Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 February 2019 Romans 8:26.

Romans 8:26.    ​Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
 

Well a Happy President’s Day and Family Day to all my Scrip-Bit Friends and Family in the U.S of A and Canada! I just wish I could say that my day’s been happy. Yes the Bit is late, terribly late too, but there’s good cause. First off, I was writing something earlier this morning that I wasn’t happy with and just couldn’t get my head around it to make the necessary changes. So, in all wisdom I decided to invoke an Executive Emergency Power, not arrogantly, or foolishly like some leaders do. (smile) 

I invoked the Author’s Right and Privilege to leave said work alone for some time then come back to it later. And so I did, after a couple hours of refreshing sleep. But lo and behold, when I turned on my desktop computer downstairs it was slow and unresponsive and freezing up like crazy! Steups! I’ve never had those kinds of problems to such an extent as since I’ve installed this new anti-virus system. But romantic fool that I am, I persisted with it for about an hour because I just prefer writing on that computer rather than this laptop. 

But then I had no choice but to come up here and get acclimatized to an entirely different way of doing things. Ah Lord eh! And I guess the Lord knew why He made today a holiday in the northern climes because a serious snowstorm hit us this morning and you can imagine the carnage on our roads if it was a busy workday Monday! Anyway friends and neighbours, right now the sun is shining somewhat brightly in my neighbourhood and the snow seems to be melting…Thank You Lord!

And I don’t know about you all nuh mih people, but I do need the sanity and sanctity (smile) of our Monday Morning Battle Hymn if I’m to write anything remotely sensible this morning. Those of you had to go to work in our 24/7 society are already there, safely, I hope, and for those of you at home enjoying the day off, shout ‘Glory be!’ as you join us in reaching out for succour and strength of all kinds to our most magnanimous and merciful God.

All together now, with sincerity and as much enthusiasm as you can muster: ‘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!’ 

And as always, on Holiday Mondays, it’s those of us at home enjoying the day off, who are loudest, most enthusiastic and most raucous from having already imbibed some firewater! (smile) But I’m sure that that prayer has lifted your spirits, whether you are at home or at work. It certainly has brought some peace and serenity to my soul! 

And that’s the power of sincere prayer my people! Whenever we come sincerely and humbly to our wonderful God, crying out for help, we can be assured that He hears us and will help us. And if He even hesitates (smile) we have two of the most powerful forces in the universe, the other two persons of our Triune Godhead right there to intercede on our behalf; the Holy Spirit referred to as our Helper, in actuality, the foot soldier of the three, and Jesus our wonderful Lord and Saviour and High Priest and eternal Intercessor! 

Mama Yo! Nothing can be better than that my Christian brethren! Two out of three on our side! Glory Hallelujah! But who knows if it’s a democracy eh, or if the Father holds the ultimate power? (smile) Anyway, we know that if we’re doing the Father’s will, He will be very accommodating to His saints down here on earth. Chuh! I don’t even have a decent place up here to set up my Bible! And seeing that we’re already so late, we’re just going to look at the job the Holy Spirit does on our behalf when it comes to prayer. 

Listen to Bruh Paul to the church at Rome talking about living life in the Spirit: ‘But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities (weaknesses): for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.’ (Rom.8:25-27) 

What powerful and encouraging scripture my dear fellow believers! Isn’t it amazing and oh so wonderful to know that when our sins, our weaknesses and whatever else incapacitate us, and we don’t know how or what to pray that the Holy Spirit steps up to the plate and conveys our heart-felt desires to the Father! No other faith has such an awesome Helper and Intercessor! 

And please remember that we also have Jesus to intercede on our behalf! So please let’s be joyful and faithful and LOVING and kind like is becoming of saints and children of Almighty God nuh, so that our intercessors will have good reason to gladly intercede on our behalf! Much LOVE!

…godly intercession is so wonderful…for people of a weak and sinful nature…

P.S. Hope this turns out awright, since I’m not accustomed to writing the Bit on this computer. Good excuse eh? (smile) Much LOVE!

hi

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 September 2016 Hebrews 11:1.

Hebrews 11:1.   Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.

So once again it’s Friday mih people and crazily swirling through the atmosphere are joyful shouts of ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! The weekend’s here at last… and the next two days belong to me and only me! And I’ll do exactly what I want with them! Thank God for Fridays and the weekend!’ 

And we do have to thank our heavenly Father for Fridays and the weekends, but we can’t behave like leggo beasts when they roll around. We need to have some accountability, some sensible plan for our two days off; one filled with moderation and circumspection so that we don’t fall prey to the ever-lurking enemy. 

And our Friday Chant gives us some idea of how to use the weekend wisely. So let’s chant it nuh, chant it with sincerity and enthusiasm. As one now: ‘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.’ 

Yeh friends, that’s the general idea. Our weekend activities must allow us to come back out bright and beautiful on Monday morning. If they don’t, then we’ve not done it right. 

Now here is an interesting Trini quote from my Trini friend. ‘Wen last yuh went tuh ah funeral an de job was present eh???’ That’s generally said to someone who over works, constantly bringing work at home etc. thereby neglecting their home, family and health.’ 

So all you A type personalities beware, you don’t see work at funerals, meaning you need to slow down and smell the roses some. And our Trini friend also wishes us to ‘Have a great day, and…Watch your thoughts: They become words Watch your words: They become actions Watch your actions: They become habits Watch your habits: They become your character.’ 

All very true my brethren, so let’s be very careful about what we think, talk and do please, for in the long run, it will all affect our destiny. That brings us to our Bit, a very interesting and important passage of scripture. ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ 

Yes mih people, faith, buoyed by hope is what keeps us keeping on in this cruel and evil world. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to withstand the trials and tribulations that beset us, that have us going like a roller coaster, round and round without any stopping. Only faith in Almighty God allows us to stand strong when the tempter comes calling. 

