30 Mar 2016
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: anxious, assurance, assuredness, be not dismayed, brothers and sisters in christ, Christ's Resurrection, christianity, disharmony, divide and conquer, division, do not tremble, doubtful, encouragement, ever-faithful, evil cronies, exodus, faithfulness, fear not, fearful of life, foremost, front and centre, glory hallelujah, grateful, I am halfway home, I'm not looking back, I'm so glad to be alive, jehovah god, Joshua, let not your hearts faint, LOVE, LOVE Revolution, Lucifer, magnanimity, Moses, my eyes are fixed straight ahead, my hands are on the plough, omnipotent, passion, Praise the Lord, sacrificed, sincerity, sinful man, strong and steadfast, the breath of life, the Good Book, the Lord goes before thee, the Lord will neither fail nor forsake thee, to a glorious future with Jesus, truth, walking with Jesus, Wednesday Wail
Deuteronomy 31:8. And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Well friends, it’s a bright and sunny, though somewhat chilly morning in my area. But yuh know what, it’s so beautiful that we won’t even notice the chill because our hearts, minds, bodies and souls are concentrated, are completely focused on Almighty God!
And when that happens, brother, nothing gets in the way of His work, His praise and glory!
And all God’s children said a loud and proud, ‘Praise the Lord, for He is indeed a great and wonderful God!’
And that He is my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. For who else would have sacrificed His only Son so that he could provide a way out of eternal death for a bunch of human ingrates eh? Absolutely no other Deity!
And for that we ought to be eternally grateful. Just look at how we’ve been celebrating the wonder, the majesty, the LOVE, the magnanimity and faithfulness of Christ’s resurrection these past few days nuh.
It’s the greatest thing that has ever happened to sinful man! And though we especially celebrate it around Easter time, we ought to remember and be thankful for it each and every day of our lives, both the mortal and the eternal one.
And since today is Wednesday, let’s declare our Wednesday Wail with truth, sincerity and great passion, for those three things, especially passion, are sadly lacking in the believers’ lives these days. And unfortunately, we can’t be successful at anything, unless there’s noticeable passion in our behaviour.
As one wailer now: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday!
I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
Oh my brethren, isn’t it great to be alive and walking in step with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Oh it surely is! There’s absolutely nothing else like it in this evil and ungodly world!
And without further ado, we’ll get right to our Bit, because we have plenty appropriate scripture to share this morning. ‘And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.’
Yes friends, that is what our great God said to His people through Moses long long ago, and it is the same thing He’s still saying to us today. So why are we so anxious, doubtful and fearful of life eh?
That attitude surely doesn’t deserve the name of Christianity for we’ve been assured on numerous occasions in the Good Book and our individual lives that our omnipotent and ever-faithful God will lead and guide us and never forsake us.
So let’s look at some scriptures that declare such assuredness, and which will hopefully strengthen us in these sad and trying times. Listen to this proclamation from earlier on in Deuteronomy, when Moses gave the Israelites laws concerning war.
‘And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies to save you.’ (Deut.20:2-4)
Oh precious people, what encouragement and assurance that is! And it still holds true for us today, when we go out to fight our daily battles against the godless and the heathen who are so desperately trying to remove Jehovah God from our society.
And that, my fellow believers, is something we must never allow to happen. And they are using the age-old tactic of divide and conquer against us. Note the amount of division and disharmony amongst the Christian element. Lucifer and his evil cronies are not so divided and disharmonious, that’s why they are holding the upper hand right now.
But as strong and true believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we need to strenuously fight back and regain the lost territory. Jesus’ LOVE Revolution depends solely on us. If we don’t fight seriously, He would have died in vain.
And just think about it nuh, our God has promised to go before us and lead us and not forsake nor leave us. What more can we ask eh? Nothing really!
And we’ll end with one more promise of faithfulness on the part of our immortal God; this from when He handed over the leadership of the Israelites to Joshua, after Moses’ death.
‘There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Josh.1:5)
Oh friends, Joshua would have been rather foolish not to believe God’s promise, especially after he had seen God’s mighty work and miracles throughout the Exodus from Egypt.
Now please let us believe that promise which is also being held out to us today, especially when we are confronted by the miraculous and LOVING work carried out by God in the resurrection of Jesus. There’s no reason to fear, my people, when Jesus is foremost, is front and centre in our lives.
