Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 June 2018 Job 37:23.

Job 37:23.   Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgement, and in plenty of justice (abundant justice): he will not afflict (oppress).

Once again, during the night, the Lord blessed the earth in my area with showers of blessings. As the Good Book says: ‘He watereth the hills from his (upper) chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and the herb (vegetation) for the service of man; that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.’ (Ps.104:13-15) 

Oh friends, our God is so wonderful that He gives us all that we need to survive, and not only survive, but to prosper on this bountiful earth that He has created for us to dwell on. Why then are we so lax, so ungrateful in thanking Him for His ongoing grace and mercy eh? And why instead do we feel it necessary to vilify, to defame and debase Him? 

On this side of the world we’ve gotten so used to prosperity that we’ve come to take it for granted, and even to believe that it is of our doing. But are we ever so wrong my breddren. Remember the questions that God asked of Job, when Job got a li’l too bright with himself. 

‘Gird up now thy loins like a man (prepare yourself); for I will demand of thee (question thee), and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.’ (Job 38:3-4) 

Obviously Job could not answer. Neither could he answer any of the whole host of questions that God poured at him in both chapters 38 and 39. The scholars say the questions number about 83. ‘The significant thing about these questions is that Job cannot answer a single one! God was driving home the point that Job must let God be God, the sovereign and omnipotent Creator who answers to no one.’ 

Ah mih breddren, the very same thing applies to us today. We cannot answer any of the questions the Lord posed to Job back then either, we just have to know that God is great and is always around and is always doing His thing and conform to whatever He desires and declares. 

Thus we come to our Bit, the immortal words of Job’s friend Elihu: ‘Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgement, and in plenty of justice (abundant justice): he will not afflict (oppress).’ Yeh friends, our minds are too small and limited to understand all that God is about, therefore we ought to fear Him. 

As Elihu summarizes: ‘Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.’ (Job 37:34) And isn’t that the gospel truth my people! God respects, have no use for, abhors those who let their foolish pride make them feel superior to Him. And remember the seven deadly sins that Cousin Sol declares are an abomination to God? (Prov.6:16-19) Well the first one is ‘a proud look (haughty eyes).’ 

And Bruh David tells us of the Lords purpose in Psalm 101: ‘Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off (destroy): him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer (endure).’ (Ps.101:5)  

And with all of that, I think we need to be reminded of Bruh Paul’s words to Timothy, re fighting the good fight of faith, staying strong and steadfast in ‘the daily struggle with sin in the Christian life and the hardships and adversities in the ministry.’ ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things (shun the LOVE of money and material wealth): and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness. 

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed (confessed) a good profession (confession) before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth (gives life to) all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession. That thou keep this commandment without spot (blemish), unrebukable (blameless), until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

Which in his times he shall show (manifest), who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honour and power everlasting Amen.’ (1 Tim.6:11-16) 

Yeh friends, living the true Christian life is not easy, but if we are serious about it, with God’s help we can do it. Remember NOTHING is impossible with God! And also we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us. So let’s get with the programme nuh. And to help us do that, let’s acclaim our Thursday Blessings in strong voice with sincere hearts. 

As one now: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! 

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and everyday! Amen!’ 

And in true Christian fashion, let’s go out and share all those blessings with the less fortunate, as Jesus so greatly desires of us. Much LOVE!

…when Jesus returns…do we want to be numbered amongst the sheep…or the goats…that’s the eternal question…

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 9 December 2016 2 Timothy 4:7.

 2 Timothy 4:7.   I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith.

Ah mih people, at long last a semi-serious snowfall has hit my area. Chuh! And the time was going by so nicely! But that’s the nature of this good country Canada; wintertime means snow is very likely to disrupt the situation. (smile) 

However, it wasn’t too bad a snowstorm, and hopefully by now the roads would have been cleared and salted. But still, please be careful if you have to drive because there is liable to be some icy sections out there. 

