Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 April 2022 Matthew 28:18.

02 Apr 2022 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 28:18.        All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Sunshine, lollipops and roses! Yes, my Scrip-Bit friends and family, that’s what we’re having this first Saturday morning in April: Sunshine, lollipops and roses! When last have you had that combination of God’s goodness eh? I know some of us have not had it in a long while, but Jesus is saying that today is the day for such rejoicing, in His name and the awesome power of his Holy Spirit! 

Our problem is that we have all we need to celebrate God’s goodness, but we either don’t receive it, or when we do receive it, we don’t manifest it, bring it out like He desires. Today though, we’re going to receive the goodness and grace of God, and also show it to the world! And we’re going to begin by doing what we usually do on Saturdays; that’s check out the quotes our friend Anselm sent us this past week, as he aspires to inspire us for a better tomorrow. 

And the first quote tells us without any reservation that ‘Big thinking precedes great achievement.’ Now there’s nothing to really doubt in that statement, because basic logic declares that our achievements line up in direct proportion to the size and quality of our thinking. That means big achievements can only come from big thinking, while small thinking will only manifest small achievements. And being a follower of Christ Jesus, it’s imperative that we think big and achieve big, for that’s our job. 

Jesus described it in His Great Commission; (Matt. 28:19-20) for us to go out and spread the gospel all over the world. Now that’s a Herculean task, one which we can only accomplish if we open our minds to the power and grace of our Lord and Saviour and accept all that He’s willing to give us, while transforming our thinking (Rom. 12:2) and giving up our selfish desires, that’s taking up our cross and following Him. (Matt. 16:24-26)   Remember His words that preceded the Great Commission: ‘All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.’ (Matt. 28:18) 

And we know that He never asks us to do anything without giving us the wherewithal to do it. And that’s exactly what He’s done by anointing every believer with the awesome power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, so that we can be successfully lead and guided to do the great work He desires of us! Oh friends, our God is a great and mighty Deity, the ONLY true and living One, and when we read His word, we see all the big and powerful things He’s done down through the ages. That means unless we think big, we’ll be belittling the power of our God. 

Now, Bruh Paul understood this principle when, after praying for the Ephesians to be strengthened in the inner man, and rooted and grounded in LOVE, he summarily declared: ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’ (Eph. 3:20) He knew that he was not asking God for too much, because our mighty God could do even more than that. 

And that brings us to the next quote: ‘The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.’ Now there’s much truth to that quote, if we define sight as someone who knows what to do but does nothing, or has wisdom and insight but don’t action them to the benefit of humanity. In other words, like Jesus said, people who hide their lights under a bushel or basket. And all of us know folks who can do much better than they are doing, but are just wasting their God-given abilities. 

That leads to this quote: ‘Dissatisfaction and discouragement are not caused by the absence of things but the absence of vision.’ I don’t know if I totally agree with that statement nuh, because sometimes our discouragement and dissatisfaction can be caused by the absence of things, but a lot of it can be caused by our lack of vision, not thinking things through properly. 

And I can talk to that quote personally because I have several projects in the works, which I believe I have properly envisioned (smile) but certain practicalities like time, money and faulty equipment are holding them up. And though I am somewhat dissatisfied, I’m not discouraged because I know that they are desires placed in my heart and mind by our great God, and thus, if I don’t give up, they will eventually be fruitful and multiply. 

And it’s why the following quote is oh so important in a believer’s life. ‘The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’ Now that ought to be the Christian’s Mantra: ‘NEVER GIVE UP!’ For quitting is not in Christ’s vocabulary, He expects us to get back up, no matter how many times we fall. And the truth is that success cannot be truly accomplished or appreciated without some failure. That’s the story of most of those we consider important and world shaking; like the great inventors and power brokers, they all failed several times before they succeeded. 

As they say, there is no success without failure. ‘And Success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.’ The thing about failure is that it builds a good foundation for when we do achieve success. It teaches us how to operate in the future, we learn from our mistakes, and it builds our faith as we go through the adversity of defeat. And remember, you only fail when you stop trying! While you are trying, there’s always the possibility of success. 

And Cousin Sol said it best in Proverbs. ‘For a just (righteous) man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (stumble into calamity).’ (Prov. 24:16) And according to the scholars, that means ‘the righteous man always recovers, but the wicked man faces permanent destruction.’ Then there’s this appropriate verse from the longest chapter in the Good Book, Psalm 119. ‘It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.’ (Ps. 119:71)

Yes friends, there’s learning and benefits in afflictions and failures, but we have to sort them out and use them to our benefit. That brings us to this last quote: ‘Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.’ And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! The Lord has a defined and definite plan for each of us and we can only make our time here on earth worthwhile by consulting Him and then living it the way He’s planned it. Now, I know plenty of us are swayed by what others desire of us, to live their unfulfilled dreams, or their social, political and economic aspirations. 