So if He isn’t there today, please, please, let’s put Him there nuh, so that we can go out and be strong and steadfast and do His work without fear or anxiety. This I pray, in His Holy Name. Much LOVE!
…with Jesus leading the way…Christians have no reason whatsoever to be anxious or afraid…
16 Jul 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a living hope, a positive idea in the mind of a believer, according to His abundant mercy, almighty god, and all these things shall be added unto you, anything is possible, assurance, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, Blessed be the God and Father, blessed day, blessing, brow beat, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christ's Resurrection, Christians, distressed, does not perish, encouragement, eternal life, ever-faithful promise, glory, God is in control, God will work it all out for our good, God's on His throne, Gramps Schuller, hath begotten us again, honour, Hour of Power Devotional, in the centre of God's will, in the name of Jesus Christ, inheritance laid up for us in heaven, inspiring words, Jesus' Second Coming, joy, lead and guide, listen to God's voice, living faithfully for Jesus, LOVE, mature in faith, more precious than gold, most powerful force in the world, My walk, new creation, obedience, our Lord Jesus Christ, praise, refining faith, rejoice, resurrection, righteousness., seek ye first the kingdom of God, Sermon on the Mount, stand strong and steadfast, the straight and narrow path, the things of God, the trial of your faith, the world is our oyster, there are consequences to all decisions, though tried with fire, trials, tribulations, true faith cannot be destroyed, trust, truth, virtual reality, wake up to a new day, walk in obedience to God's will, walking in God's will, we have nothing to fear, worldly things
1 Peter 1:3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Well Friends, another blessed day by the name of Thursday has been added to our life card!
And all God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Thank You heavenly Father for causing us to see another wonderful day on Your planet earth. We know that You are on Your throne, still in control of everything, which means we have nothing to fear, once we walk in obedience to Your will.
Please lead and guide us safely and sensibly through this day, so that we may live lives worthy of you, and cause others to come to you for salvation. We pray this in the name of Your Son and our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.’
Ah my people, what a blessing it is to wake up to a new day, knowing that the world is our oyster, and with Almighty God in control, anything at all is possible! Wow!
But most important of all is His ever-faithful promise, the assurance that He will work everything out for our good, regardless of what happens today. As believing Christians, what more can we ask for eh? Nothing really nuh!
And to add further encouragement to our faith and our day, listen to this poem from our dear departed Gramps Schuller (Dr. Robert H. Schuller) from his Hour of Power Devotional. It’s simply titled ‘MY WALK.’
Please recite with me: ‘O God, I’m inspired. For you have just impressed the truth into my mind: The most powerful force in the world is a positive idea in the mind of a believer who is walking in your will! I now reach forth my life and say, “God, put my life into the centre of your will.” Amen.’
Oh Friends, what inspiring words and sentiments! Gramps Schuller has gone home to the many mansions in the sky, but his words of truth and inspiration still linger on with us and help to guide us along the straight and narrow path. And he is right yuh know. There is no more powerful force on this earth than a God-given idea to a believer who is intent on walking in God’s will.
So today, please let’s concentrate on doing just that nuh; listening to God’s voice and walking in His will, like the obedient children we’re supposed to be. Let’s let go of all the nonsense that the world is pushing at us, and concentrate on the things of God, as Jesus wisely advised in the Sermon on the Mount. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt.6:33)
Yeh Friends, if we simply seek the things of God, all the worldly things we need will be granted to us. That’s God’s promise, and we know He never breaks promises. So why are we so reluctant to seek Him and His way eh? I really can’t answer for anybody else.
But be sure that the time will come when we will each have to answer individually for our earthly behaviour. So there is no sense trying to brow beat or force anybody into obedience, we all have the option to make our own decisions. Just remember that there are consequences to whatever decisions we make.
Enough preaching now, (smile) let’s get to our Bit, a most wonderful expose on God’s goodness to mankind. ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’
Oh my brethren, as we said yesterday, without Christ’s resurrection, there could have been no new creation, no eternal life, and for that we should be everlastingly grateful!
