The Impossibility of Walking Away from Christ, when One Truly Knows Him!

2 Corinthians 5:21.       For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Another Sunday friends, which means another visit to the Lord’s sanctuary to offer praise and thanksgiving with other believers and receive the Lord’s strengthening and renewal of our spirits, so that we can face the outside world with vim and vigour in the upcoming work week, and continue doing great work for His kingdom. And on this bright and sunshiny day, with the clocks having fallen back an hour to facilitate Daylight Savings Time, we’re celebrating two important days in our church’s history; that of All Saints and All Souls Days; November 1st and 2nd respectively, remembering those who had a meaningful impact on us.  

And for today’s song of worship, we’re going right down south to the wonderful land of T&T; that’s my homeland of Trinidad and Tobago, the land of mas and kaiso. And we going to warm up the chilly north land with a hot Soca number from the late Miss Denyse Plummer, with a rework of an earlier secular chutney Soca hit, ‘Na Leaving,’ which celebrated all the good things of T&T, that those who were leaving would miss. 

And the reworked Christian version is even more truthful than the secular one, as it is most appropriately titled ‘Ah Cyar Leave Him.’ Now isn’t that the gospel truth? Once you get involved with Jesus, you can’t ever leave Him! So let’s put on our dancing shoes and get ready to clap and offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a rollicking, scintillating, up-tempo version of this wonderful Christian song. 

And as the sweet, easy rocking chutney Soca music starts, we hear a couple bars, then we shout out ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. 

Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy, I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. 

He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. 

From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’ 

Wow! What a wonderful, heartfelt rendition my bredrin! Even in heaven they were jumping and jiving, because they LOVE Jesus too, and were ecstatic at our show of sincere appreciation for all that He’s done for us. And why not eh? For that is indeed the kind of difference, the amazing transformation Jesus performs, or creates in our lives when we surrender our all to Him! And just like the song proclaims, once we get with Him, become a sincere part of His revolutionary organization, it’s impossible to leave Him! No, we just cyar leave Him at all at all. Mama Mia! Such is the LOVE and inspiration He inspires in us! 

So, let’s look at a few things that keep us umbilically attached to Jesus. (smile) ‘From revelry to righteousness…From hell-bound to holiness…From sin to salvation…a kingdom destination…’ Yes my people, those are some of the things Jesus did for us through His coming to earth and sacrificing His sinless life. He took us from wallowing in sinful, hell-bound pleasures and transformed us into righteous, saved, heaven bound believers. And here’s some scripture to prove it, from Bruh Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, as he talks about a New Creature in Christ. 

‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation: To wit (that is), that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray (implore) you in Christ’s stead (behalf), be reconciled to God. For he hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.’ (2 Cor. 5:17-21) 

And all of that basically means that when we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, we become completely different in our outlook, attitude and spiritual pretensions. (smile) We give up our old lives and accept the new one God provides for us through Christ by reconciling us to Himself, bringing us back into good relations with Him, by not imputing (attributing) our sins to us, but to Christ. He took our sins on His shoulders and paid the price through His sacrificial death, so that we could be considered righteous by God. We are declared righteous on the merits of Christ. 

Please note though that throughout all of that, Christ never sinned, He just paid the substitutionary price for ours. Now there are several other scriptures that talk about what Christ has done for us, but I don’t believe any of them says it like these words of the song. ‘There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. 

In times of storm, He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there…. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy, I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause.’ 

Now friends, you cannot get a better testimony than that! So please, let’s take it to heart nuh and do our best to live sincerely for Jesus. That’s the least we can do to show our appreciation for His selfless sacrifice that we can never repay. Much LOVE!

…without Jesus’ paying for our sins…we’d still be wallowing in the pig pen…destined for hell… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   9 June 2024 John 12:46.

John 12:46.        I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Sunday, oh Sunday! What a blessed day! One for joining in fellowship and worship with other believers in the Lord’s sanctuary, to offer thanks and gratitude and receive a refuelled and refreshed Spirit from our heavenly Father. Or as James puts it: ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (variation), neither shadow of turning. (Who) Of his own will begat us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.’ (James 1:17-18) 

Yes friends, that’s how important we are in the creation of the universe; we rank first! And that’s why it’s also important for us to join other believers at least once a week, if possibly on Sunday, the Lord’s day, to acknowledge our gratitude and sing His praises. And our song of praise and worship today certainly exemplifies how important our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is in our every day lives, for we going down south for the music, some sweet chutney soca from T&T; the beautiful meshing of African and East Indian riddims. It’s title says it all: ‘Ah Cyar Leave Him!’ 

