Today’s Scrip-Bit 23 October 2015 1 Corinthians 2:9‏

1 Corinthians 2:9.  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE him.

Well then mih people, the day that so many of us look forward to, Friday, is finally here… 

And a knowing shout goes up to heaven: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday! Thank God for the weekend! Thank God for the release from massa’s brutal labour…even if is only for two measly days! Thank God for the freedom from labour!’  

Ah Friends the weekend does bring a surcease from labour, but with that freedom also comes the responsibility to use it wisely. And if you don’t know by now, freedom, though it’s a great rallying cry, it is also one of the most difficult things to successfully implement. 

And to help us do that this Friday morning in the midst of this autumn season, let’s chant our Friday Chant with sincerity and great expectations. 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.’ 

Yes mih breddren, it all comes right back down to Jesus; to our earthly walk with Him! If we’re walking with Him in sincerity and truth, then He will ably assist us in ALL aspects of our lives. 

However, if we’re not a true member of His flock, then things won’t be right with us, for as He says, He is indeed the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE…And please don’t forget He’s also the LIGHT! 

Now that simply encompasses EVERYTHING or ALL that we are and ever hope to be! He is the One who lights our darkness and shows us the way we ought to walk, so that we can be filled with truth and receive salvation that leads to eternal life. So who or what can be more important than Jesus in our earthly pilgrimage eh Friends? 

NOBODY or NOTHING whatsoever! 

And until we truly have all of that written deep in our hearts, minds and souls, then our lives won’t be as good as they can be. Yes mih people, without Jesus, our lives are sadly lacking! That’s why it’s ever so necessary for believers to know and to lean faithfully upon His promises. 

Promises like this one that’s our Bit today. ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that LOVE him.’ 

Oh Friends, that’s all so true, the things that God has prepared for those of us who truly and sincerely LOVE Him have not been revealed through the physical realm but in the spiritual! 

As Bruh Paul continues to the Corinthians: ‘But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.’ (1 Cor.2:10) 

And the scholars have an interesting explanation on that verse. ‘2:10. Revealed …unto us: Unto us is in the emphatic position in Greek, emphasizing the enormous privilege granted the recipients of divine revelation. The magnificent treasure of God’s revealed truth is accessible to the mature believer.’ 

Oh my brethren, what a wonderful God we serve and worship, who reveals His beautiful truths to us through the medium of His Holy Spirit! 

And Bruh Paul continues: ‘For what man knoweth the things of a man, save (except) the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.’ (1 Cor.2:10-13) 

Wonder of wonders Friends! Our God connects with us through the immense power of His Holy Spirit that indwells us! Oh glory to God for His undeserving goodness to the children of men! 

Now the scholars have some teachings on those verses that will help us better understand them. ‘2:10-13. The apostle deals with three vital doctrines. In verse 10 he touches on the doctrine of revelation. The truth Paul is talking about is contained in the record God has given to us – the Bible. This is the eternal and unchanging truth of God. 

Verse 11 deals with the doctrine of illumination, which has to do with human understanding of divine truth. The subject of verses 12 and 13 is the doctrine of inspiration. In verse 12 Paul talks about the content of inspiration. In verse 13 his concern is with the communication of inspiration. Paul’s message was not of human contrivance. He was a channel simply communicating God’s truth (cf. Gal.1:11-12).’ 

And that’s it for today my brethren. Don’t want to give us too much to ruminate and meditate on this Friday morning, what with our short attention spans and all the other worldly activities that fill our day. (smile) 

So until we meet again tomorrow, God willing, may we all walk in His peace and LOVE, grace, mercy and forgiveness, enjoying them ourselves, and more importantly, also sharing them with others, for that is indeed His desire for us and also the wisdom of the ages. Much LOVE!

…how would we understand the things of God without…His revelation…His illumination…and His inspiration…through His Holy Spirit…

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 16 August 2014 Jeremiah 6:16

 Jeremiah 6:16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we shall not walk therein.

