Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 August 2013 Psalm 37:1

26 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 37:1:     Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
 
Oh Friends, as Jesus opened the windows of heaven this morning, before He could even look out, an unfamiliar strain from earth reached His ears. It sounded like a chant, but one that He’d never heard before. So He leaned out the window to try and hear it better. Lo and behold my people, a warm, fuzzy smile broke out over His radiant countenance as He heard these words rising up to heaven.
 
‘TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday! Time to be up and about Jesus’ business! The battle will soon be joined, for Jesus is already at the front lines! Up and at them Christian soldiers! For the victory is ours, through Jesus! Amen!’
 
Ah Friends, what a blessed day that will be eh, when we begin the workweek in such a joyful and godly mood and state of mind! But don’t worry, we’re working on it. It will become reality in God’s good time. But until then, let’s lustily sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn.
 
As one sweet, sounding harmonious choir 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!’
 
Ah mih breddren, that was good! Jesus was pleased. So with the adrenalin pumping, the faith, strength and confidence soaring, let’s go out now and engage Lucifer and his evil buddies in a fight to the death!
 
And our Bit ties in quite nicely with all of that my people. ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.’
 
Oh Friends, I know that is often very difficult to do in this evil and ungodly world, when it seems that the wicked is forever prospering, while the righteous struggle and suffer. But please remember my fellow believers, that even the psalmist and man of great faith, Asaph, also had that problem, as he tells us in Psalm 73, the mystery of prosperous wickedness.
 
‘But as for me, my feet were almost gone (I had almost stumbled); my steps had well-nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish (boastful), when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.’ (Ps.73:2-3) 
 
But Bruh David then tells us why we should not be jealous of the prosperous evildoers. ‘For they shall soon be cut down like the green grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps.37:2)
 
Now that’s the true state of the wicked my brethren! And I’m sure we don’t want to be a member of any group that’s eventually going to be destroyed by Almighty God.
 
Note too, that Moses in his only psalm, ‘From everlasting to everlasting thou art God,’ acknowledges God’s eternal staying power and man’s short, flimsy and futile nature. ‘For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.’ (Ps.90. 4-6) 
 
Meanwhile Friends, the author of Psalm 92, in his praises for the Lord’s goodness, puts it thus: ‘Oh Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring (sprout, spring up) as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed  for ever: But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.’ (Ps.92:5-8)
 
And that’s undeniable, unalterable, indisputable gospel truth my brethren, for our God is the Creator and Controller of this universe and all therein! Please let’s not forget that very significant and salient point, because in doing so, we jeopardize our eternal destiny. 
 
Yes Friends, with His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence, there’s NOTHING or NO ONE greater than Yahweh, the Most High God Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
 
It thus behoves us to pay serious attention to His Word, His commands, His statutes and His dictates, if we want to live a long, prosperous and righteous life, encompassed by salvation through the sacrificial death of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with eternal life in heavenly places as our final reward.
 
And that, my fellow believers, is true wisdom, wisdom of the everlasting kind! Much LOVE!
 
…wickedness will never prosper for very long…because in the eyes of our righteous and just God…it is an abomination to His exalted Being…and therefore must be destroyed… 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 August 2013 Matthew 8:26

04 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 8:26.    And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was great calm.

Oh Friends, is Sunday morning, and all the hoopla about the Caribana Parade finish now! Thank the Lord! I don’t think any serious negative incidents occurred, for the duchess didn’t mention any. She just said that the bands didn’t start coming down the boulevard until around 4 p.m.
 
Now it’s been bad over the years, in terms of the bands heading out on the parade route, but I’ve never seen or heard it that bad. And it’s somewhat amusing now, because when the old Caribana group, which consisted mainly of immigrant West Indians, ran the show, the lateness of all the events was blamed on their West Indian mentality for not respecting time in a professional manner.
 
But it’s an entirely new set up now, with new and supposedly more time conscious people. So who or what is to blame for such a late start eh? (smile) Anyway, I won’t get into it, because I really don’t know what’s happening, and Caribana and all that it entails is just too confusing and controversial for my small mind to handle.
 
