The Importance of Acknowledging that God is the Creator and Controller of the Universe!

1 Corinthians 10:26.         For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.

So it’s Friday, and we’re all overjoyed at the prospect of the weekend hovering right around the corner; time to rest and /or party. And many of sent up the cry of ‘Thank God it’s Friday!’ whether sincerely thanking God, or just mouthing the platitude, only you alone know. But hopefully, many will be truly thankful to see another day in God’s great universe, because that’s the right and wise way to be. 

Remember the Lord created the universe and everything within it as Bruh David says in Psalm 24: ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods (rivers).’ (Ps. 24:1-2) Meanwhile Bruh Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians reminds them thus: ‘For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.’ (1 Cor. 10:26) And Ethan the Ezrahite puts it this way in Psalm 89. ‘The heavens are thine, the earth is also thine: as for the world and the fullness thereof, thou hast founded them.’ (Ps. 89:11) 

Yes friends, not only did God establish the universe and all therein, but He still controls it and rules sovereignly over it! For as Ethan the Ezrahite continues in Psalm 89: ‘Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. Justice and judgement (righteousness and justice) are the habitation (foundation) of thy throne: LOVING-KINDNESS and truth shall go before thy face.’ (Ps. 89:13-14) So the Lord our God is also strong and mighty, and only deals in truth, justice and righteousness. 

And because of that, Ethan could further say: ‘Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound (make a joyful noise to the Lord): they shall walk, O Lord in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn (strength) shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.’ (Ps. 89:15-18) And that’s the living truth my brethren! The Lord God Jehovah is our shield, our defence our strong arm in the time of battle. 

Listen as the psalmist tells it. ‘When the wicked spring (sprout) 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. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn (my strength) shalt thou exalt like the horn (strength) of a unicorn (wild ox): I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.’ (Ps. 92:7-11) 

That tells it like it is my people! The Lord will destroy the wicked, the workers of iniquity in His own time and strengthen those who sincerely trust in Him. And on top of all that, the psalmist furthermore proclaims: ‘The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (tall and strong). Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing (plump and green); To show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps. 92:12-15) 

Now friends, who wouldn’t want to be a part of all that eh? Strong, exalted, flourishing, bringing forth good fruit even in your old age, with the Lord being your rock and strength and defence! It doesn’t get any better than that my people! And yes it’s hard to withstand all the temptations of the wicked enemy, but fortunately the Lord has given us all the tools to do it, with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us to lead and guide us. And if all that fails, then we even have the option of going to the throne of grace directly to ask for divine aid. So, let’s do that right now nuh, through our Friday Chant. 

Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough…  because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times. 

We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

Ah my fellow saints, unfortunately it’s not only the sinful world that needs to wake up and smell the coffee, no, many of us supposed believers also need to do that too, because we’re not pulling our weight, we are not doing our best to represent God in this ungodly world, we’re behaving too much like the world, and that will never do. It will never help us to turn things around. So please, let’s wake up and do what we know we’re supposed to do nuh; that’s stand strong and work for Christ! Much LOVE!

…regardless of what you believe…God IS the Creator and Controller of the universe…and those who disobey His will…will suffer the consequences…               

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 October 2016 Psalm 92:1.

Psalm 92:1.   It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

Okay friends, it’s Thanksgiving Sunday in this great and good land of Canada, so let’s open with something rather appropriate nuh, something that would make life much more interesting if we did it as often as we should. 

Oh my fellow believers, let’s count our blessings, as we raise our voices heavenward in a sacrifice of praise, worship and thanksgiving. Please sing with me enthusiastically and sincerely because we have a lot of blessings to be thankful for. 

‘When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. 

Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God has done. 

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by. Refrain:  

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings, money cannot buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. Refrain: 

So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. 

Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.’ 

Oh friends, if we truly count our blessings, I’m sure that we’d all be surprised by what God has done in our lives. So please let’s stop complaining about petty stuff and instead give thanks for every little thing that we enjoy. 

And we do enjoy a lot of things that most of the world doesn’t, so let’s start being grateful for what we have rather than complain about the frivolous stuff we don’t have. 

And our Bit for today tells us exactly that. ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:’ 

Yes friends, it is indeed right and mete to sing praises for the Lord’s goodness to us, the undeserving children of men. He has done so much for us that we can never ever dream of repaying any of it. 

And He doesn’t do it for repayment, but because He made us, we are the sheep of His pasture and He LOVES us unconditionally. Oh my people, just His unconditional LOVE alone is worth more than we can ever ask or imagine. 

And if we add all the other things our wonderful God has done, is doing and will do for us, there is no doubt that we should be mucho mucho thankful and grateful, since we truly don’t deserve any of it. 

Now let’s continue singing the praises of our magnificent and magnanimous God from Psalm 92. ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To show forth (declare) thy LOVING-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night. 

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery (lute or lyre); upon the harp with a solemn (harmonious or melodic) sound. For thou Lord hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.’ (Ps.92: 1-4) 

Ah mih breddren, can you imagine those long ago days when our great God was praised both morning and evening? Hn! 

Today, because of our busy society, we’d be lucky to praise Him once, much less twice. But that’s what He deserves, and if we truly put our minds to it, we can raise our voices at least twice a day in praise and prayer. 

So let’s promise ourselves to faithfully offer up praise both morning and evening nuh my fellow believers, for that will surely warm the cockles of God’s heart and give us a peace and joy that only those who trust in Jesus will ever know. 

Now let’s continue with the psalmist’s praise. ‘O Lord, how great are thy works! And thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish (senseless) man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked 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. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn (strength) shalt thou exalt like a unicorn (wild ox): 

I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat (plump) and flourishing (green); To show that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.’ (Ps.92:5-15) 

Yes friends, that is what can be expected of those who place their trust in and surrender their lives to Almighty God! They will grow and flourish like the tall and stately cedars trees in Lebanon, see the demise of their enemies, and even more, will continue to bear fruit and flourish in their old age! 

Wow! Glory to God my people for His goodness to the undeserving children of men! How can we not give Him much thanks and praise for all His mighty works in our lives eh? 

So please, as we fill His sanctuary this Thanksgiving Sunday morning, let’s remember to count our many blessings and give Him the appropriate thanks and praise nuh, for that’s the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!

…if you’re alive today…you’re blessed…and thus owe the Lord many thanks…

Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.wordpress.com