Aloha Friends and Neighbours! The ole fella is at a loss for words this Saturday morning. Can you believe that? Chuh!

Well it happens to best of us at times, but I’m sure it won’t be for long, once the Holy Spirit jumps into the breach and shows me what our great God wants to talk to us about today.

Yeh, the anointing is taking a little while to come, (smile) but come it will. As the prophet Habakkuk says, ‘though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Hab. 2:3b)

Yes Friends, the Lord will not leave me speechless for long… then look out! You might end up wishing that He had left me speechless. (smile) 

Anyway my brethren, let’s get to our Bit, so hopefully I can finish it up today. ‘Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein.’

And before we go any further, listen to these comments from the scholars. ‘6:16. The people’s stubborn refusal to walk in the traditional ways of true righteousness is often mentioned by Jeremiah (12:16; 18:15; 23:12; 31:21).

Moving in their own paths and following their own way could lead only to Judah’s destruction (cf. Prov. 14:12) The contrast of the way of righteousness and life with the way of the ungodly and death is often made in the Scriptures (e.g. Ps.1; Matt.7:13-14).’ 

Oh Friends, I shared Jer.18:15 with you yesterday, now listen to this other scripture from Jerry that the scholars identify, which deals with the fate that awaits the false prophets.

‘For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness saith the Lord. Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil (disaster) upon them, even the year of their visitation (punishment), saith the Lord.’ (Jer.23:11-12)

Oh my people, how does history ever repeat itself eh? For in these troubled times there are also many false prophets and priests who exhibit wickedness rather than righteousness and profane the Lord’s Word. Don’t worry though, eventually they will pay the price, just as the Lord promised.

But listen to this passage from Isaiah, re deliverance foreshadowed: ‘And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits (are mediums), and unto wizards that peep (whisper), and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead (hard pressed) and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves (be enraged), and curse (by) their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness (gloom) of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.’ (Is.8:17-22)  

Now hear how the scholars characterize that scripture: ‘8:19-22. Familiar spirits refers to witches, and wizards refers to male soothsayers. Peep and…mutter is better rendered “chirp and whisper.” In times of distress people often turn to witchcraft instead of God.

The prophet warns them not to seek these mediums for the living to the dead, that is “Do not consult the dead on behalf of the living.” This warning speaks against spiritism and calls the reader back to the law and… the testimony as the only basis for interpreting a claim to divine revelation.’

But unfortunately my brethren, in these sad, troubled and fearful times, those who trade in the secrets of darkness are seeing a renaissance of their evil work, because more and more frightened people are going to these quacks than are turning to Jehovah God, as they should. How sad, my people.

But that’s where we believers come in. As Jesus said, we are supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world; therefore it’s our job to bring true flavour and light to those who are still shrouded in darkness. (Matt.5:13-14) But are we doing as He commanded?

I daresay, not to the extent that is needed. We are falling down on the job my fellow believers, that’s why Lucifer and his evil cohorts are having such a field-day in the current world.

Jesus declared to His disciples, and therefore to us: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt.5:16)

Oh Friends, today I want us to sit down and seriously and truly ponder whether we are being bright lights in a dark world, as Jesus desires. It’s imperative that we fulfill that role, otherwise Beelzebub and his evil buddies will continue to run rampant and roughshod over the earth. And that we definitely can’t allow!

So let us each consider if we’re making a serious and sincere difference in this ungodly world nuh. And if we’re not doing as well as we ought to, then let’s petition the Lord for His help in doing so. You know He will be only too glad to grant our requests in that direction.

But seriously my brethren, we definitely have to do better, if we want to win the world for Jesus. There are no ifs, ands, and buts on that score my fellow believers, that’s just the way it is; simply the truth of the matter. Much LOVE!

… Jesus asked us to be salt and light to a darkened world…but it seems our salt has lost its flavour…and our light is being hidden under a bushel…thus the empowerment of darkness in the world today…

 

 

 

 

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