So this Sunday morning I’ll just stick with my Bit, which I do know a little about. (smile) ‘And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was great calm.’ 
 
Oh my brethren, fear is so rampant in all walks of life in our evil and godless society, that it’s not funny. Whether it’s fear of terrorism, the downturn of the economy, losing one’s job, one’s home, of physical attacks out on the streets in broad daylight, and even home invasions now, attacks right in your castle, fear is one of the common denominators of modern-day life.
 
But technically speaking, so much fear should not exist, because our society has achieved such a high level of technological innovation, with so much surveillance and supposed safety measures. But sadly, those same technological advances are cowing us for Big Brother is using them to scare us and enact controversial laws that deprive us of our privacy and other freedoms.
 
However Friends, true believers don’t need to be that worried. Yes, physical stuff happens to us, our privacy and privileges can be curtailed, or even taken away, but with Jesus Christ as our mind and body guard, we can still stand strong regardless of what comes against us. That’s because we can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens us. (Phil.4:13)
 
Unfortunately though, that takes a fairly high level of faith, which seems to be sadly lacking in many Christians, for far too many of us are getting frantic and panicking as the world situation deteriorates. Now we do have to be concerned, but we don’t have to turn ourselves and our situations upside down.
 
Remember yesterday we quoted these words of Jesus: ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33b). Well Friends, that is a staple bit of scripture that we all should learn, believe and hold tightly to, otherwise all the negative happenings in the world today will just confuse, confuffle and eventually drive us crazy. It will only raise fear in our souls, rather than the powerful energizer, faith.
 
Remember we also said yesterday that the level of our faith will determine the level of our fear, and asked us to read Hebrews chapter 11, the chapter dedicated to faith and its rewards. I hope we all did, because it’s for our individual benefit and no one else’s. And if we did read it, we saw the numerous people who operated on faith in Almighty God, even though their individual circumstances cried out for fear.
 
Look at Abraham nuh. Imagine in his seventies, rich as ever, not wanting for anything material, the Lord told him to pack up and move away from his family. And though he didn’t know where the Lord was sending him, he obeyed God, and that was credited to Abraham for righteousness.
 
Today Friends, we have many more options and stuff than any of those people mentioned in the Good Book had, but our faith seems to be at a much lower level. Why? I really don’t know. Maybe life’s just become too easy and we take too many things for granted, like heat, light and water. And since we’re not accustomed to doing without the basic amenities, when something happens to any of them, we get all jittery and fearful.
 
And a good example of that loss of basic functions is when the Internet goes down. Wow! Our whole world stops and everybody gets jittery. That’s because too much of our lives now depend on computers and all the communication devices that are currently in use. Five or ten years ago, many fewer people would have been affected by such a breakdown, but unfortunately every day we’re becoming more and more linked to, and thus more affected by the technological revolution.
 
In many respects it’s a good thing, but there are also some serious drawbacks, as it’s also prone to criminal and fraudulent activities. And remember that anything a man builds, another man can break into or destroy. Man-made safe guards don’t always do the trick. Just look at all the successful hacker activities that are now taking place.
 
Oh my people, we have to use all this new-fangled stuff as mere tools, and stop allowing them to run and control our lives. In other words, stop bowing down to them, because we are certainly using them as idols, and they are taking away from our time with God.
 
Now do you think He appreciates that? No Way! Remember His first commandment is that we should have no other Gods before Him, and we should not bow to any graven images or idols.
 
Unfortunately though, in this crazy, confused world, there are all sorts of idols to worship, and unless we have a strong relationship with Jehovah God, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, we will easily get scared and afraid of stuff that’s not supposed to intimidate us.
 
Oh Friends, I implore us this Sunday morning to keep looking to our wonderful, omnipotent and magnanimous God for strength and courage to face the vicissitudes of this life. That’s because only in Him, His Word and His Son Jesus Christ can true strength be found through positive faith.
 