Listen to these verses after our Bit. ‘For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds (ages) were framed (prepared) by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (are visible). 

By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.’ (Heb.11:2-4) 

Yuh see friends, it’s through faith that the elders, leaders of the church were considered of good repute. And it’s only through faith we can understand how our awesome God made the world by speaking it into existence from nothing. 

The Good Book tells us: ‘In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon (was hovering over) the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.’ (Gen.1:1-3) 

Now only through faith can we believe all of that, as well as the whole story of Jesus. And here is some interesting info from the scholars on the earlier passage about Abel. 

’11:4. Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain: In what way was his sacrifice better? Was it because his was animal and Cain’s vegetable? Or his a firstling and Cain’s not the firstfruit? Or his with blood and Cain’s without? Both Hebrews and Genesis (4:1-15) demonstrate that it was not the offering that made one acceptable and the other unacceptable. 

God accepts both grain and animal offerings according to their purposes. The character of the worshipper made one offering acceptable and the other not. Abel offered his by faith; Cain obviously did not. Genesis records that even before the rejection of Cain’s offering his heart was not right with God. (Gen.4:7).’ 

So faithful followers of Jesus, it all comes right back down to the state of our hearts, because that’s where God looks to discern our righteousness. 

And we’ll end this message on faith with the immortal words of Bruh Paul to the church at Rome. ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) wait (eagerly) for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) 

Yes friends, it all begins with hope. And hope is only relevant when it comes to something that we can’t see or don’t have; then through faith, we persevere and wait expectantly for it to come to pass. 

Now let’s raise up our hope and faith so that we can go out into the ungodly world that surrounds us, strong, assured, and with conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour over all, and through the leading and guidance of His Holy Spirit we will prevail against the enemy. Much LOVE!

…without a right heart…without faith…we cannot please God…

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 October 2013 Matthew 5:5

Matthew 5:5.    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (land).
 
Oh Friends, this is what I had planned for yesterday, until I read about the disastrous school shooting incident in Nevada. And in God’s everlasting wisdom, this project can, and will, definitely alleviate those kinds of tragedies, if we sincerely and seriously put our hands to the plough and furrow straight ahead without looking back.
 
Now it’s not a new project, but a very old one that we’re guilty of not doing properly. However, we’re starting over TODAY, in a more serious and sincere manner. So listen to the basic nature of the project, as Johnny Reid, in his drawling baritone, tells it to us in song.
 
‘Today I’m going to try and change the world. Gonna take it one day at a time. I’ve made my resolution, opened up my eyes. Today I’m going to try and change the world.’
 
That’s just the chorus people, but even that’s very eye opening and inspirational!
 
Now listen to the verse. ‘I’m gonna say hello to my neighbour. Going to greet him with a smile. And shake the hand of a stranger, sit and talk to him for a while. I’m gonna tell someone I LOVE them from the bottom of my heart. Today I’m going to try and change the world… Chorus’
 
Oh my brethren, isn’t that a wonderful project? It sure is! And the beauty is that we’ll just take it one day at a time, no rush, doing the simple things that Jesus did in his sojourn down here on earth, and now wants us to carry on in His name.
 
And the whole thing is very easy; greet our neighbours with a smile and a pleasant hello; shake a strangers hand, then spend a li’l time chatting with them; tell someone we LOVE them, with a sincere and heartfelt feeling of truth.
 
Oh my people, my people, that’s the only way we can ever change this world!
 
But to do it sincerely and successfully, we have to live according to the dictates of our Bit. ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (land).’
 
Yes Friends, we cannot do those things, or anything that Jesus requires of us, unless we’re meek, unless we’re humble. Now please remember that meek and humble don’t mean weak and afraid, like many people think, but rather strong, with an inner confidence in God, that you don’t have to huff and puff, get angry, or show off and boast.
 
Meekness and humility simple means we have a quiet, inner strength, steadfast faith, not afraid of the world or whatever it brings our way.
 
And this is the scholars’ take on our Bit. ‘5:5. The meek…shall inherit the earth refers again to those who have been humbled before God and will not only inherit the blessedness of heaven, but also will ultimately share in the kingdom of God on earth.
 
Here, in the opening statements of the Sermon on the Mount, is the balance between the physical and spiritual promise of the kingdom. The kingdom of which Jesus preached is both “in you” and is yet “to come.”
 
Solid truth that mih breddren!
 
And even before Jesus spoke those memorable words of our Bit in the Beatitudes, Bruh David solemnly declared in Psalm 37, The true state of the wicked: ‘For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider (look diligently for) his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.’ (Ps.37:10-11)
 
And as per inheriting the earth, Bruh Paul wrote this to the church at Rome. ‘For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.’ (Rom.4:13)
 
And the scholars’ explain that thus: ‘4:13. The promise: Many Jews thought that the privileges they enjoyed came from their adherence to the Mosaic Law. This is false. The promises were given to Abraham 430 years before the law was given, hence the law does not annul the Abrahamic covenant. It was merely added alongside until Christ should come to fulfill it. (cf. Gal.3:17-19)’
 
So we see Friends, it’s all based on faith, trust, and surrender to Almighty God; from the day Abraham received the promise, till the day the last trump sounds. Therefore let’s try and stop living by sight nuh, and instead live by faith, as we ought to, since it’s the ONLY WAY we can truly embrace Jesus and all that He stands for.
 
That means we continually need to ponder the strength of our faith and find ways to make it stronger. Now that’s where divine wisdom comes in. Much LOVE!
 
…if each believer tries to make a positive difference…each and every day…then we’ll soon change the world…as Jesus… so long ago, asked us to…