We also saw that there is an inheritance laid aside for us in heaven that cannot be destroyed or corrupted and doesn’t fade away. And we are kept by God’s power, through our faith that believes in salvation, which will be revealed in the last days. (1 Pet.1:4-5)
And Peter continues: ‘Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness (distressed) through manifold temptations. That the trial (the genuineness) of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried (tested) with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearance (revelation) of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye LOVE; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.’ (1 Pet.1:6:9)
Yeh mih people, that’s the beauty, the magnitude and strength of our faith! We’ve never seen Jesus, yet we believe in Him and LOVE Him everlasting! We also find unspeakable joy in living for Him, and sincerely and confidently trust Him to provide our salvation in the end times!
So much so, that even when we go through trials and tribulations here on earth, we consider them tests of our faith. And though they may be extremely tough and fiery, we pass through them with assurance, giving thanks and glory to God, eagerly and patiently waiting for Jesus’ Second Coming.
Yeh Friends, it’s not an easy life living faithfully for Jesus, but I can assure you that it’s a very rewarding one, if you stand strong and steadfast in faith.
Now here is some info from the scholars on those verses. ‘1:6-9. The problem of salvation looks to the present. Earthly trials constitute a problem of our salvation, but they are only for a season, or temporary. Manifold temptations means diversified trials. True faith cannot be destroyed though God is in the process of refining faith through our trials.’
Ah Friends, in closing, I’d like us to pay particular attention to that last sentence of the scholars because it is the absolute truth. If our faith is true, it will be strong, and thus not able to be destroyed, even though God is testing us with fiery trials and temptations.
So please, let’s hang in there in faith, knowing that all the promises made by Almighty God, our Creator and Provider, will, in His time, be revealed and become reality – not the virtual type that we’re so take up with nowadays, but the real reality that only comes from and through Him. Much LOVE!
…Once we mature in faith with Jesus…It is virtuallyunbreakable…even though tried by fire…
06 Apr 2015
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a great King above all Gods, almighty god, atone for our sins, aura of love, blessings, Christ's Resurrection, compassionate, confidence, day of temptation, Easter Monday, eternal life, evil powers, faith, fellowship, For he is our god, forgiveness, friends, glorious kingdom, glory hallelujah, gospel truth, Hades, harden not your heart, holy spirit, hope, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, joy, joyful noise, kneel beofre the Lord our maker, let us make a joyful noise, lies, lord god almighty, LOVE, mercy, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, O come let us sing unto the lord, o come let us worship and bow down, provocation, rebellion in the wilderness, reconcile, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, shout joyfully, spiritual armour, steadfast faith, the Lord is a great God, the sheep of his hand, to the rock of our salvation, today if ye will hear his voice, trust, ungodly world, we are the people of his pasture
Psalm 95:1. O Come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) to the rock of our salvation.
And then it was Monday Friends – Easter Monday with the joyful celebrations of Christ’s resurrection and victory over the dark and evil powers of Hades and the world still in full cry! Glory Hallelujah!
That’s only for some of us blessed ones though, unfortunately the remainder have to go back out to work today and won’t be able to participate in the Easter Monday frivolities. Oh don’t you feel so sorry for them? For sure we do, but that’s just the luck of the draw, whether where you work recognizes Easter Monday as a holiday or not.
However to show our solidarity with them, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with much zeal and fervour. As one marvellous 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!’
Oh Friends, that was pretty good, though there were a few hoarse and out of tune voices, obviously from the hard and heavy partiers. (smile) Jesus just chuckled and shook His head knowingly when He heard them.
Now that ought to get us revved up and just rearing to get out into the world and show the unbelieving hordes exactly what true Christians are like, and have them panting with longing to come to Jesus and get what we have, salvation and eternal life. That’s why my people, Psalm 95 – A psalm of praise to the great God – is so appropriate at this Easter time.
And our Bit leads it off: ‘O Come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise (shout joyfully) unto Him with psalms (songs) (Ps.95:1-2)
And that is very meet and right my people, since the Lord went to such great trouble to have His Son sacrifice Himself to atone for our sins. It’s a no-brainer that we should be everlastingly grateful for that wonderful action on His part. He didn’t have to do it, but He LOVED us so much that He just couldn’t live with Himself and see us simply go down to the pits and dungeons of hell with the evil Lucifer without giving us a fighting chance to do better.
