence and power of God abiding in us. Thus Bruh David could truthfully declare in our Bit: ‘O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.’ That’s true of all practicing Christians! The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves. And as Bruh David continues: ‘Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; thou understandeth my thought afar off. Thou compasseth (comprehendeth) my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it all together.’ (Ps.139:2-4) Yeh Friends, the Lord made us and knows everything about us – from our very beginning to our very end! Now let’s hear some interesting commentary on Psalm 139 from the scholars. ‘Certainly one of the grandest psalms in all of the Psalter. It is also one of the richest theologically. It combines and exposition of the greatness of God’s character with the reality of human experience. From verses 19-22 we find that David wrote the psalm during a time of opposition. It therefore contains truths that were meaningful to him during these troublesome times. They may be summarized under four key thoughts as David addresses the Lord: You know me (vv. 1-6), You are with me (vv.7-12), You created me (vv.13-18), and Your cause is my cause (vv.19-24)’ And that’s the gospel truth Friends! The psalm is definitely rich in the ways of our God, His attributes and the wonderful way in which He interacts with His sinful children! But getting back to the core of our Bit; about searching and knowing the heart of each child, let’s hear some other scriptures describing God’s detailed involvement and interaction with us in every facet of our lives. And there’s no better place to start than with Job’s immortal statement of faith: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’ (Job 23:10) Yes my friends, the Lord knows us inside out, and will test us through trials and tribulations to gauge the strength of our faith. It’s definitely one of the ways He uses to get our attention, and consequently to build our faith. I can attest to that from personal experience. It’s not always easy, but it’s certainly worthwhile! Meanwhile, Jeremiah in his complaint about the prosperity of the wicked and the happiness of the treacherous, also declares: ‘But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried (tested) my heart toward thee…’ (Jer.12:3) Ah mih people, walking with Jesus will bring constant tests and trials until the day we breathe our last breath and go over yonder to meet Him in glory! So please don’t despair when troubles come your way. It is merely our great God testing us, putting us through our paces to see how real, right and true our hearts are towards Him. And remember too, He never gives us more than we can bear, and always provides the tools we need to do what He asks. That’s why He’s such a wonderful Deity! And in recognition of His ‘wonderfulness’ (smile) all God’s people, with unspeakable joy and gratitude declared a mighty ‘Amen!’ More on this tomorrow Friends, if we wake to see another brilliant sunrise. Till then, let’s truly LOVE our God, with all of our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, and our neighbours as ourselves. Much LOVE!…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…just to be with Him awhile…makes it all worthwhile…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 May 2012 Psalm 81:13

21 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Psalm 81:13.     Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Oh Friends, it’s Monday, that day we all LOVE to hate! And luckily, for many in the British Commonwealth of nations, it’s a public holiday, commemorating the birthday of that powerful, strong minded Queen Victoria, (1819-1901) whose rule over British territory has been the longest, 64 years (1837-1901) and under whose stewardship the Empire spread and prospered like never before, raising the claim of an empire on which the sun never set. However, many others around the world, and here too in our 24/7 society, still have to go out and labour to keep the wheels of commerce spinning. So to encourage and energize those folks, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much verve and enthusiasm. All together now: ‘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!’ Yes my people, today, we are placing our faith and trust in God’s hands, surrendering our bodies and souls to His wise guidance, unlike many others, both from this current age and of all those gone by. Of one thing we’re certain, God won’t be able to say of us, like the psalmist Asaph did of his people Israel in our Bit: ‘Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!’ Ah Friends, that comes from the psalm titled, God’s goodness and Israel’s waywardness. Now that was so silly of Israel, God’s chosen people, whom He had blessed above all other nations, to whom He had showed such signs and wonders, made such extraordinary promises to, and then faithfully fulfilled them! One would think that under those circumstances their way of life would have been one of integrity, one of walking steadfastly in God’s way. But unfortunately it was not so. As soon as they became prosperous, they forgot who brought them to the dance; the Lord God Jehovah, and turned away from Him. Neither is the majority of today’s world living a godly life, following the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation and eternal life, but are foolishly following the wide path designed by the liar and cheat Beelzebub, a path which leads directly to death, destruction and eternal damnation in Hades. Listen to the prophet Isaiah conveying the Lord’s rebuke to Israel: ‘Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to (heeded) my commandments! Then had thy peace been like a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels (body) like the gravel thereof (grains of sand); his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.’ (Is.48:17-19) Oh my people, it’s the same thing the Lord’s saying to this evil, ungodly, adulterous generation, who are bowing down to idols and other man made Gods, while doing their very best to eradicate the ONE TRUE GOD, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from our society. But Friends, we, the united band of brothers and sisters in Christ cannot allow that to happen, for the tribulation, some of which is already befalling us, will be real terrible. We have to turn this thing around, by constantly promoting our LOVE Revolution and bringing the nations back to God, who is so wonderful that He’s offering us a second chance to return to His fold, just like He offered Israel another chance to do so. ‘I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.’ (Ps.81:14) But my brethren, if we don’t grab this chance to return to serving and worshipping our Creator, then: ‘There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.’ (Is.48:22) Oh Friends, our world is already consumed by much ungodly and ever increasing strife, and returning to God is the only way to reverse it. The choice is ours. Please, I implore us to choose wisely, for that decision between serving God and Lucifer will affect our lives from today, right through eternity. Much LOVE!…as for me and my house…we will definitely choose to follow Jesus…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 May 2012 Matthew 7:7

20 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 7:7.    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Oh Friends, there’s some good news to share this beautiful Sunday morning! The ole fella’s getting better! All thanks and praise to our heavenly Father!  Yeh, I’m not feeling as weak, unenergetic and wishy-washy as I was a couple days ago. I guess that’s because I’m finally getting some more sleep and getting back into the riddim of my normal routine. The ole ying and yang seem to be finally getting in sync again. And I just want to glorify our great God for enabling me to do it, because I certainly couldn’t do it on my own. For remember, without Jesus we can do nothing. (John 15:5) And that’s why He spoke the critical words of advice and wisdom contained in our Bit: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Those are action words my people, and Jesus desires His followers to be persons of action, like He was during His earthly sojourn, and like He still is, pleading and advocating for us with the Father. Consequently, we should be talking less and putting more of our energy and efforts into actually doing. Now let’s look at some scriptures that corroborate our Bit, obviously beginning with Jesus, where all things begin. (smile) The Good Book says: ‘And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).’ (Luke 18:1) The parable was about the woman denied justice who kept bugging the judge until he heard her plea, though for the wrong reason. (Luke 18:2-8) Like that persevering woman, followers of Jesus ought to keep on fighting for their rights, for truth and justice! And we can only do those things by taking positive actions, like asking, seeking and knocking on closed doors, since stuff won’t just fall into our laps because we wish it to. Remember it takes plenty backbone and belly, born of a strong, persevering, fortitudinous faith in Jesus, to successfully navigate this evil, ungodly world. Now listen to these famous words of James on our topic: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8) There’s abundant truth in those words my brethren! If we want wisdom, or anything from our God, who’s ever so generous with His gifts, we have to ask for it. But we have to ask with faith, being decisive, not double-minded, for such a one is unstable and untrustworthy. Meanwhile, the beloved disciple, John, in his first epistle, puts it this way: ‘Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment.’ (1 John 3:21-23) Therefore Friends, if we live right with God, He will give us whatever we ask, though with the ever so important proviso; provided it coincides with His will. And before we conclude, let’s hear from the scholars: ‘Both Jesus (Luke 18:1) and Paul (1 Tim.2:1) emphasized the importance of prayer, noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers from God. But it is more than just asking; it is confession, adoration, thanksgiving, and fellowship with God. By its nature, prayer is talking with God. It is the basis of the successful Christian life, and is so important that not praying is considered a sin (1 Sam.12:23). When we pray, we should follow the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples and address it our heavenly Father- beginning with adoration, including thanksgiving and confession of sins, making reconciliation with others, praying for our needs and the needs of others, and concluding in Jesus’ name  (Matt.6:9-15; John 14:14).’ Those are indeed wise and truthful words my Friends, which we should most definitely heed! Now let’s end with the heartfelt, authoritative words of Jesus, as we like to do whenever possible: ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath LOVED me, so have I LOVED you: continue ye (abide) in my LOVE!’ (John 15:7-9) There you have it Friends, in black and white, from our Lord and Saviour. So, if we’re to be considered His true followers, then let’s do as He desires nuh. It’s the only wise and sensible path! Much LOVE!…,continual heartfelt communication with God…is the hallmark of the true Christian…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 May 2012 Matthew 7:7

19 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 7:7.     Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Oh Friends, today is the one-year anniversary of my prostate surgery. May 19 2011 was indeed a noteworthy day for me, having the scourge of our generation removed from my insides. And thank God so far I am still cancer free! It was by no means an easy go. That night afterwards in the hospital was rough. I remember trying to get up from the bed, and not being able to. Eventually, after several unsuccessful tries and crying out to God, I finally managed to get up. Hn! Neither was the recovery easy, though the wound itself caused fewer problems than the ancillary stuff, like bladder and bowel movements. Now it seems unreal that a year has since passed. But Friends, the knee surgery some six months before and the prostate surgery were certainly two turning points in both my physical and spiritual lives. Through an eye-opening faith, I found peace in both instances and truly learned to talk to and listen to God in those painful, uncomfortable experiences. And to celebrate it all, the Lord guided me to two quotes to share with you today. The first comes from Henry Ford, who enabled us to have that wonderful invention, the motorcar. He says: ‘Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize.’ And that’s very true Friends, as most of us can attest to. Each experience in our lives makes us bigger, and often better people, though at the time we don’t realize it. It’s only in hindsight that we really realize our growth. And it’s something that I can personally vouch for too, because after the two surgeries, then the unexpected death of my mother soon after, my life seems to have moved up the ladder of faith and trust a step or two. Then there’s this quote from another great builder, Robert H. Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. He tells us that God never let’s anything happen to you, unless it’s loaded with opportunities. That’s also gospel truth Friends! For whatever God allows to happen to us, there’s always something good and worthwhile we can take away from it. My surgeries and my mother’s death, all within about nine months, though they appeared to be negative, unfortunate occurrences, yet I took away positive things from them. My faith and trust in God certainly increased, along with a closer personal relationship.  I began talking to Him more and also getting more answers to my prayers. It’s no lie Friends, that when you go through hard times, you develop a greater appreciation for your Creator and definitely realize that He IS REAL! Amongst those things I learned was the reality of our Bit: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Oh Friends, it wasn’t once or twice that I cried out to God for a bligh in both my spiritual and physical pain! Neither was it once or twice He gave me the bligh! This obviously convinced me of the truth of our Bit; whatever we need, we must ask for it, seek it out or knock confidently on the door behind which it is hidden. But remember, we shouldn’t only go to God for material, worldly stuff, it should also be consistent with His will for our lives, else we won’t get it, or He’ll allow something that will teach us a hard but worthwhile lesson. But ask, seek and knock, we must do. Jesus reiterated that principle after He spoke to the unfruitful fig tree: ‘Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’ (Matt.7:19-22) Yes my people, it is necessary to ask in prayer, with great faith, for whatever we desire. As Jesus pointed out, faith is the great catalyst, so great that it can cause us to move mountains. And I surely hope that this Bit will encourage all who read it, to get into a closer relationship with God, to fervently seek Him, especially in rough times, and pour out your hearts to Him. He will listen, and He will heal, because He’s the best medical practitioner there is. And finally, when those rough times have passed, don’t simply forget God, but keep seeking and talking to Him, with thanks and praise. Also, please sit and ponder those rough times and try to learn from them. There’s always something we can learn, whether it’s something we should or shouldn’t do. Oh Friends, there’s no need to fear, for the Lord will guide you to where He wants you to be, if you’ll just surrender your all to Him, and walk with Him in trust, faith and LOVE. My brethren, God’s ways are not our ways, therefore we won’t always be happy with the outcome of some situations, but it’s in those unfortunate times where we truly learn that there’s a great and powerful Spiritual Being out there ruling the universe, and if you stay in close contact with Him, overall, your life will certainly be blessed. That’s wisdom at its very best, so please follow it. Much LOVE!…through sincere trust, faith and belief in Jesus…ANYTHING is possible…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 May 2012 Matthew 7:7