Oh yes, it’s the reworked soca hit of the late departed Queen of Soca, turned Gospel Chanteuse, Miss Denyse Plummer. The original was titled ‘Na Leaving,’ which celebrated all the good things those who were leaving T&T would miss. Now, ‘Na Leaving’ was always one of my favourite soca songs, both for the lyrics and riddim, so you can imagine when she changed the lyrics to gospel it immediately became one of my favourites. But enough talk, I can’t wait to sing this wonderful song. So, lets raise our sweet voices in a sacrifice of praise in a scintillating, up-tempo down south, passionate version, remembering both Jesus Christ for His life saving work on our behalf, and Miss Plummer for giving us this beautiful piece of music with which to uplift Him. 

And as the sweet, easy rocking chutney soca music starts, we hear a couple bars, then we shout out ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. 

Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. 

He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. 

The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’ 

Wow mih bredrin! What sweet worship! And yuh better believe that is the kind of difference, the amazing transformation Jesus performs in our lives when we surrender our all to Him! And yuh know what? Once we get with Him, it’s impossible to leave Him! No, we just cyar leave him at all, at all, at all. Mama Mia! Such is the LOVE and inspiration He inspires in us! And why won’t we be ecstatic eh, when we moving from ‘unholy revelry to righteousness… from hell-bound to holiness…from sin to salvation…a kingdom destination…’ We ought to if we’re wise, because then we’re moving in the right direction. 

And yuh see what happens when we tell others about Jesus? They stop wallowing in a pig pen and come to the One who LOVES and truly cares, as He so definitely showed when He gave His sinless life so selflessly on the cross of Calvary to settle our sin debt in full. In times of storm He is definitely our shelter. And glory to God, He never condemns nor forsakes us! What a wonderful Saviour is our Jesus! And when you find Jesus, you indeed find the light and truth of it all, for He is the light of the world, as He says: ‘I am come a light into the world that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.’ (John 12:46) 

And as per the truth, He let’s us know in no uncertain terms: ‘I am the way the through and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) Yes my people, you’ll never see, much less enter through the pearly gates of heaven unless you accept Christ as Lord and Saviour! That’s for sure! 

And believe me, when you have Jesus, not only is it the best decision you’ll ever make, but you also have much more than either silver or gold, for seeing that He is the Creator and Controller of the universe, everything in the world belongs to Him, and He’s able to protect you from your enemies. He’s bigger than your biggest problem. What’s impossible for man, is not for God, for with God, all things are possible. (Matt. 19:26) So you have nothing whatsoever to fear when you have Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. 

And I like how the song puts it; He’s the best upgrade. And you can’t deny that, for once you have Him on your side you’ll never need to make any other improvements. For as He so rightly says: ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last!’  (Rev. 22:12) Now whom else do you need when you have that amazing, compassionate miracle worker in your life eh? NOBODY! So please, if you haven’t yet chosen Jesus as your be all and end all, I’d strongly advise that you waste no more time and do it today! Much LOVE!

…with Jesus in your corner of the ring…you need no seconds…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   15 May 2022 Mark 4:39.

Mark 4:39.      He arose, and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still. And the wind  ceased, and there was a great calm.

Come one, come all friends, on this the Lord’s Day, let’s get together and worship His Holy Name in sincerity and truth! Be it physically in the sanctuary or technologically from home, our location doesn’t matter because praise and worship of Almighty God transcends time and space. And so, without further ado, on this beautiful summer Sunday, let’s get down to worship with a beautiful gospel song from down South. And I don’t care if you call me prejudiced, I will always maintain that the best gospel music comes from the West Indies. (smile) 

And to prove the point, today’s song is a reworked secular chutney soca hit of Miss Denise Plummer, once upon a time the high priestess of soca, who turned her eyes and heart to Christ and began singing gospel music. The song was originally called ‘Na Leaving,’ which celebrated all the good things of T&T, that those who were leaving would miss. From the first time I heard it, it became one of my favourite soca songs, and not only for the lyrics, but also for the beautiful meshing of the African and East Indian riddims that we call chutney soca. 