And as the psalmist continues: ‘For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.’ (Ps.95:3) And isn’t that the indisputable truth my brethren? It certainly is! Who else, other than a great and compassionate God and King would have put Himself to so much trouble and heartache to give us an opportunity to atone for our sins and reconcile us to Himself eh? Definitely not some small time god and/or king, who was only interested in their own welfare.
The palmist then reminds us that: ‘In his hand (In his possession) are the deep places of the earth: the strength (heights) of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.’ (Ps.95:4-5) More gospel truth my brethren, since the Lord made the universe and all therein and still controls it with His mighty right hand!
Therefore the psalmist next words are quite in order. ‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation (rebellion), and as in the day of temptation (trial or testing) in the wilderness: When your fathers proved me, and saw my work. (Ps.95:6-9)
Oh Friends, that would be so foolish on our part, especially since we now know about Jesus and all the wonderful things He has to offer.
Now listen to what happened to those foolish forefathers of ours. ‘Forty years long was I grieved (was I disgusted) with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err (go astray) in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter my rest.’ (Ps.95:10-11)
And my people, our God wasn’t joking nuh, for none of those who left Egypt ever entered the Promised Land besides Joshua and Caleb. Even the great messenger of God, Moses, only saw the Promised Land in the distance from a hill top.
So my people, please don’t be taken in by the false and deceitful promises of the evil world, for our God might be very LOVING and generous and magnanimous, but He values obedience to His will above everything else, and His wrath is not something we ever want to feel.
And also, if you should hear Him knocking on the door of your heart today, be wise, please open it with a big, glorious and welcoming smile, for He is the only One who can give us all that we need, both down here on earth, and in heaven above. Much LOVE!
…when you open your heart to Jesus…all heaven shouts for joy…for one more is added to the godly flock…
08 Jun 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a red letter day, a rushing mighty wind, abide, asenscion, awe, baptize with the Holy spirit, baptized with the Holy ghost, baptizing, be filled with the Spirit, be joyous, beautiful storm, breaking of bread, Christ's Resurrection, confounded, continued steadfastly, controlling influence of the Spirit, crooked generation, Day of Pentecost, defeated hell death and the grave, democratic appearence, diligence, dissipation, do Jesus' work, do not be drunk with wine, excellence, exhort, faith, Feast of the first fruits, fellowship, filled with the Holy Ghost, fire-like appendages, foregiveness, Galileans, get freindly with the Spirit of Jesus, glory hallelujah, guided aright, Holy Ghost, in the apostles' doctrine, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Jesus' promise, John baptized with water, lead and guide, moving like a magnet, Pentecost, permanent placing of the Spirit, Peter, Praise the Lord, prayers, promise of the Father, recharge our spiritual batteries, rechargeable battery, remarkable, remission of sins, repent, resurrection, righteousness., showered, sincerity, speak with tongues, spectacular happenings, testify, the gift of the Holy ghost, the Holy ghost power, the Holy Ghost showered en masse, three thousand souls, truth, wisdom, wonder
Acts 2:2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Oh Friends, it’s the Day of Pentecost! Two thousand years ago, some fifty days after Jesus’ triumphant resurrection, where He defeated, hell, death, the grave and that foolish crook Lucifer, and some ten days after His ascension, the Holy Ghost came to earth as a beautiful storm; a storm of wind, laced with fire-like appendages.
As the Good Book describes it: ‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord (purpose or mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4)
What a mighty act of our mighty God! Thus fulfilling the promise Jesus made to the disciples just before His ascension. ‘And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ (Acts 1:4-5)
Oh my people, the Lord was at work back then, just like He is now. That’s why we sing: ‘The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet. The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet. Moving here, and moving there. The Holy Ghost power is moving just like a magnet.’
Yes my people, the Holy Ghost power is busy all over the world, moving just like a magnet. So if you have even one iota of metal, one iota of Jesus Christ in you, be careful, or rather be joyous, for it will target you. And please don’t try to resist it; instead, let it fall graciously upon you, for there’s nothing as remarkable as the Holy Ghost power in all the heaven and the earth!
Ah Friends, what a day that day of Pentecost was when the Holy Spirit was first showered down en masse on all believers! Before that it was given to special people who God needed to do great works for Him, like the prophets. But since that day in Jerusalem, each and every believer is baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.
As you can see from verse 5 above, Jesus promised that ALL would be baptized with the Spirit, as they came to the faith. And as the scholars point out, though the first set of scriptures only said that they were ‘filled,’ (Acts 2:4) they were indeed baptized with it.