And you’d think that the snow would dampen the weekend enthusiasm…not on yuh life! The shouting of  ‘TGIF! Thank God is Friday, and the weekend is upon us!’ still rings out. ‘A li’l snow can’t stop the party. We’ll just have to stay inside and keep warm, while the drinks and whatnot flow! Thank God for Fridays and the weekends oui!’ 

Now that’s the song of the heathen, let’s sing that of the righteous; our Friday Chant, with as much, if not more verve and enthusiasm than the heathen. All together 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 a much better way of handling the weekend, than simply giving into the lusts of the flesh and celebrating with gay abandon. 

Anyway, let’s turn to our Bit; Bruh Paul’s immortal words, for the last time. ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course (race), I have kept the faith.’ 

Oh precious people of God, it is essential that we believers in Jesus Christ, fight a good fight against the evil of this world! The world will not simply allow us to live our lives according to God’s will, because it doesn’t fit into their programme of sin and iniquity. 

That means, at each and every chance they get, they will try to dissuade us from following the righteous path with lustful and fleshly temptations. But we have to learn to resist it. 

As we saw Bruh Paul tell the Corinthians yesterday: ‘But I keep under (discipline) my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (disqualified).’ (1 Cor.9:27) 

And I worked that verse in there because I want to share a very interesting explanation of the scholars on it. ‘9:27. I keep under my body (i.e. discipline my body): The expression I keep under loses much of the original sense. It has the idea of to “give one a black eye,” “buffet,” or “bruise.” 

Paul’s readers knew that in the Isthmian Games, the boxers wore gloves consisting of ox-hide hands covered with knots and nails, and loaded with lead and iron. To prepare for such an event, a man would have to brace himself to endure all forms of physical abuse. 

Lest that by any means …I myself should be a castaway (lit. “So that …I myself should not be disqualified”): Paul was afraid of losing his salvation: his subject is still Christian liberty. The point is that the believer must discipline himself to avert both being disqualified from Christian ministry, and forfeiting the rewards for such service.’ 

Oh friends, can you imagine the bloodied bodies of the boxers in those olden times. One would have to be very brave and single minded to take part in such a carnal sport. But that’s the kind of mentality we need to have to fight off the temptations of this world and eventually win the victor’s crown. 

We can’t afford to be disqualified from Christ’s ministry and also lose the rewards earned through doing it. Now hear what Bruh Paul told Timothy in his first message re the good fight of faith. 

‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things: and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, LOVE, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed (confessed) a good profession (confession) before many witnesses.’ (1 Tim.6:11-12) 

And the scholars explain: ‘6:11. Flee these things means shun a LOVE for money (v.10) and the striving for material wealth (v.9) with all its resulting woes. Follow after means pursue. Righteousness is practical correctness, conforming to God’s will in one’s thinking and acting. 

Godliness is proper reverence for, and obedience to God. Faith is a trust in God that grows stronger. LOVE is a maturing affection for God and man. Patience is perseverance or steadfastness in life and service. Meekness is gentleness.’  

‘6:12. The good fight concerns the daily struggle with sin in the Christian life, and the hardships and adversities in the ministry. A genuine believer demonstrates the reality of his faith by being engaged in this warfare. 

Lay hold on eternal life does not negate the fact that a believer now possesses spiritual life (John 3:36); rather, it speaks of fully realizing or appropriating salvation as the believer matures.’ 

Ah friends, the life of a true believer is not an easy one. As Jesus told the disciples, we’d be persecuted just for believing in Him: ‘but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.’ (Matt.10:22) 

So it’s up to us to keep persevering, keep fighting the good fight, keep maturing, obviously with God’s help, until we reach the end and are presented with the victor’s crown. 

Wow mih people! What a day that will be! It will certainly be worth all the trials and tribulations endured in this earthly pilgrimage! Much LOVE!

…to fight the good fight successfully…one must have plenty belly and backbone…