But please don’t let anyone encourage or force you to live any other life than that which God has crafted for you, be they parents, teachers, preachers or someone you might consider important. If they truly LOVE you and have your best interest at heart, they will encourage you to find out God’s purpose for your life and to live it, regardless of what other circumstances or people might dictate! Too many of us have been encouraged or forced to live lives not designed for us, and thus we have been awfully miserable and lonely in our souls and spirits, despite our outward success. 

In closing, let’s never forget this wonderful verse of scripture that speaks directly to that problem. The words of the prophet Jeremiah on the Lord’s behalf, taken from the NIV or New International Version. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jer. 29:11) 

And if we keep that verse at the forefront of our minds, then we will never go wrong. Much LOVE!

…God’s plan for our life…is the best one there is… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8             

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 March 2021 Ephesians 3:20.

11 Mar 2021 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 3:20.     Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

And then, rather quickly, it was Thursday, the penultimate day of the work week, and our lives are still somewhat confused by the pandemic and racial unrest. However, despite how things may appear, regardless of all the worries and pain, if you believe that your life is in Almighty God’s hands, then those problems will become very surmountable! Yes friends, once you are in God’s hands, problems never seem as worrisome and problematic! 

Oh, you will still have them, because that’s just a part of life on this planet, but once you’re walking with Him, once you are a follower of His wonderful Son, our Sacrificial Lamb, Jesus Christ, He’s always there to help and comfort you through His Holy Spirit that indwells all His followers! 

Wow! What awesome comfort and assurance! No other Deity can provide such emotional relief and trust, because no other Deity is alive and well and powerful like the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But the important thing is that we have to embrace all the promises and benefits that the Lord has provided. They don’t come to us automatically. We have to make the decision to come to Christ and accept that He is Lord and Saviour. 

And today, what we’re going to look at is the first act in that action. (smile) It’s called prayer, or talking to God in reverential awe; humbly, but with confidence, as Hebrews tells us: ‘Let us therefore come boldly (confidently) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.’ (Heb. 4:16) 

Now, prayer is not only asking God for stuff we want, or think we need, it goes much deeper than that. It is in essence a communing of our spirit with that of the Father, who originally breathed His Spirit in us to give us life. And when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour, His Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us to lead and guide us and to help us commune with the Almighty. Part of the Holy Spirit’s job is also to help us in prayer. 

Bruh Paul puts it like this to the church at Rome. ‘Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts (God) knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’ (Rom. 8:26-27) 

Yes precious people, the Holy Spirit interprets our innermost feelings that we cannot put into words and aligns them with God’s will. For remember, before the Lord grants our requests, He looks at the motives of our hearts, to see if they’re selfish, greedy and outside of His will. 

But getting back to actual prayer. Let’s look at how Bruh Paul prayed for others. It’s strange, but he didn’t usually pray for people’s troubles to go away and that sort of thing, he mostly prayed that they would have inner growth, and thus be able to handle the problems from a point of greater maturity. Here’s how he prayed for the Ephesians, the church at Ephesus. 

‘For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (derived). That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in LOVE, May be able to comprehend (understand) with all saints what is the breadth (width), and length, and depth and height; And to know the LOVE of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (Eph. 3:14-19) 

Oh, I know that it seems like a long and complicated prayer, but in essence it’s fairly simple. Here are some explanations from the scholars. ‘3:16-19. In these verses Paul makes three prayer requests for the addressees: (1) That they would be strengthened with might by his spirit (vs.16), that is, they be divinely enabled to successfully live the Christian life. (2) That the readers be able to comprehend…the LOVE of Christ , that is, to better understand the enormous LOVE Christ has for them. And (3) that they might be filled with all the fullness of God, that is, that the life, character, and virtues of God Himself may be fully developed in them.’ 

Oh my people, doesn’t that sound like a complete prayer? It surely does! When we are strengthened by the Spirit, then we can understand Christ’s LOVE, then live the way He desires us to live, through strong and mature faith, ‘rooted and grounded in LOVE.’ And there’s no other way to live the Christian life my friends. 

But Bruh Paul wasn’t done with his prayer. He continues: ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.’ (Eph. 3:20-21) And the scholars tell us: ‘3:20. In making the three above petitions (vs. 16-19) Paul has not asked for too much. For he prays unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that he can ask or think.’ 

