SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s a beautiful Sunday morning! The birds are singing joyful songs of praise, the air is fresh with the clean breath of spring, we are alive and kicking, and most important of all, our omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God is securely enthroned in His high heaven controlling everything, with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ seated at His right hand advocating and interceding for us, while the Holy Spirit works within us here on earth. Wow! And all God’s people gratefully declared: ‘All praise, honour, thanks and glory be to the Holy Trinity, that guides us with such deep LOVE and understanding!’ And now my people, if we belong to a Christian denomination that celebrates the Sabbath on Sunday, then it’s time to get moving, to get to church, so you can worship, praise, honour and glorify God in fellowship with other believers. And if you can’t make it to church for whatever reason, then turn on your television or your radio to a good church broadcast, or simply pick up the Good Book and spend some more time than normal with God. Remember, He says that at least one day a week, He expects us to get together to make it a holy day in His honour. And Friends, it truly doesn’t matter what day we celebrate the Sabbath on, once we celebrate it. Some of you might beg to disagree, but that’s the sort of thing which causes unnecessary dissension and divisions between believers and allows Beelzebub to infiltrate Christ’s church, to divide and conquer. That’s why Jesus and the Pharisees couldn’t get along either, because they were too fixated on what they considered the law and were sadly lacking in the compassion that Jesus wanted to see. And do you really think that the Lord’s up there in heaven wringing His hands in worry or concern over which day we choose to get together and fellowship in His name? I truly doubt it. I believe He’s much more concerned that we do get together and fellowship on the most convenient day, the one that would bring most of us out. Anyway, turning to our Bit: ‘He brought me forth also into a large (broad) place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.’ Oh my brethren, how many of us can make that statement in all sincerity eh? In my estimation, not sufficient. Each believer ought to be able to say that with genuine feeling and belief, for if we’re truly walking with the Lord, then that’s what He will do for us. Bruh David declared those words in thanksgiving for deliverance, after the Lord had given him rest from his many enemies. ‘He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented (confronted) me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay (support).’ (Ps.18:17-18) Yes my people, the Lord God Jehovah is a sure, faithful and strong support for all those who believe and trust in Him, and are willing to surrender their entire lives to His guidance. And though Bruh David committed some awful sins, yet he never lost focus of God, he kept honouring, worshipping and calling out to Him for guidance and direction. That’s why God looked upon him with such favour. Listen to him in Psalm 4; an evening prayer of trust in God. ‘Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged (relieved) me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me (be gracious to me), and hear my prayer.’ (Ps.4:1) And again in Psalm 31, trusting in the Lord, he soulfully proclaims. ‘I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy; for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities (troubles); And hast not shut me up (given me over) into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room (wide place).’ (Ps.31:7-8) Then in Psalm 118, he joyfully declares: ‘Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy (LOVING-kindness) endureth for ever. I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large (broad) place. The Lord is on my side, I will not fear: what can man do unto me?’ (Ps.118:4-6) Ah mih people, it’s very unlikely that any of us will ever have to contend with the hardships that Bruh David encountered and endured, but in spite of all his problems, he remained steadfastly focused on the God of his fathers. Consequently he earned the trust and title of a man after God’s heart. Oh Friends, I implore us today, to stay focused on God, to begin seriously working towards that designation, because it speaks of the real closeness, the same basic vision between us and our God. Nothing can ever bring us closer to Him than that. Much LOVE!…I have been young, and now am old…yet have I not seen…the righteous forsaken…nor his seed begging bread… (Ps.37:25)

Oh Friends, it’s supposed to be another beautiful spring day! Wow! Let’s hope it stays like that now, notwithstanding the last time I said something like that, snow fell.  But I do believe the Lord has proven His point and gotten a good chuckle out of it, and will now allow us to have true spring weather. The birds are joyfully singing, so that’s a good sign. And all God’s people, tired of the long, drawn out winter weather, and acutely suffering the winter blahs, erupted in a loud and grateful: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Yes Friends, it’s easy to get tired and discouraged when negative stuff keeps coming at us in seemingly unending waves. But you know what? Our Bit today can act as a comprehensive blanket for anything that comes against us. It’s like Linus in the Peanuts comic strip; once he has his blanket with him, he can handle any situation, but without that protective blanket he feels very vulnerable. Our Bit is the Lord’s message through Isaiah to Ahaz, king of Judah, when Syria and Ephraim, the northern kingdom of Israel, were planning an alliance to invade Judah, the southern kingdom. ‘And say unto him, Take heed (be careful). And be quiet (be calm); fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails (stubs) of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and the son of Remaliah.’ Oh my people, those are words that our God has sent us in repeated messages down through the ages, though oftimes we refuse to heed them. One of the most popular messages in that vein is Moses’ instructions to the Israelites at the Red Sea with the Egyptian host hot on their heels, hungry for blood. ‘And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation (deliverance) of the Lord, which he will show you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace (be quiet).’ (Ex.14:13-14)  And we all know the great miracle the Lord performed there; parting the Red Sea so that Israel could walk across on dry land, then rejoining the waters which swallowed up the whole Egyptian army. It’s imperative my brethren that we place all our battles in God’s hands, for there are very few, if any, that we can win on our own strength. But unfortunately we are all so stubborn and hardhearted, always wanting to do things our way, that’s why we are stymied so often. Hear this passage, re the futility of relying on men, when Israel decided to rely on Egypt, instead of turning to the God of their fathers for help. ‘For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.’ (Is.30:15) Please note those last four words my Friends: ‘and ye would not,’ because it’s the same foolish, disobedient, egotistical attitude that we possess today. We obviously haven’t learned from the numerous examples of not waiting and trusting in the Lord down through time, starting with our forefathers, Adam and Eve. But as the Lord told Judah, after promising that Syria and Ephraim would eventually be destroyed: ‘If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.’ (Is.7:9) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! If we don’t believe the Lord’s Word, then crapaud smoke we pipe! And I can guarantee that’s not a very nice or encouraging situation. Therefore, in closing, we’ll proffer some wise advice from Jeremiah, a man who saw and suffered it all, but at the end of the day unhesitatingly and overwhelmingly voted for the Lord God Jehovah. ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.’ (Lam.3:24-26) Oh my people, I implore us to indelibly write those words of wisdom in our hearts, minds and souls, then seriously put them into practice in our everyday lives. Why? Because the only way to prosper in both this life and the next, is by hoping in and waiting on Infinitely Everything, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Much LOVE!…to hope…to pray…to wait…to see through the eyes of faith…even in bleak and desperate times…that’s the hallmark…of a TRUE CHRISTIAN…

Oh thank the Lord Friends, that we’re alive to see another beautiful, sunny day, alive to admire God’s marvellous handiwork! And it’s essential, that everyday, regardless of our circumstances, we make time to admire some aspect of God’s creation; be it big or small, animate or inanimate, as that helps us keep a clear focus on the One who created the universe and all therein. And don’t say you can’t find anything, because everything that God made is a source of wonder in and of itself. It might even help to look in the mirror and declare in wonder and amazement: ‘Oh what a beautiful image of the living God! I am indeed His most marvellous creation.’ (smile) Be careful though, not to get too carried away and let it turn into narcissism. Anyway, today is Monday and we’re not in a particularly light-hearted mood because we have to go back out and face the stressful, evil workaday world. But like everything else in this life, with the Lord’s help, we can overcome that anxiety. So let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn in a loud and sincere voice. ‘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 turning to our Bit: ‘Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (drift away).’ Yesterday we saw the basic reasoning behind that statement: If all sins and disobedience were justly punished, then most of us would end up in purgatory, eternally separated from God.  But the Father, in His awesome wisdom and exceptional LOVE, made a way for us to escape that diabolical state by sending His Son Jesus as a sacrifice to pay for our wrongs, a fact we can ill afford to forget or neglect once we’ve been taught it. (Heb.2:2-3) Then the author of Hebrews goes on to prove the authenticity of Christ and His offering of salvation: ‘God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers (various) miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?’ (Heb.2:4) And here I’ll quote the scholar’s explanation of this verse, as they do a better job than I can. ‘The miraculous sign gifts of the Holy Spirit were present in the first century to confirm apostolic revelation (2 Cor.12:12; Heb.2:2-4) and are not expected today. Just as it is necessary to erect a scaffolding to aid construction when a building is being erected, so sign gifts were the spiritual scaffolding used by God to give credibility to His revelation which became the foundation of the church. When the written Word of God was complete, God removed the scaffolding. These gifts were given primarily as signs for the Jews (1 Cor.1:22). Also, as the apostles were primarily communicating an oral tradition, they needed signs to authenticate their message (2 Thess.2:15). When considering a sign gift, one should remember that gifts, such as the gift of apostles, were foundational gifts needed in the first century, and were characterized by certain qualifications that could not