Baptizing is the permanent placement of the Spirit in us, while filling is the continuous regeneration of that power. That means we have to continually renew the controlling influence of the Spirit in our lives, like a rechargeable battery, so that it can abide strong and powerful in our beings, and thus lead and guide us successfully in all righteousness and truth.
Now that day of Pentecost we’re talking about was not the first one, but it was an annual feast day in the Jewish calendar, occurring fifty days after the Feast of the first fruits, hence the name Pentecost in Greek. (Lev.15:15-22) And though it only lasted one day, it was certainly a joyous occasion, although I doubt that any of them could have been as joyous as that one when the Holy Spirit made its democratic appearance, beginning the promise of filling all and sundry that believed.
And that first day was truly a red letter day, for when the people in Jerusalem heard about the spectacular happenings, they came to where the apostles were, ‘and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue (language or dialect), wherein we were born?’ (Acts 2:6-8)
Oh yes Friends, there were all different kinds of people from many different places living in Jerusalem at that time, but yet these poor, uneducated Galileans spoke to each one of them in their own language. Glory Hallelujah! No lesser force than the mysterious movement of the mighty Holy Spirit was involved! Some people even mockingly said that they were drunk, but Peter, in his finest hour, got up and spoke to them. Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 2:14-42.
But my people, Peter’s speech was so great that day that I have to share the end, knowing that many of you won’t check out the scripture. (smile) ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (crooked) generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ (Acts 2:38-42)
And all God’s people declared a loud, ‘Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!’ Yes Friends, what a red letter day that was, and we still talk about today it in tones of awe and wonder!
However my people, it’s time for us to be moving on, so I’m going to exhort us, on this day of Pentecost 2014, to get downright friendly with that Spirit of Jesus that indwells us, and today recharge, refill our spiritual batteries, so that we can be guided aright and do Jesus’ work with the excellence and diligence that’s required of us. That’s a mark of true sincerity and everlasting wisdom! Much LOVE!
…and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation)…but be filled with the Spirit… (Eph.5:18)
22 May 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a dart of sorrow, a news flash, a word of warning, acceptable with God, affliction, an example, ask in faith, asking for wisdom and understanding, assurance, attributes, bear our sins, beaten for your faults, blessed are those who endure, boomerang, by His stripes we are healed, challenging and encouraging words, Christ did no sin, christ had no deceit, Christ our Saviour, Christ suffered for us, Christ's Resurrection, Christian life, coming of the Lord, commendable, compassionate, condemned, confidence, couldn't help but laugh, don't doubt, don't grumble against each other, endurance, endure grief, follow Christ's steps, for conscience toward God, God answers prayer, God is merciful, God's people, God's Word doesn't lie, guile, he that wavereth is like a wave, hunky dory, if you lack wisdom ask God, important passages of scripture, in the name of the Lord, in your patience, joy, let us rejoice and be glad, living for Jesus is interesting and exciting, living for Jesus is not easy, long patience, LOVE, mercy, mysterious ways, negative things, overseer of souls, patience, patience in affliction, Patience of Job, patient endurance, perseverance, possess ye your souls, precious fruit of the earth, rain, repentance, resurrection, reviled, righteously, righteousness., shepherd, shout of thanks and praise, spiritual maturity, stoic, substitutionary death, suffering, suffering affliction, suffering wrongly, talking to the Lord, test, testimony, the judge stands at the door, the Lord is compassionate, The Lord's alive and kicking, the risen Christ, this is the day the Lord has made, trials, tribulations, true believers, ungodly world, walk of faith, wanting to do better, willing to suffer, wisdom, wisdom of the ages
Luke 21:19. In your patience possess ye your souls.
Oh Friends, it’s Thursday, the day before the big day, Friday, when we’ll be finally blessed with a couple days off from our labour! So let’s enjoy and celebrate this wonderful day with a shout of thanks and praise to our heavenly Father.
And all God’s people rose up with joy and delightedly proclaimed: ‘This is the day the Lord our great God has made. We SHALL rejoice and be glad in it! Amen!’ And so let it be my people.
Ah mih breddren, our God is something else yes. And this small testimony I’m about to offer here, just proves that His Word doesn’t lie.