Then when a friend sent me a copy of this reworked favourite with gospel lyrics, I was blown away, and just had to sing it. So, let’s do so again right now nuh. Let’s allow the riddim to take us away, to work up in our souls, as we sincerely raise our voices in sacrificial praise and mouth the beautiful, true lyrics. 

And after the first couple of bars of rocking chutney soca music, we shout out: ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. 

But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. 

There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. 

For God man I living, For God I go dead. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. 

From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’  

Ah mih people, that was fantastic…and all heaven was rocking with us too! Because the music was so sweet, (smile) and they know that’s the kind of difference, the amazing transformation Jesus brings about in our lives when we surrender our all to Him! And yuh better believe that Denise’s words are the gospel truth! Once we get with Jesus, we just cyar leave Him. It’s impossible to leave Him! 

How yuh go do that eh, when He takes you from ‘revelry to righteousness, from hell-bound to holiness, from sin to salvation, from wallowing in a pig pen, heading for a fiery end,’ and took you out of the darkness and showed you the bright light of His awesome LOVE and compassion? Anyone who even thinks about leaving Jesus after all of that is not only a fool, but extremely crazy. Who else could be your successful shelter in the time of storm eh? Nobody! 

Because Jesus Himself controls the wind and the waves. And He proved that out on the sea of Galilee when a storm was kicking up an unholy ruckus and the disciples were scared to death, but Jesus was quietly asleep in the stern of the boast despite all the confusion around Him. And when the disciples woke Him, ‘He arose, and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.’ Then He chided the disciples: ‘Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?’ (Mark 4:39-40) 

And it’s certain sure that when you find Jesus, you see the light and find the truth, because He is the way, the truth, the life, the light…and everything else that’s good and wonderful! That’s why Denise says, ‘He’s the best upgrade.’ No friends, you can’t get any better than Jesus in this universe. That’s why after giving His life for us on the cross, He could also rise up ‘like a boss’ from the grave, having defeated Satan and his hellish dominion on their own turf. 

Oh my people, giving your life over to Jesus is the best decision you could ever make, because then you become a child of God, a joint heir with Christ and thus entitled to all the benefits of heaven! Wow! What more can we ask eh? Absolutely nothing! And when yuh enemies looking for you, you can boast and make style on them because they can’t touch you, since you’re hiding under the rock of Jahovah, the rock that’s higher than you. Mama Yo! 

I don’t know what else to say nuh mih bredrin, except to invite you to come and hide under the rock with me, because when you put your safety and security in Jesus hands, He most definitely won’t allow your enemies to touch you. Because He’s the boss, the rock, the mighty conqueror, and the reason we still living! Much LOVE!

…on Christ the solid rock I stand…all else is simply sinking sand… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8​     

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 January 2021 John 8:12.

John 8:12.     I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Once again it is time to come together my brethren to celebrate the Lord’s Day, as we’ve been instructed to do. So please gather round your technological devices and let’s have virtual church since physical church has been shut down due to the Corona virus pandemic, with many strains now proliferating in our world. But widespread as it is, the virus will not stop us from praising God and giving Him much thanks on a Sunday morning. 

And, as we are wont to do every Sunday, let’s begin with a song of praise and thanksgiving, one of my recent real, real favourites. It’s the Denise Plummer rework of her earlier soca chutney hit ‘Na Leaving,’ done up in gospel language, and now titled ‘Ah Cyar Leave Him.’ which is the gospel truth mih people. And I remember the first time I heard this reworking of one of my favourite soca songs, both lyrics and music, I almost went crazy. (smile) Yeh friends, music has the habit of doing that to me. 

Anyway, enough talk – no wonder they say I talk too much. Let’s get to the singing. And remember, is a nice, easy rocking chutney soca riddim, a mixture of African and East Indian music, but with plenty feeling and movement. So after the first few bars, with the Indian tassa drum pounding in the background, we shout out: ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. 

There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. 

There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. 

I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’ 

Oh mih people, mih people, ah see yuh moving with plenty energy as the music touch yuh soul, and the lyrics ring out with indisputable truth and touch yuh heart! The same thing was happening in heaven too mih bredrin! And that’s how it ought to be, because our Jesus is everything that the song says…and more too! 