And that’s wisdom of the eternal kind! Much LOVE!
 
…courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear…but more the abundance of faith…
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 May 2013 Psalm 50:22

30 May 2013 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 50:22.    Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
 
Top o’ the morn, mih people! Another God-given day is in the offing, and are we ever blessed to be alive and kicking! Wow! 
 
So let’s give our ever-LOVING Creator some thanks and praise for that wonderful blessing, then go out and enjoy the day, be glad and rejoice in it, spreading His Word, and joyously living our faith as He desires us to.
 
And all God’s people declared a loud and heartfelt, ‘All praise to the honour and glory of our great God! For He’s the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD! The Creator and Controller of this amazing universe.’ 
 
Yes Friends, it’s ever so right and good to begin our day with some glorification of Almighty God! Even the lesser animals instinctively do it, so why can’t we ‘brainiacs’ eh? And I guess that’s the problem right there; we have too much brains, which makes us think too much, and also too much of ourselves.
 
Sometimes the best reaction is the instinctive one, not the well laid and thought out plan. Anyway, the important thing is that we’re alive and kicking and glorifying God. And all God’s children said a hearty ‘Amen!’
 
Now let’s turn to our Bit, a rather interesting one. ‘Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.’
 
Oh what a warning my Friends! That psalm of Asaph is aptly titled ‘God is the judge.’ And so He very well is, my brethren! Please don’t ever forget that! A judge that we should be very wary of, and careful to do His bidding.
 
Asaph lists the sins and disobediences of Israel, then that terrible warning to those who forget Jehovah God comes down from on high. It’s no child’s play my Friends. That godly promise of ‘lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver’ – that’s serious business people.
 
And for those of you who don’t know, haven’t clued in or yet realized it, our God is a very serious God, especially when it comes to things like obedience, pride and idolatry. He’s the most LOVING and generous Being there is, but if you constantly disobey Him and try to shunt Him aside, His anger can be very great indeed.
 
Listen to Job’s supposed buddy, Bildad, affirm God’s justice. ‘Can the rush (papyrus) grow up without mire (marsh)? Can the flag (reeds) grow without water? Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:’ (Job 8:11-13)
 
That requires no explanation, my brethren. Now hear Bruh David on the subject, from Psalm 9, ‘Praise for God’s justice.’
 
‘The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion (meditation or song). Selah. The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.’ (Ps.9:16-18)
 
Yes Friends, our God is a just God, and He executes justice and judgement on the wicked, while having mercy for the poor and oppressed.
 
Now let’s open our ears, hearts, minds and souls and listen to God’s promise to those who are obedient and godly. ‘Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation (conduct) aright will I show the salvation of God.’ (Ps.50:23)
 
Oh my people, that’s the greatness of our God right there! Once you praise and glorify Him and conduct yourself in a manner suited to a believer, He will show you the wonders of His salvation. Now isn’t that much better than the ugliness and sinfulness that Lucifer has to offer? Of course!
 
And we’ll end with some appropriate words from Bruh Paul to the Galatians. ‘But God forbid that I should glory, save (except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world (or by which the cross) is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
 
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (creation). And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.’ (Gal.6:14-16)
 
And we’ll have a word from the scholars here. ‘Unlike the Judaizers, who brag about their religious accomplishments Paul takes pleasure only in Jesus’ atonement and all the spiritual blessings it brings. The world is the world system. Paul has renounced his old life and all its ways, along with its values and religious accomplishments in which he used to boast.’ 
 
And so should we my brethren, because the fleshly religious stuff like circumcision no longer pertains. It’s all about the new creation of man in the Spirit of Christ, and whether you’re a Gentile or Jew, once you walk in and adhere to that principle, God’s mercy will be forever upon you.
 
Oh what a wonderful God we serve and worship, my Friends! Please, let’s continue doing so with all that we have, so that His blessings will continually be upon us. Now that’s indeed wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!
 