James tells us: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given to him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.’ (James 1:5-6)
Well Friends, I got up this morning and there are currently a few negative things happening in my life that I can’t understand why they are happening, for in the natural, everything should be hunky dory.
Well since I got up I’ve been talking to the Lord about them, asking for some wisdom and understanding. And lo and behold, just now, when I read yesterday’s Bit, as I usually do before writing today’s, I got the answer in a news flash.
Ah Friends, I couldn’t help but laugh as the answer just hit me from the words of the Bit. And I’m still laughing as I write this. And they say the Lord isn’t real, isn’t alive and kicking and moving in mysterious ways? Chuh!
Well I’m here to testify that they are oh so wrong. Because our God is indeed alive and kicking, and kicking real hard too, and He does answer prayer in all forms and fashions, as He sees fit!
And as I keep saying living for Jesus is not easy, but it certainly is interesting and exciting. I finally discovered that what’s happening is a test of my spiritual maturity. Yuh see, I have to be careful of what I write and/or say, because the Lord oftimes turns right back and tests me on those things.
So a word of warning Friends; be very careful in what you say, or ask for, or testify to, for it will no doubt boomerang right back on you. Ah Lord eh! I’m still laughing…
But let’s move on to our Bit, the challenging and encouraging words of Christ our Saviour: ‘In your patience possess ye your souls.’
Oh Friends, I know I said that yesterday was the last day for this Bit, but unfortunately, or rather fortunately (smile) there was so much stuff to say that I couldn’t get in all the scripture I wanted to. And remember, I don’t want to overburden us with too much stuff to ponder on at once. (smile)
And these are also important passages of scripture, so I just didn’t want to waste them, not bring them to your attention. So without further ado, let’s delve deeply and meditatively into them.
The first one comes from James, talking about patience in affliction. ‘Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman (farmer) waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish (establish) your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (has come near). Grudge (grumble) not one against the other, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take thy brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy (blessed) which endure. Ye have heard of the patience (perseverance) of Job, and have seen the end of (intended by) the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (compassionate), and of tender mercy.’ (James 5:7-11)
Yes my people, our God is indeed compassionate and full of tender mercy to those who wait patiently and endure whatever comes against them in His name!
Now here’s a word from the scholars: 5:7-8. The coming of the Lord: Few doctrines concerning Jesus Christ are taught in James. His vicarious (deputed, substitutionary) death and resurrection are omitted, yet Christ’s return is cited to encourage patient endurance. Early and latter rain: Farmers in Palestine absolutely depended on two rainy seasons, late fall and mid-spring, for their crops.’
And we’ll end with another awesome passage of scripture on patience, this time from Peter, as he talks about the example of Christ’s suffering. Listen up carefully and closely now my fellow believers.
‘For this is thankworthy (commendable), if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongly. For what glory is it, if when ye be buffeted (beaten) for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with (commendable before) God.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of souls.’ (1 Pet.2:18-25)
Ah my fellow believers, if that doesn’t put a dart of sorrow, repentance and wanting to do better in our hearts, then I don’t know what will. Jesus suffered so much for us, that we ought to be willing to suffer a little to bring His Words, His story to the heathen, ungodly world in which we currently live.
Please, as true followers of the risen Christ, let’s attempt today to improve our walk of faith, of LOVE, enduring any suffering, affliction, trials and tribulations that might come our way, with the same stoic, God-granted assurance and confidence that He displayed. For that is the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!
…of all the necessary attributes for living a truly Christian life…patience might just be the most important and all encompassing…
28 Apr 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: advocates, aura of love, be holy, blessed, bounden duty, Christ's Resurrection, confidence, Easter celebration, enthusiasm, evil, fellowship, glorious kingdom, glory, glory hallelujah, godly love, heavenly Father, holiness, holy spirit, honour, human frailties, humble servants, invincible, Jesus Christ, jobs, keeping lives and families together, living standards, lord god almighty, LOVE, loving kindness, Monday Morning Battle Hymn, Moses, negative side, Oh Lord God Almighty, our calling, perfect harmony, positive spin, praise, pure, purity, reach out to others, recociliation, reconciled to God, rejuvenation of spirit, relaxation, renewed vitality, righteousness., sacrificially, selflessly, separation, separation from sin, serve a useful purpose, sin, steadfast faith, thanks, the Lord your God is holy, trials, tribulations, true colours, truth, ungodly world, weaknesses, weary souls, Ye shall be holy
Leviticus 19:1-2. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
Oh Friends, that wonderful day called Monday has rolled around once again!