Just look at how coming to know Him does change us nuh: From worldly revelry, we turn to righteousness; from heading straight for hell, we get holy, and doh talk about how He wash away we sins through His death and resurrection and give us salvation, destined for heaven! Glory be! Yeh, Jesus rose up strong and vibrant, just like the awesome Boss He is! Brother, how yuh go beat that eh? NO WAY Jose! He is indeed our King of Kings, as well as Lord of Lords; the highest name in the universe, right after that of the Father, to which all knees will someday bow and proclaim Him Lord of all, with much glory to the Father. 

And yes friends, when we wallowing deep in our pig pen of misery, looking hell and Satan straight in the face, is ONLY Jesus who has the ability to pull us out from that dreadful mire. That’s because He’s a Saviour, He gives us a reason for living, takes us out of the darkness of this world and shows us the light, the bright, shining light that He is. That’s why He could proclaim in all truth: ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’ (John 8:12) 

And once you put your hand in His hand, and your trust in His promises, then your eyes are opened to the sinful reality of this world, and you never want to go back to the dark state you were previously in. Oh bless His holy name my people for He is indeed our EVERYTHING! 

And to verify, to corroborate all of that, remember this other proclamation: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14: 6) That means mih bredrin that Jesus is the way, the truth, the life and the light! So when you come to Him, you find all of that! Oh Bubba! What else can we ask of Him eh? NOTHING! Who else can truthfully make those claims eh? NOBODY! 

But yuh know what precious people, our Jesus is even plenty more than that. He’s our shelter in the time of storm. Hear how Isaiah puts it nuh: ‘ For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible (ruthless) ones is as a storm against a wall.’ (Is. 25:4) How can you beat that eh friends? You can’t! 

And then He never condemns us, just shows us the error of our ways, and has also promised never to leave or forsake us. (Heb. 13:5) And furthermore, when our enemies looking for us, Jesus going to hide us, for He is our Rock, our fortress, our strong refuge! Yuh see how He hide Bruh David although Saul was all out to get Him? Friends that’s the same thing He will do for all those who believe and trust in Him. And yuh see what He says about our enemies? They shall come against us one way, but flee seven different ways. (Deut. 28:7) 

Oh my fellow saints in Christ, there’s a lot more we can say about our Lord and Saviour, but we don’t have time nor space. Suffice it to say, He is the biggest difference maker our world has ever seen, and once we surrender our lives to Him, such an amazing, mind boggling transformation comes over us, that it’s just becomes impossible for us to leave Him after that. Such is the LOVE, compassion, inspiration, assurance and comfort that He provides, that’s why we’re willing to both live and die for Him. And the only appropriate thing for us to do now, is to go home singing ‘Ah Cyar Leave Him…Ah Cyar Leave Him…No ah just cyar leave Him…’ Much LOVE!

…remember…Jesus is the Rock…His work is perfect… a God of truth…just and right is He… (Deut. 32:4)

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 September 2020 Psalm 37:4.

Psalm 37:4.     ​Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 

The day is here at last friends; the day when the Anglican church finally reopens its doors to their sanctuaries to have physical worship. Yes, it’s been five long months of technological worship while the sanctuaries lay quiet and dormant, some thought even dead! (smile) But the reawakening has eventually come, though with all the physical distancing and cleansing mandated by the authorities. 

No hugging and shaking hands and masks are compulsory. Even the Eucharist has been changed up; no wine, just the wafer dropped into your hands by the priest with no bodily contact, and still physical distancing between believers as they approach the altar. And no kneeling at the altar either. Neither no singing. Only a soloist with a mask on, or the choir technologically beamed in. 

Chuh! Some people might think the restrictions are too much and not worth the effort, while others will be overjoyed to have worship in church again. Anyway, to celebrate this auspicious occasion, the Lord decreed this special song for today’s worship. It’s by former star calypsonian Denyse Plummer turned Christian artist. It’s a rework of her earlier secular chutney soca hit, ‘Na Leaving,’ which celebrated all the good things of T&T, that those who were leaving there would miss. 