…to live for God…is the sweetest sacrifice a man can make…  
 
P.S. Ah mih people, our God is so amazing and amusing, would you believe that as I wrote that last word in my rough draft, the lights went out for a split second, putting a godly period to the writing. (smile)  
 
I guess a flash of lightning must have occurred in my area, and caused a loss of power to all the electrical appliances. It’s a good thing I didn’t have anything written on the computer as yet, else I might have lost it all. And you know how annoying that can be. But the Lord in His mercy and LOVING-kindness did not allow that to happen. Praise His Holy Name! Much LOVE!
 
  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 4 January 2013 Romans 8:8

04 Jan 2013 Leave a comment

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

Romans 8:8.     So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Oh Friends, can you believe it is already the 4th day of this new year 2013? Brother! It’s already flying fast! That means we cannot afford to diddle daddle and procrastinate, if we truly want to seek a closer walk with Jesus, as our New Year’s resolution states. And wonder of wonders, today is also Friday… And a whooping shout of joy, accompanied by exclamations of ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday!’ rises up to heaven on high. In particular from those who had partied heartily over the holidays and were still suffering the after effects, but had to go to work a few days this week. Yes Friends, the partying is always nice, but not always so the consequences. And that’s exactly what we’re trying to prevent, to curtail this year; the sad, devastating consequences of not walking with Jesus. Oh my people, that is definitely the height of foolishness because not walking in step with Jesus will only bring us pain and shame, death and eternal separation from our Heavenly Father, our Creator. And as I keep reminding us, that’s the worst possible scenario that could ever happen to a creation of Almighty God. So please take this message to heart, and even if you don’t believe me, still try it, since your current actions are all leading to dead ends and heartaches. Humour me and give Jesus a try. I guarantee you’ll never go back to Lucifer and your old ways, because when you turn to Jesus and sincerely accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, you become an entirely new person. You think differently, believe differently, feel better – physically, mentally and emotionally, your eyes are opened to things and subjects you never even knew or dreamed existed. Mama Mia! That’s how wonderful and marvellous a change Jesus brings into your life, when you decide to seriously follow Him. And Friends, I’m not talking about this merely from hearsay, but from personal experience. Now hear how Bruh Paul explains it to the Corinthians. ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation)” old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation.’ (2 Cor.5:17-18) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! We no longer live in the lusts of the flesh, but by the Holy Spirit of Christ that then indwells us. And please pay particular note to what our Bit states: ‘So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.’ And why is that you ask? ‘For they that are after the flesh, do mind (set their minds on) the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.’ (Rom.8:5-7) Yes Friends, if we’re hooked up to the lifeline of Jesus, that means we’re living in the kingdom of heaven, that’s spiritually, joyfully looking forward to the day of His return, not according to the laws of the flesh and man, meaning simply for today, with material possessions being our mainstay. Remember again, that Jesus said, if we seek first God’s kingdom, then all our material needs will be met. (Matt.6:33) So there’s absolutely no reason to fear or worry about our earthly necessities if we put God’s will as our first priority. And what does embracing Christ and walking faithfully with Him through His indwelling Spirit do? Hear Bruh Paul tell it to the Roman church. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for (on account of) sin, condemned sin in the flesh. That the righteousness (righteous requirement) of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ (Rom.8:1-4) Yes my people, as the scholars declare: ‘There is nothing inherently wrong with the law. (But) the presence of sin renders the believer powerless to do what the law demands.’ That’s all undeniable truth Friends! So please, let’s get spiritual, or more spiritual with Jesus this year nuh. You’ve already seen some of the wonderful benefits that momentous decision and daring action provides. And since today is Friday, and the work week’s done, let’s perk up even more, because that gives us rest from toil, as well as more time to spend with Jesus and His Holy Spirit. And believe me people, there’s nothing better than that on this evil, ungodly earth! However, since we still need to keep everything in the right perspective, let’s chant our Friday Chant with much pomp and pleasure. Thought I’d forgotten eh? (smile) Now, as one powerful, sweet set of chanters, let’s chant: ‘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.’ Enjoy the weekend Friends, but remember to eschew the lusts of the flesh, and allow the wonderful Spirit of Christ that dwells in us, to lead and guide us to victory in His Holy Name. Much LOVE!…walking with Christ…both in our hearts and minds…makes our earthly journey…more wonderful with each passing day…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 5 February 2012 Matthew 26:41

05 Feb 2012 Leave a comment

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

Matthew 26:41.    Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.