And all God’s people declared a loud, hearty and grateful: ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Wow! Are we changing or what! (smile)
But unlike last Monday, when many of us had the day off to celebrate Easter Monday, today we all have to go to work, so that we can earn money to buy bread to keep our physical bodies going.
And as I said sometime aback, we don’t have much choice, provided we want to eat and have a roof over our heads, so we might as well put a positive spin on it, rather than the negative, I’m tired, etc. etc. attitude that is so common today.
Ah mih people, most of the world’s population would kill to have the blessed life that many of us live in this Western Society. So please, let’s stop complaining about the few things which we don’t have, many of which are not essential, and enjoy and celebrate the many things we do have that give us the best living standard in the entire world.
And the best way to do all of that is by giving our wonderful God a whole lot of glory, praise, thanks and honour. So this Monday morning when we’re still celebrating Christ’s amazing and life-changing Resurrection, let’s sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn with great gusto, remembering what Christ so selflessly and sacrificially accomplished for us two thousand years ago.
So mih breddren, let’s sing, loud and in perfect harmony: ‘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!’
Yes mih people! That was wonderful! Jesus was pleased. It made Him feel that His sacrifice was worthwhile after all. Now we’ve got to go out and show the world our true colours in Jesus. And there’s no better way to do that than to personify the words of our Bit: ‘And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.’
Matter finish and done with Friends! Your God is holy, so if you want to truly worship Him, then you need to be holy too. No ifs, ands and buts about it!
And before we go any further, let’s hear what the scholars have to say about the Holiness of God. ’19:2. The Hebrew word translated “holiness” comes from a root meaning “to separate or cut off.”
The primary meaning of holiness implies God’s positive quality of self-affirming purity; the secondary meaning implies separation, particularly separation from sin. The holiness of God means He is absolutely pure and absolutely separate from (and above) all His creatures, and also separate from sin and evil.
Illustration: Because God is holy, all sin is offensive to Him. For this reason he had to break fellowship with His own Son when Jesus became our sin bearer (cf. Matt. 27:46) Only through the identification of Christ with our sin as our sacrifice can we be reconciled to God.
Application: When the Scriptures mention the holiness of God, they also stress the personal holiness of His people. (First Ref. Gen.1:4; Primary Ref. Lev.19:2; cf. John 14:6).’
What more can I add to that eh Friends? Not a whole lot; except to say that if we want to be God’s people, then like Jesus said in our Bit yesterday, we need to be perfect, complete, abounding in godly Love, and as today’s warns, we also need to be holy, like our heavenly Father.
Now please don’t go away with the idea that the Father needs us to be perfect, because He knows that we can never be, since He didn’t make us that way. But in spite of our human frailties and weaknesses, He does expect us to try and be excellent advocates and examples of His LOVE and Holiness, personified through Jesus.
And if we are sincere about wanting to follow Jesus, then He will help us to do so. Therefore, with all of that in mind, please, let’s get really serious about Jesus nuh!
And Friends, there’s no better time than right now to do so, in the midst of this Easter Season, when all the world’s eyes and minds are on Jesus and His great work of reconciliation. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to reach out to others and cause them to want to come to Him.
It’s also our calling and bounden duty as believers. So please let’s do as we ought nuh. Heavenly wisdom requires it. Much LOVE!
…to sincerely work for Jesus…we must be willing to sacrifice some…and to bear some trials and tribulations…like He did…
20 Apr 2014
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: accomplishments, angels, anger, anoint Jesus' body, astonishment, be crucified, belief, Christ is risen, Christ's Resurrection, Christians, consternation, death, delivered into the hands of sinful men, did not understand, disbelief, disciples, doubt, drunk or sober mind your business, Easter Sunday, eternal life, fateful morning, fear, future resurrection of the believer, Galilee, glory hallelujah, Granny's advice, Hades, he believed, Jesus Christ, key to victory, let the world know, linen clothes, live in victory with christ, Lord and Saviour, Lord jesus, Mary Magdalene, most significant day in man's history, praise and thanks, Rabboni, rejoice, resurrection, scepticism, sepulchre, set us free, Simon Peter, Son of man, spiritual power, the third day rise again, they remembered Jesus' words, union with Christ, why seek the living among the dead
Luke 24:5b. Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Oh Friends, it’s Easter Sunday morning! What a day it’s going to be, for Christ is risen! Yes indeed, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is risen from the grave, from the depths of Hades! He’s broken the bonds of death and the grave and set us free to live eternally with Him in victory!