From the first time I heard it, it became one of my favourite soca songs, and not only for the very descriptive lyrics, but also for the beautiful meshing, the impeccable melding of the African and East Indian riddims that we call chutney soca. So you can imagine when a few day ago, a friend sent me a copy of this reworked favourite with gospel lyrics, it was automatic that we should sing it this week. And isn’t it interesting how so many of the big secular artists are turning to gospel music nowadays. Some of them are even doing better than when they were singing the secular stuff, and if not financially, certainly in their soul and LOVE WALK. (smile) 

Anyway, enough talk, let’s get to the sacrificial shout of praise.  And as the sweet, soulful, easy rocking chutney soca music starts, we hear a couple bars, then we shout out ‘Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. There I was, in my glee, wallowing deep in a pig pen, full of life, but so empty, on my way to a fiery end. But someone told me about a Saviour, who said He LOVES me and He cares. 

In times of storm He is my shelter, so in His arms you’ll find me there. Yuh see ah cyar live life without Him, He is my King of Kings, He’s the reason I’m still living. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. There are so few, who made it through, and come from the darkness of this world. But I saw the light, I found the truth. I have more than silver, more than gold. I gave my life over to Jesus, the greatest decision I’ve made. Boy I recommend you try Him, Jesus is the best upgrade. 

He came to earth and died on the cross, rose up just like a boss, when yuh see me smiling, He’s the cause. Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. Never condemn or forsaken me dread…Ah cyar leave Him…ah cyar leave Him. For God man I living, For God I go dead. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. I am under the rock. The rock is higher than I. Jahovah hides me. I am under the rock. Go tell my enemies, that I am under the rock. Jahovah hides me, I am under the rock. 

From revelry to righteousness…Cyar leave Him. From hell-bound to holiness…Cyar leave Him. From sin to salvation…Cyar leave him. A kingdom destination…Cyar leave Him. Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah! (And we shout again) Jesus…Yahweh…Yeshua… Jahovah!’ 

Wow mih people, what a rocking piece of worship! Please check it out on YouTube. Now yuh better believer all heaven was celebrating too, because they know the truth of those awesome words. And yes, yuh better believe that is the kind of difference, the amazing transformation Jesus performs in our lives when we surrender our all to Him! And yuh know what? Once we get with Him, it’s impossible to leave Him! No, we just cyar leave him at all at all. Mama Mia! Such is the LOVE and inspiration He inspires in us! 

There isn’t an untrue statement in that song. Jesus moves us from sin to salvation, to that kingdom destination of heaven. And just like the prodigal son of whom He spoke, when He finds us in the pig pen, He takes us out, washes and cleanses us, because He LOVES and cares for us so much. He doesn’t condemn not forsake us. In fact He came to earth and died so that we could receive forgiveness and reconciliation. In times of storm He is our shelter, so where else yuh expect to find us eh? In His arms, under the solid rock that He is, which is so much higher than us. 

And there are so few that find the light that He is, and come out of their darkness, so when yuh find the truth, which He also is, yuh must end up with more than silver or gold! And no fooling, the best decision we can ever make is to give our lives over to Jesus; cause He’s the best upgrade! Yuh see how He rose from the grave, just like a boss? That tells you He is the best upgrade you can ever get; the upgrade of all upgrades! So when you consider all of that, how yuh go leave Him eh? NO WAY! Instead we going to run and tell we enemies all about Him, so they could come and meet Him and enjoy the same benefits. 

And the scripture to which I was led to describe all of that was Psalm 37 – The true state of the wicked – the immortal words of Bruh David. Please pray them with me nuh: ‘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. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on His faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgement (justice) as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (for it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed): but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps. 37:1-9) 

And that friends is the gospel truth, and when you receive Christ as your Saviour that is the kind of stuff His Holy Spirit leads you to do. So make that wise decision today nuh, is the best one you could ever make! Much LOVE!

…once yuh find Jesus…yuh cyar ever leave him…He’s so sweet and generous…  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 8 September 2020 Proverbs 1:5.

Proverbs 1:5.     ​A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto (inquire of) wise counsels. 

Prologue: Yes, we late, but that is okay, because the ole fella soul’s fired up! Yes! A friend, no doubt through the Lord’s mysterious movement, just sent me a remix of an old time chutney soca song, one of my favourites, in Gospel fashion…and people it was so sweet, I just had to listen to it a couple times, although we was done late, before I could start writing the Bit. So just bear with the ole fella nuh, put up li’l bit with his foibles and idiosyncrasies. (smile) So here we go: 

Well Labour Day done now mih people! That means all the summer holidays and them finish too. It’s only the business of the cold weather months to look forward to now. And talking about that, the other day I read somewhere about where somebody was asking this rather interesting question: Are there going to be any Halloween celebrations this year? Well that’s a mighty good question! 