Oh my people, it’s another wonderful day on the face of God’s beautiful earth, filled with bountiful mercies and blessings! Please give Him some thanks and praise for that! And what do we have planned for this wonderful day? It’s Sunday, so I surely hope that fellowship is in the offing for those who celebrate the Sabbath on Sundays. And for those who don’t, I’m taking it for granted that you’ve already fellowshipped on whatever day you celebrate your Sabbath. Don’t make me a liar now. (smile) Oh Friends, it’s so important for us to get together to praise and worship our amazing God because constant interaction with the enemy during the week tends to wear us down, and drain our faith. So at least once a week we need something to rejuvenate us, and there’s nothing like godly fellowship to strengthen and rebuild our trust in Almighty God. One of the principles of Christianity is that we encourage and build each other’s faith, but sadly I don’t think we do it sufficiently. It seems like we’re more intent on following the ways of the world and breaking down our brethren for any perceived wrongs, instead of trying to help them right the wrongs and stand strong in faith. But Friends, this is indeed a foolish and short-sighted behaviour, since the Christian fraternity is like a chain, where the weakest link will always be the first one attacked by the enemy, and if that link isn’t properly shored up and strengthened, then the whole chain will break apart, regardless of how strong the other links are. That’s why Bruh Paul warned the Thessalonians: ‘Wherefore comfort yourselves together (encourage each other), and edify (build up) one another, even as also ye do (are doing).’ (1 Thess.5:11) We’re not all at the same levels or stages of faith, which means that some are stronger than others and can withstand more temptation than others, but if we work together as one, helping and encouraging each other, as we’re supposed to, then the weaker links will be protected from the enemy and over time will grow stronger, as will the body of Christ, His Church. Please note that this is not a one and done occurrence, but must be a regular, constant and ongoing procedure until Christ comes back to claim His kingdom and clean up things. That’s because there will always be weak and weaker links as new believers come to Christ, and they will need their faith strengthened through encouragement and support from other believers. No wonder Jesus reprimanded his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when He found them sleeping, while He was struggling to come to terms with His upcoming crucifixion. ‘What, could ye not watch with me one hour?’(Matt.26:40) In the true Spirit of Christ, they should have also been up and praying, trying to comfort and encourage Him in His time of difficulty. Consequently, He warned them in our Bit: ‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ And that’s the living truth Friends! Our flesh is so weak that it’s become a great liability, especially in these times of overwhelming glitter and glitz, and so often brings us such disastrous results that we swear to never live by it again. But unfortunately we do. That’s why we need to seriously adopt Bruh Paul’s advice to the Galatians: ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.’ (Gal.5:16-17) Yes Friends, our sinful human flesh and the Holy Spirit are on absolutely different wavelengths, they have contrary desires and yearnings, therefore never the twain shall meet, they shall always be adversaries. As the scholars describe it: ‘The Christian then is a battlefield, having desires to do good and evil. The outcome is that ye cannot do the things that ye would: the flesh seeks to thwart the Spirit who, in turn, attempts to frustrate the flesh’s evil desires.’ That we all know from hard experience my brethren is the gospel truth! So how do we eradicate, or at least alleviate this contrariness in our souls eh? By doing exactly what Jesus advises; watch and pray. We have to be exceedingly careful in these evil, ungodly times as to what’s happening in and around us, because there are so many wonderful looking and appetizing threats to our righteousness that we can easily get ‘confuffled’ and go the way of the flesh. Obviously we don’t want to do that too often, so we also have to stand steadfast in prayer, asking God for help to overcome the temptations that come against us. It’s no use asking Him not to send temptations, because they will come regardless. If Satan tempted Jesus, then who are we to escape it? So the best we can hope for is to not succumb to them. And we’ll conclude with Bruh Paul’s wisdom to the Corinthians on the topic. ‘Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor.10:12-13) And that He certainly will do! Oh Friends, let’s sincerely promise ourselves for this year of 2012, that we’ll upgrade our level of trust and belief, by diligently watching and praying and thus staying out of temptation, as well as helping and encouraging each other, for those are the basic dictates of our faith. Much LOVE!…believers must always be on the lookout…for the wily devil that’s the tempter…and endeavour not to let him in to our inner sanctums…  

