Today’s Scrip-Bit 19 April 2018 Psalm 73:3.

19 Apr 2018 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 73:3.    For I was envious at the foolish (boastful), when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Ah mih people, it’s a good thing that we have the light, the power, peace and LOVE of Jesus residing within us yes, otherwise when we look outside all we’d see is the beginning of another cold, damp and dreary looking day. Steups! 

Thank the Lord for Jesus oui! Shout ‘Hallelujah!’ and praise His most wonderful and holy name. The name that’s above every other name and to which every knee must bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord, to the glory of our heavenly Father. 

Mama Mia! How beautiful is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ eh? There are no words in the human vocabulary to do Him justice! And when we add all the sad and disgusting situations existing in our current world and it’s exceeding ungodliness, it just makes us want to LOVE and live for Jesus even more. 

Now over the last two days we have spoken about Jesus’ Great Commission and His Great Invitation, but yuh know what friends, too many of us Christians are not taking those very important aspects of our faith seriously enough.  

Unfortunately we are turning to the things of the world to bring us joy, peace and happiness; seeking to accumulate the wealth of the world, so that we can leave lots of it behind for our families and lawyers to fight over when we depart this life. 

Oh my breddren, too many of us are behaving like the psalmist Asaph when he wrote Psalm 73 – The mystery of prosperous wickedness. Hear how he opens it: ‘Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean (pure) heart. 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.73:1-3) 

Yeh friends, just like Asaph, many, too many of us are looking at the prosperity of the wicked and are being envious and jealous of them and trying to be like them. But that’s not our calling my people. We are called to be righteous and to do good in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour! 

And if we do that, we’ll end up as Jesus promised: ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33) Yes, if we look to God first, He will provide all that we need. As Bruh Paul said to the Philippians: ‘But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by (through) Christ Jesus.’ (Phil.4:19) 

It’s obvious though that many of us either don’t know those promises or don’t believe or adhere to them since we are so busily seeking the things of the world, which eventually perish and we have to leave behind anyway. We seem to think like Asaph did, even though he was a highly spiritual man, as he continues after our Bit. 

‘For there are no bands (pangs or pain) in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain (serves as a necklace); violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness (bulge with abundance): they have more than heart could wish.’ (Ps.73:4-7) 

Yeh friends, the ungodly and wicked are currently prospering in this evil world, but it won’t be forever. Listen as Bruh David tells about the true state of the wicked. ‘Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.’ (Ps.37:3) 

And the scholars explain: ‘Psalm 73: This psalm is another dealing with the problem of the prosperity of the wicked. Unlike Psalm 37, however, it does not emphasize the brevity of that prosperity. The author observes that sometimes the bounty achieved by the wicked does in fact last throughout life (v.4). 

He emphasizes every believer’s need to test his own personal relationship with God. That alone provides the ultimate satisfaction available to the believer who witnesses the affluence of the wicked. That’s a fact that almost caused him to stumble spiritually and lose his faith.’ 

Ah mih people, I know that we suffer from the same problem, but like Asaph, we can also overcome it. And how did he do so? Hear him: ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.’ (Ps.73:17) 

Yes my fellow believers, as the scholars further explain: ‘Not until the psalmist entered God’s sanctuary and received a divine perspective on the wicked’s prosperity did he find his answer to the problem (vs.17-28) He saw the destiny of the wicked (vs.17-20); therefore he repented of his foolishness (vs.21-22) and found his happiness solely in a warm and growing relationship with God (vs.23-28).’ 

And so can we my brethren, if we look solely to God for our earthly sustenance and not be envious of those who seem to have it all, for who knows if they sold their souls to achieve that power and abundance. And eventually, like Asaph, we will also be able to declare: ‘My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength (rock) of my heart, and my portion for ever.’ (Ps.73:26) 

And having said that, let’s go home now declaring our Thursday Blessings, those wonderful attributes the Lord pours down on those sincerely believe and stand steadfast with Him. All together now: ‘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 everyday! Amen!’ 

And the corollary to that, is to now go out and generously share those blessings with the less fortunate, as Jesus intends for us to do. Much LOVE!