And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! Our God is omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present, that means He can do all things, knows all things and is everywhere at the same time! And that’s why He is GOD! So let’s try to adopt some of those prayer principles that Bruh Paul established nuh. Let’s not just pray for troubles to be over, or success to be gained, but for us to receive what we need to grow and mature in the faith, have our inner man strengthened. We will all end up better off and living a more complete Christian life. 

And now, since it’s Thursday, let’s go home declaring (yeahhh!) our Thursday Blessings, which the Lord has magnanimously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. Altogether now, in strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

Oh friends, it’s time for us to now share those blessings with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!

…Christ came as a servant…and He expects the same of His followers… 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 June 2018 Ephesians 3:20.

24 Jun 2018 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 3:20.   Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Ah mih breddren, it’s another rainy day in my area. Now that’s good for the plants and the animals, but it will force our church picnic to be held indoors, for a second consecutive year, if I’m not mistaken. However as usual, I went to the early service, that’s why the Bit is so late, and hopefully will go back later to get some of the good food that’s always present at our picnic. (smile) 

Anyway, please don’t let the rain keep you from attending the Lord’s sanctuary today. You know, for some reason, Christians use the simplest excuse to not go to church. But whom do you think suffers, God? No, we mortal fools do. Anyway, let’s open the proceedings with some praise and worship to soften up our hearts and make them more receptive to God’s word. 

And today we’ll sing a soulful ditty from Olivia Newton John’s Album, ‘Grace and Gratitude,’ titled, ‘Let Go and Let God.’ With strong voices and sincere hearts now, let’s sing: ‘When you can’t find your direction, And when your heart won’t guide you home… Let go – and let God. When your dreams are broken in the dust, And you’ve lost the will to trust… Let go – and let God. 

(Chorus: Let the signs remind you, we are passengers. Let the signs remind you to surrender, to surrender. Let go – and let God. (Background vocals – When you’re holding in your…when you’re holding in your…when you’re holding in your…when you’re holding in your…Let go – and Let God.) 

When your faith is a dying fire, and there’s no spark to feed the flame… Let go – and let God. When your courage fails you, and the well of hope runs dry… Let go – and let God. (Chorus Let the signs remind you…etc.  Let go – and let God…Let go – and let God.’ 

Oh my people, those are such excellent and reassuring words for us in all aspects and times of life. It’s the wisest thing for us to do; to just let go and let God be God in our lives, for that’s all He really asks of us. But like stubborn, hard headed children, since He’s given us free will, we want to do our own thing and just make a mess of our lives in so doing. 

That’s why today, we’re going to consider Bruh Paul’s prayer for inner growth in his letter to the Ephesians, for only through inner growth and maturity in our Christian faith, are we fully able to let go, to surrender our all to God and let him control our lives. 

Listen to Bruh Paul: ‘For this cause (Paul’s mission to the Gentiles) I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named (derived), That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in LOVE, May be able to comprehend (understand) with all saints what is the breadth (width), and length, and depth, and height: And to know the LOVE of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God.’ (Eph.3:14-19) 

Oh precious people of God, those are exactly the same things we need prayer for today; that we be strengthened by God’s mighty Spirit, so that we can successfully live the Christian life.  And for Christ to dwell sincerely in our hearts rooted and grounded in LOVE, as well as understand the great, the enormous LOVE that Christ has for us. And to be filled with all the fullness of God, ‘that is, that the life, character, and virtues of God Himself may be fully developed in us.’ 

And how do we come by all of that wonderful stuff eh? By doing what Bruh Paul did, praying to Almighty God! As our Bit so powerfully declares: ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’ Yeh friends, that’s who is able to make all that wonderful stuff happen to and for us! 

As the scholars tell us: ‘3:20. In making the three above petitions (vs.16-19), Paul has not asked for too much. For he prays unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.’ Yes mih breddren, the God we serve and worship can indeed do much much more than we can ever ask or imagine. Our finite and puny minds can never come up with something He can’t do. 

Bruh Paul reminds the Corinthians: ‘Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.’ (1 Cor.1:25) Hn! And if you don’t believe Bruh Paul, then listen to the Lord Himself through the voice of the prophet Isaiah. 

‘For my thoughts (purposes, intentions) are not your thoughts, neither are your ways (directions) my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Is.55:8-9) And that’s the gospel truth my fellow believers! For if God couldn’t do much more than us, why would we need Him eh? No reason whatsoever! 

Unfortunately though, that’s what some foolish men are preaching and too many foolish men believing! But can the same fools guarantee anything to man, their breath of life, or how long it will last? No! That should remind us of Jesus’ parable re the rich fool, who had so much that he thought he’d just big build bigger and better storehouses to provide for his later years. But when his soul was required of him that same night, he was unable to stop it. 