And all God’s people declared a loud and proud: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! What a wonderful Saviour! Give Him abundant praise and thanks this Easter Sunday morning!’
Ah mih people, Easter Sunday two thousand years ago was one of the most, if not the most significant day in man’s history. Just imagine the women going to the tomb early in the morning with spices to anoint Jesus’ body, wondering how they would move away the stone from the tomb’s door.
Then, lo and behold, when they got there, ‘…they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.’ (Luke 24:2-3)
Can you imagine their astonishment? First no stone in front of the tomb door, then no body of Jesus! Mama Mia! I’m sure they must have been real flustered, their simple minds thinking all sorts of crazy thoughts.
Then to make matters even worse, ‘…it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout (about this), behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:’ (Luke 24:4)
Wow! That must have really had them jumping out of their skins! ‘And as they were afraid, and bowed their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
It certainly was an eventful day for those poor women; not finding Jesus’ body, but instead two angels, who questioned them in the words of our Bit, then further went on to inform them. ‘He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words. And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things to the apostles.’ (Luke 24:6-10)
Oh Friends, can you imagine the fear, consternation, doubt and scepticism that fateful morning! And what would have been your reaction to the women’s story eh? Fear, scepticism, anger, disbelief, belief?
Luke tells us thus: ‘And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.’ (Luke 24:11)
I guess that would have been the reaction of most of us under the then prevailing circumstances. However, John tells us that despite their doubt and disbelief, he and Peter ran towards the sepulchre.
‘So they ran both together: and the other disciple (whom Jesus LOVED) did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie. And the napkin (face cloth) that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped (folded) together in a place by itself.
Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and he believed. For as yet they knew not (understood) the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.’ (John 20:4-10)
As they say Friends- seeing is believing, but touching is the naked truth.’ Peter and John saw and believed.
Per the scholars: ‘His clothes lay in an orderly fashion. Had His body been stolen, the grave clothes would not have been left. They believed that Jesus was alive, not yet knowing the details of His resurrection.’
And John continues: ‘But Mary (Magdalene) stood without (outside) the sepulchre weeping: (her second visit) and as he wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back (around), and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence (carried him away), tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say Master (Teacher).
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not (do not cling to me): for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.’ (John 20:11-18)
Oh mih people, can you imagine Mary’s feelings when she realized that she was talking to Jesus, in living colour? And did the disciples truly believe after Mary told them that she had seen Jesus? Who knows my people?
There are many unanswered questions, but the most important fact has been ascertained: Jesus rose from the dead, and thus we have been set free from the bonds of sin and death! Glory Hallelujah!
And we’ll end by outlining some facts, per the scholars, on Christ’s Resurrection. ‘The resurrection of Christ included five accomplishments: (1) the physical renewing of His life; (2) the reunion of His body and His spirit; (3) the subjugation of death under Him; (4) the attainment of His new position; and (5) His receiving of a transfigured body.
Application: Because of the Resurrection, the Christian receives both eternal life (John 11:25) and spiritual power (Eph.1:19-20). Christ’s resurrection also provides for the future resurrection of the believer (1 Cor.15:20) and is the key to victory in the Christian life because of our union with Christ (Eph.2:6) (First Ref. Ps.16:10; Primary Ref. 1 Cor.15; cf. Acts 1:9).’
Oh Friends, we could not ask for a greater gift in this sinful life and world, so please let’s take it all seriously and try our best to live and LOVE the way Jesus desires of us. Let’s not make His sacrifices a waste of time and effort. It’s the best way to show our seriousness and faithfulness and LOVE!
Please have a joyful and glorious Easter Sunday… and don’t overdo the celebrations. Remember Granny’s advice – drunk or sober mind your business (smile) Much much LOVE my fellow believers on this glorious Easter Sunday!
…He is risen…Christ is risen…let the world know and rejoice…that Christ is risen…
Next Newer Entries
SCRIP-BITS 