…evil doers shall be cut off…but those that wait upon the Lord…shall inherit the earth… (Ps.37:9)

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 April 2012 Isaiah 40:8

15 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

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

Isaiah 40:8.    The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Oh Friends, the war between good and evil is intensifying! And unfortunately the enemy has recently won an intense skirmish. It seems that a Public School Board in Northern Ontario is planning to ban the Bible from the Public Schools in that jurisdiction. What a sad and crying shame! And it seems that this is being done on the strength of a complaint from one parent, which I find really hard to believe. But these days anything seems possible in our society. So because one parent doesn’t want their child or children to come into contact with the Good Book, the powers that be are choosing to remove them from the whole Public School system in that area. How anal and foolish that we’re bowing to all sorts of nonsense in what’s supposed to be a democratic Christian country. How does that parent think they even got the right to voice their displeasure in the first place? Because of the Christian humanity and democracy! In many other countries they wouldn’t even be able to open their mouths and complain, much less have their complaint actioned. Oh Friends, when are we going to learn that all these acts of simply acquiescing to those of other faiths, or no faith at all, is gradually tearing away the fabric of our Christian society, and openly inviting Lucifer to come in and do his evil deeds? It now means that because of one selfish, misguided parent, hundreds of other children won’t have the benefit of the Bible at school, and the Gideon’s, who have been distributing them freely, won’t have numerous places to spread the Word. The taxes of the parents of all the children now bereft of the Good Book pay for the school too, so shouldn’t they have some sort of say? And I thought this was supposed to be a democracy, where the voice of the majority carries? But our country is no longer a democracy, or the meaning of the word has changed to the voice of the minority carries, because that’s what’s happening so much today. Oh my people, it’s time we took a real and serious stand about the Christian things that our supposed Christian leaders are removing from our society because a few who can’t make it in their, impoverished, dictatorial countries come here and are clamouring for the systems they left behind. Do you think we can do that in any of those countries? Certainly not! We can’t even think about Christ, much less talk about Him! Friends, if we want western society to remain democratic and Christian, then we have to stop giving in and kowtowing to these minority views. If you can’t accept that the society was built on those principles, then leave. That’s not to say we can’t be somewhat accommodating, but certainly not by killing our culture and entrenching theirs. Ah mih breddren, yuh know that one thing we Christians are very good at is talking a big talk, but then there’s never any, or not sufficient action to back up our big talk. And it’s quickly coming to the point where if we’re not going to put up, then we should just shut up and let our supposed Christian but fearful, backboneless leaders and administrators give the country away, dismantle our rich heritage and culture. Now here’s a poem from the Hour of Power Devotional by Robert H Schuller. It’s titled; ‘God Needs Us!’ And isn’t that the gospel truth my brethren! God needs us now more than at any time in the Church’s history, possibly with the exception of its very beginning. And here’s why He so badly and desperately needs us: ‘Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today. He has no feet but our feet to lead us on the way. He has no tongues but our tongues to tell us how He died. He has no help but our help to bring us to His side.’ That means Friends that we’re God’s hands, feet, tongues and help in this evil world, and if we don’t seriously promulgate His Church, stand and fight determinedly against the enemy who’s trying to destroy His magnificent edifice, then we’re not His true followers. Fellow believers, if we want our children’s children to be still enjoying this culture of freedom and Christianity in their time, then we have to make our voices heard TODAY, RIGHT NOW, before any more of our Christian heritage is further eroded. And don’t for one moment fool yourself into thinking that it won’t happen if we keep quiet, for Beelzebub already has his evil plans drawn up and waiting for the perfect time and opportunity. You have already seen how they’ve taken prayer out of our schools and public places, while allowing other faiths to use the schools for their prayer time in the middle of the afternoon. So if we don’t get on our horses and ride, it’s only a matter of time before we become a minor part of our society. The decision is ours now. Please, pretty please, let’s make some wise ones nuh, and not be found wanting at the end of the day. I’m sure none of us want to a part of the generation that lost Christendom to the infidel. Got to go and find a suitable Bit now, since all of that came from the heart. (smile)  And after much searching, I believe I’ve found the most appropriate one. For as Isaiah proclaims so assuredly: ‘The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.’ And that’s the living truth my people, so let’s never forget it and act accordingly! Much LOVE!…a word to the wise is sufficient…he who has ears to hear…let him hear….stand up, stand up for Jesus…the trumpet call obey…till every foe is vanquished…and Christ is Lord indeed…