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 January 2012 Psalm 60:11‏

28 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , ,

Psalm 60:11.     Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
 
Oh Friends, the ole fella’s under the weather this morning. A stubborn cold seems to have me in its grip. But only total incapacity or death can stop the Bit from going out. Ah better shut mih mouth here though, before the Lord decides to take me up on my boast, (smile) for He does delight in testing our bluster. Sadly, or rather luckily, I haven’t had a real cold for so long now that I’ve forgotten how lousy it can make you feel, as it drains, just saps the very energy from your lifeblood. And despite all the stuff I’m taking, it still has to run its course. It’s like fear in its workings, which saps the faith out of our souls and makes us wimpy, anxious and prone to worry. Unlike the normal cold though people, we cannot allow fear to run it’s course, otherwise it will stay with us permanently, and we’ll live a constantly fearful life. Fear has no natural stop time like the cold. We have to seriously and diligently work at eliminating it as soon as possible, nip it in the bud if we can. And how do we do that? By turning to Almighty God in faith, trust and total surrender! Note Bruh David’s plea in our Bit: ‘Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.’ Yes mih people, man’s help is very unreliable. Look at all the gated communities that have sprung up because of fear, with men guarding them. Unfortunately they are still liable to the evil that men do, because man is a finite, incomplete source of help and protection. Anything man-made can be unlocked or broken into by man. Look at all the security systems, dogs and otherwise that are supposed to protect our homes and businesses, yet they are still vandalized. The security guards with weapons on armoured trucks, they too have been robbed. So there’s no real help in man and his means. Oh Friends, it’s only in the presence of Almighty God, or His presence in our lives that a man can feel safe, and be guaranteed serious and sincere help in times of trouble. Bruh David ended Psalm 60, a prayer for help against the foe, with these words of assurance and comfort: ‘Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.’ (Ps.60:12) And that’s the undeniable truth my people! It is only with God’s help that we can overcome our enemies in this evil, oppressive world. Listen to what Bruh David says in Psalm 34, the Lord hears the righteous: ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want (lack) to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps.34:8-10) Then in Psalm 40, praise for answered prayer, he boldly proclaims: ‘Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust; and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.’ (Ps.40:4) Oh Friends, I do hope we’re getting the picture here, that it’s absolutely necessary to have faith and trust in the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob if we’re to live a fruitful, successful and prosperous earthly life. And if those scriptures haven’t convinced you, (smile) let’s try a few more, starting with Psalm 84, titled, blessed are they that dwell in thy house: The psalmist at the end, confidently declares: ‘For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.’ (Ps.84:11-12) Moving on to Psalm 118, where the psalmist is giving thanks for the Lord’s salvation, he also stoutly declares: ‘It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.’ (Ps.118:8-9) And we’ll end with some inspiring and uplifting words from Psalm 146, the blessedness of trusting God. The psalmist truthfully states: ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man (human being), in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth (spirit departs), he returneth to his earth: in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.’ (Ps.146:3-5) And that Friends is the gospel truth! No ifs, ands or buts about it. The only being it makes sense to trust completely is the Most High God Jehovah, who made the universe and everything in it, and still controls what happens therein. Man’s help can indeed be useful at times, but in the long run, it will inevitably let you down. So let’s be wise nuh and trust in the one true source of help – Almighty God! Much LOVE!…man is quick to promise help…but when push comes to shove…it’s only God…who will not disappoint you…
 

Next Newer Entries