And although the answer should be a most decisive ‘NO!’ with the serious virus problem we have, I’d venture to say that yuh going to see foolish parents either venture out in the dark night with their children, or send them out to beg for candy and other sweet treats, then forbid them to eat it, and they hide and eat it anyway. The whole blooming witch tinged; devil-oriented thing should be banned in the first place! It’s just a dentist’s dream! They salivate about future work when they hear talk about Halloween! 

What a foolish and double-minded society we are eh! We keep drumming in the poor children’s ears the negativity involved in eating a lot of sugary stuff, then spend a setta money to dress them up in goblin and other dark world costumes and then send them out in the night to beg for sweet stuff. Hn! And they vex to boot if you don’t have none to give them! Steups! 

Yeh friends, just like yesterday, where it apparently had people out on the Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York, playing mas… or rather playing the…the yuh know what – the rear end! Yes, in the same New York where the Corona virus itself was just recently making mas amongst the population! Ah Lord eh! And just so it going to have people going out for Halloween. Ah wonder though if they going to have on masks like some of the people on the Parkway yesterday eh? 

But then ah wonder too, if them flimsy mask could withstand the heat and the sweat and the jumping up and shoving and pulling for any length of time, especially in a big crowd of people jam up close together with everybody shouting and singing? Remember it only takes one mask to drop down, one person to talk or exhale, and one person to inhale for the virus to run every which way but gone! 

Like they recently had some wedding in Maine, in the U.S, and like somebody who had the virus was there, everybody was mask-less most likely, and they eventually traced that it spread to some six or seven other places just from that one wedding. It included a nursing home, a jail, even the pastor who officiated at the wedding, fool that he was, caught it and took it back to his own congregation. What a crazy world we live in eh Doctor Jack! 

But what the ole fella know eh? Not a blooming thing! He just like to bat him gums and talk… (smile) So leh we stop him from talking now nuh, and just hear the truth, and nothing but the truth – the Word of the Lord! And though ah chuckling here friends, this whole thing is serious business, but we, with we carnival and free for all mentality not taking it seriously at all. We not seeing how easy it is for the virus to spread and that all the places who escaped it early on because of the quick lockdown, now getting it when they open back up too fast and don’t obey the safety practices. 

Chuh! We more concerned about we freedom of choice, we constitutional rights and all them rights we supposedly have…but not caring enough about the most fundamental one – the right to end in the grave if we not wise. Please, please, my fellow saints in Christ, let us remember the wise words of Cousin Sol nuh. ‘Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to (place on) thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.’ (Prov. 4:7-9) 

And remember where wisdom comes from? 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). But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (without doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.’ (James 1:5-6) So to obtain wisdom we have to go to God in absolute trust and faith. 

But here’s this interesting explanation from the scholars. ‘1:5. This verse is not a blanket promise of wisdom for any situation. In the context of life’s trials, it probably speaks of the believer being granted (1) wisdom as to the reason for his trials and (2) wisdom to endure them.’ But anyhow yuh take it friends, wisdom is of God! You can’t get it unless you have some sincere interaction with Him. 

And as Cousin Sol reiterates: ‘A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto (inquire of) wise counsels.’ (Prov. 1:5) Yes, wisdom begins with an attitude that is willing to hear, and then learn from what one hears. And it all begins with God: hearing His Word and being obedient to it. 

As the psalmist so wisely advises in Psalm 2 – Why do the heathen rage – ‘Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear (reverence) and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son ( an act of homage and submission), lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.’ (Ps. 2:10-12) 

And right there is where I believe we have fallen down my brethren: the majority of us haven’t served the Lord; haven’t submitted ourselves completely to Him and paid Him the homage He’s due, thus He’s angry. So the number one answer to our problems is to reverse that unwise decision and come before Him with sincere homage and thanksgiving. And for those of us who are trying to walk that straight and narrow road that leads to Christ and eternal life, let’s go home now declaring (yeahhh!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know who and whose we are. 

In strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with the world. Amen!’ 

So what we waiting for eh? Let’s start sharing that marvellous LOVE and friendship right now nuh! Much LOVE!

…man’s supposed wisdom leads us astray…but true wisdom from God…shows us the right way…