be met today (Acts 1:21-22) Also, Paul specifically indicated that some gifts would cease (1 Cor.13:8), and he referred to miracles seemingly in the past tense, which he would not do if they were still prevalent at the time of writing. The sign gifts would include apostles (Eph.4:11), healing (1 Cor.12:9), tongues, miracles, and interpretation of tongues (1 Cor.12:10). Some might add to that list the discernment of spirits (1 Cor.12:10)‘ Yes Friends, we no longer need some of the stuff that the first Christians needed to help them believe because we have it all written down and thus can refer to it at will, but with any kind of oral work there must be something physical to justify it, and obviously the Good Lord provided the tools His spokespeople needed to do His work, just like he does with us today, though again different tools for a different kind of society. And who says the Lord doesn’t know what he’s doing eh? Anyway mih people, please take the time to check out the references above, I found them very helpful, and I’m sure you will too. And as we noted before, unlike the early Christians, we have the Word readily available to us in all forms and fashions, but still, if we don’t read, study and practice it, it will be of no use to us. We’ll lose the hope, the motivation, the belief, the faith and the encouragement it engenders in our beings…and what then?  We’ll be lost; like dumb sheep, unable to find our way, in our own strength. And anyone who’s ever been lost knows that’s a terrible experience, one to avoid at all costs. So please, I implore us, let’s pay earnest heed to the Word so that we’ll walk safely with Jesus and not get lost in the darkness. Much LOVE!…to remain connected to God…we need to concentrate on the things of God…

And a good Sunday morning to all you wonderful Friends in Christ! Or as 3 Canal would say: ‘Mornin’ Neighbuh, morning!’ (smile) Oh mih people, I read the obits today, and I didn’t see my name or picture…’Glory Hallelujah!’ Hope you have the same feeling of joy and contentment. Now to further make your day, here are nine requisites for contented living attributed to the German novelist, lawyer, playwright and poet, Goethe (1749-1832) ‘Health enough to make work a pleasure.’ Hn! ‘Wealth enough to support your needs.’ Of course! ‘Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them.’ For sure! ‘Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them.’ O thank you Jesus! ‘Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished.’ Ah Lord eh! ‘Charity enough to see some good in your neighbour.’ Now that’s a hard one! ‘Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others.’ Well awright! ‘Faith enough to make real the things of God.’ True! ‘Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.’ But nuh must! Oh Friends, I couldn’t help putting in my own two cents comments, but if we can consistently meet those nine requirements, then we can confidently say we’re living the kind of life Jesus desires of us, for none of them are easy to come by, much less maintain in this evil, greedy, violent and stressful world. But I urge us to sincerely try and attain them. Make your own list, place it somewhere very visible, then check it every few days to see how you’re doing, concentrating on those areas in which you’re found wanting.  And as the Lord would have it, those 9 requisites do tie in rather nicely to our Bit. ‘Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip (drift away).’ Yes my people, we most definitely ought to pay diligent and sincere attention to those things we have heard, re the Good Book and the Word it contains, in case, through neglect or lack of use, we forget them and consequently stop living by them, an act with very disastrous consequences. Now though there is dissension amongst the scholars, as to who wrote Hebrews, when, where and to whom, there is general consensus as to its purpose. Its basic theme is one of comfort and encouragement, plus some warnings to those Christians living either in Jerusalem, the general Palestine area, or Rome, to stand steadfast and strong, despite the persecution they were facing from both Gentiles and other Jews, still attesting to Judaism. Some of these early Christians had either converted from Judaism, or were second-generation believers. However, everybody, family, friends and foes, seemed to be against them, for Judaism was sanctioned by Rome but not Christianity. And to make matters worse, the promises made in Christianity; that Christ would return and Israel would be saved, had not yet occurred and didn’t seem to be happening anytime soon. Those unfortunate circumstances were obviously causing them much strain and heartache. But two thousand years later Friends, Christ still has not returned, neither has Jerusalem been restored to its original glory. Now does that mean we should lose hope and give up? Absolutely not! ‘For if the word spoken by angels was (proved) steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward (penalty); How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;’ (Heb.2:2-3) Oh my people, those are all excellent questions! Before Christ came the law was given to us by angels. And we can hear this in Stephen’s monologue before he was martyred, accusing the Jews of persecuting the prophets and not keeping God’s law. ‘Who have received the law by the disposition (direction) of angels, and have not kept it.’ (Acts 7:53) Also, if every sin and act of disobedience was to be justly punished, (Num.15:30) then our only means of escape is by accepting the awesome salvation that Jesus first offered. ‘From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (near). (Matt.4:17) And luckily for the doubters amongst us, all that was confirmed by those who heard it. (Luke 1:1-4) There Luke states his purpose for writing to his associate Theophilus: ‘That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.’ (Luke 1:4) Luke plans to reinforce Theophilus’ knowledge by giving him, as it were, actual facts and figures for the things he’s been taught. Sadly my people, time and space have run out for today, but we’ll continue this topic tomorrow, if God sees fit to grant us another glorious day on planet earth. In the meantime, please pay much attention to the Word and please stand fast in your belief in Christ and the salvation His precious blood bought us, for without that surety in our hearts, we’re headed for eternal separation from the Father. Much LOVE!…I am the way, the truth, and the life…no man cometh unto the Father…but by me… (John 14:6)