18 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 Matthew 7:7.     Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
 
Oh Friends, it’s Friday, that day of joy, where we all shout, ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! That’s because the weekend cometh and our labours shall cease for two paltry days. No more sitting in traffic jams twice a day, for a whole two big days. Wow! And to give us the right perspective on how to use those two extraordinary days, let’s chant our Friday Chant. As one loud 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 do our part in that equation, so that come Monday, we’ll indeed be fresh and eager to again go out and battle in Jesus’ name. But talking about being fresh and eager, since I’ve come back from J.A. I’ve been anything but that. I’ve been weak and listless, all my aches and pains have returned, neither have I been sleeping properly or getting enough sleep. Just been feeling real lousy, with no energy at all, unlike my time in Jamaica, where I was active and energetic. For some reason my ying and yang just can’t seem to get back in sync now that I’m home. However, there is some hope on the horizon. I went out for a walk last evening, and did a little physical stuff around the house, got some sleep and am not feeling as lousy now. But hear the greatest news of the day mih Friends! I have two car keys; one on a ring by itself, that I use most of the time, and another on a bunch with my house keys, that I keep for emergencies. Now since I had no need for the single key in J.A. I left it at home. But yuh think I could find it when I got back? Not on yuh life! From Monday night, right back to Thursday evening, with the help of the Duchess, I looked all over the house for it. Then yesterday, while in the laundry room ironing a shirt and thanking the Lord for making me feel a little better physically and mentally, I also asked for a bligh to find the key, since I could think of nowhere else to look. A few seconds later, I got this zeppo to look in a particular pants pocket in my clothes closet. I chuckled, because that didn’t ring a bell, putting it there didn’t sound familiar at all. Sometime later though, I went up to my clothes closet and checked that particular pants pocket. Hn! Lo and behold Friends, there was the car key in living colour! And it wasn’t like I hadn’t already checked other stuff and places in the clothes closet, with the pants in full sight, but it never even registered on my mental screen. I immediately called out to the Duchess to let her know how good and great is the God we serve! Yes mih people, we serve a real, a living, powerful and LOVING God, who through His Holy Spirit, interacts personally with those who trust and obey Him! Ah mih breddren, everyday the Lord does something amazing in my life. Not big miraculous doings, but small, everyday helpers, like pointing me to where I’d hidden the key. That’s the kind of stuff that I keep telling us to take note of and pay attention to as we walk with God, for it’s those little things that truly build our faith. And if anyone dares to tell us that our God isn’t alive and real, we can easily disprove it through our daily interactions with Him, for He truly is interested in everything, in all aspects of our lives. Oh Friends, who says our God doesn’t move in mysterious ways eh! I’m still chuckling over the incident. I guess I would have eventually found the key, whenever I wore the pants. But the beauty of the whole thing is that I was directed to this particular pants, that I never even considered looking in. That finally brings our Bit into play: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people! Our Saviour doesn’t lie, has no cause to since He can do all things. The problem lies with us believing and doing what He says; ask, seek, knock: ‘For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask for bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’ (Matt.7:8-11) Oh Friends, the logic is simple but irrefutable! And you have my testimony that it does indeed work, so please let’s get in sync with our great God nuh. We talk plenty talk, but our actions don’t reflect that talk, and we are the ones who therefore suffer because of it. Let’s start talking seriously to our God today please. Not simply asking Him for material things, but also having serious conversations about our very lives with Him. More on this tomorrow, God willing. Till then, let’s truly LOVE our God, with heart, soul, body and mind, so that the fruits from such behaviour will be clearly seen and make an impact on others, hopefully causing them to come to Jesus for His free gift of salvation and eternal life. Much LOVE!…talking to God…is like…no it’s not like…it IS talking to your best Friend…

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