Ah friends, please don’t listen to the false teachers and preachers that abound in today’s society. Please read and meditate on the Good Book for yourself, so you’ll know what’s true from what is not. For the Lord is the One who created us and works all things in our lives. And as Bruh Paul ended that chapter: ‘Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen!’ (Eph.3:21) 

Please enjoy a blessed day! Much LOVE!

…once more I ask…how can the created…ever be greater than the Creator eh…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 August 2016 Ephesians 3:20.

30 Aug 2016 Leave a comment

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

Ephesians 3:20.   Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

Well my faithful brethren, it’s another wonderful sunny morning in my neighbourhood! Glory be! 

However, we could certainly use some rain. The ground is hard and dry and plants are suffering some. But we know that our God is still in control of His universe and His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours, so we just have to use our faith to bear up under whatever He decides is best for us at this time. 

Now here is something from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin that caught my interest and made me want to share it. It’s titled ‘Knowing God Intimately.’ 

Please read with me. ‘How do we learn to know God so intimately that all of life takes on a new freshness? We acknowledge that God is the instigator. We would not be wanting Him if He did not first want us. Even a glimmer of spiritual desire is His desire planted in us. 

We resign from our self-appointed office as president of the “Me First Club,” which gives God the privilege of saying, “Good! Now I’ll promote you.” 

We focus on Jesus Christ, God’s Son. It is never a matter of how conspicuous we are. It only matters that He is conspicuous in us. We make no promise of perfection. All the perfection we’ll ever have is the perfection of Jesus living in us. 

We let God’s Word saturate our hearts. Five or ten minutes each day is far more helpful than three hours once a week. We trust God to do within us what we cannot do, knowing that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.’ 

Oh faithful friends in Jesus, what a beautiful and most useful description of how to get to know our wonderful God intimately! 

We first lay down our post of head of our selfishness club, so that God can use and promote us, because He cannot, or rather won’t do anything if we hold on to pride of first place in our own lives. Yes my people, above all else, we need to recognize God as El Numero Uno; Number ONE! 

And isn’t it strange that we can’t want Him until He first plants a seed of wanting in us? And having given God first place in our lives, we then focus on Jesus Christ His wonderful Son who selflessly gave up His holy and sinless life to save us. Oh glory to God! 

And yet again, what truly matters is how Jesus is perceived in us, not we in Him. And our perfection is found in Him, the ONLY perfect being, through His Holy Spirit dwelling within us, leading and guiding us on a path of righteousness. 

And to help bring all of that to pass, we need to read and study and meditate on the Word of God, let it flourish in our lives, so that we can be fully rooted and grounded in all that He has promised, since He can do way way more than our finite minds can even imagine. Wow! 

And the Bible Promise for that poem is also our Bit for today. ‘Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.’ 

Ah mih people, what a joy and pleasure it is to know that there is someone more powerful than us, under whose umbrella of LOVE we can safely lay our lives, our burdens and all our earthly cares! 

And how does all of that affect us? Well here Bruh Paul is praying for the inner growth of the Ephesians, and by extension us too. 

He tells them: ‘Wherefore I desire (ask) that ye faint not (not lose heart) at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.’ (Eph.3:13-15) Oh friends, we are a part of that family! How wonderful! 

Now here are some explanations of those verses from the scholars. ‘3:13. Which is your glory: God will use Paul’s tribulation and sufferings in the ministry to spiritually benefit his recipients. Such edification will then bring about glory on their part in that they praise and honour God.’ 

‘3:14. For this cause: This expression resumes the apostle’s prayer begun in verse 1 but delayed by the discussion of verses 2:13.’ Now why doesn’t that surprise me eh? Bruh Paul was so intense, had so much godly desire for those under his spiritual care, that at times his message could be complicated and long winded. I can certainly appreciate that. (smile) 

’3:15. Is named means “is derived.” The whole Christian family, including those saints now departed and in heaven, and those saints still living on earth – all of them “derive” their spiritual life from God.’ 

So friends, our Maker becomes the undeniable Mover and Shaker in our lives when we wisely offer to live under His protection and guidance. More on all of this tomorrow, God in favour. Now let’s go home proudly and sincerely declaring our Tuesday Mantra …thought I’d forgotten nuh. (smile) 

‘I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world.  Amen!’ 

And if we were sincere in that declaration, then we need now to go out and put it all into action, for that’s what Jesus desires of us. Much LOVE!

…beloved children of God…and friends of Jesus…are expected to joyfully share His LOVE and His Word…