Ah Friends, old man winter, having summarily knocked out the presumptuous upstart spring, continues his stranglehold over the land. Last week we were boasting of positive double-digit temps, today though, it’s a minus double-digit reality. And who say’s Mother Nature doesn’t have a sense of humour, corny though it may be? But who’s paying attention eh? Plenty winter-weary people! (smile) Anyway, since we’re believers, followers of Christ, what’s a little cold weather eh? For we’ve been endowed with the spiritual power to endure and persevere through hell and high water, to come out smiling and undaunted on the other side. Praise the Lord, my people! And that’s exactly what our Bit is all about. ‘And he departed, and began to publish (proclaim) in Decapolis (the ten cities) how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.’ Yes my brethren, the grateful man whom Jesus cleansed of the evil spirit broadcasted His goodness to all and sundry in the ten cities around his area. That’s how we ought to behave too. And as we noted yesterday, though Jesus told him to give Jehovah God the glory, the healed man recalled the acts of Jesus Himself, so that ‘all men did marvel.’ Now that’s our topic for today, and the Good Book is full of accounts of men marvelling over the works of Jesus, so let’s check out a few. First up is Jesus healing a paralyzed man, telling him: ‘Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.’ (Matt.9:6-8) After that, He healed a dumb man possessed with a demon: ‘And when the devil (demon) was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.’ (Matt.9:33) Obviously not, since the Son of God had never before been to Israel in human form. The ordinary folk recognized that there was something very special about Jesus, but the foolish, hypocritical Pharisees declared: ‘He casteth out devils (demons) through the prince (ruler) of the devils.’ (Matt.9:34) Now that makes no sense whatsoever. Why would an agent of Lucifer cast out his master’s evil, demonic nature from his people eh? It’s like accusing Jesus of casting out God from believers. But such was the Jewish leaders’ short-sighted, selfish thinking, as it needed to be, for the Lord’s plan of salvation to come to fruition. Our next example is of Jesus Himself bringing up the notion of marvels. Talking of the Son’s relationship with the Father, Jesus told the Jewish elders: ‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, (by healing on it) but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (blasphemy). Then Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father LOVETH the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and he will show him greater works than these that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth (gives life to) them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.’(John 5:17-21) Yes Friends, if we think we’ve seen or heard of marvellous works, just wait until the Father shows Jesus His whole awesome repertoire! And not only did the people marvel at Jesus’ doings, but also those of His disciples after he ascended to heaven and the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. Check out this story in Acts 3, after Peter and John healed a lame man begging in front of the temple. The people saw him leaping and jumping and praising God: ‘and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held (on to) Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering (amazed). And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly (intently) on us, as though by our own power or holiness (godliness) we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our Fathers, hath glorified His Son Jesus…’ (Acts 3:10-13) The Jewish leaders were no better, for though they imprisoned Peter and John for their preaching resurrection through Jesus, when they brought them before the high priest, the Good Book recounts: ‘Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant (uneducated and untrained) men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them (realized), that they had been with Jesus.’ (Acts 4:13) Yes my brethren, the miraculous works accomplished first by Jesus, then His disciples, made the people of olden times marvel, yet many still believed not. Unfortunately the same thing is happening today. Jesus is working fruitfully in so many lives, with people seeing the results, but still not believing. What’s it going to take for us to truly believe and appreciate the awesome power of our God eh? Friends, we don’t need any more miracles to show or tell us that God’s in total control of the universe, they’ve been enough of them down through the ages. It’s time to wake up my people and sincerely recognize God’s amazing power and truth for what it really is…the saga of His unconditional LOVE that begat Jesus, our salvation and eternal life in His company. Much LOVE!…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…