The Terrible Mistake Believers make on not relying completely on Almighty God!

Psalm 34:8.        O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth him.

Oh friends, please let me apologize this hot, humid and somewhat cloudy Friday morning, for the date error I made on the Bit yesterday, naming it the 23rd of July instead of the 24th. And you would not believe the number of times I usually scrutinize the headings to see if they are correct. And I distinctly remember scrutinizing them yesterday and still found nothing wrong! Ah Lord eh! The devil surely finds ways to disrupt our lives. And believe me he’s doing a very good job right now through this keyboard of mine, where I am typing letters that are either not coming out, or when I hit the space button it doesn’t work and the typing comes out all jumbled up.

Chuh! Typing that last sentence took me a few minutes because I had to go back and fix several pieces of it …hn! hn! hn! Had to fix that last phrase too. (smile) Guess I’ll just have to buy a new keyboard, and this one is barely two years old. But they don’t make them like they did before, and I’m pounding away on this one every day. And you wouldn’t believe how nicely that typed there. (smile) I’ll just have to grin and bear it, as I like to preach. Believe me, it doesn’t feel so fine when you have to take your own medicine.

Hn, hn, hn! Yes friends, I’m laughing, but it’s a laugh of shame. And it’s a good thing that our God does move in mysterious ways yes, because I took a break there just now and was about to buy a new keyboard when the Duchess suggested I first  consult my young daughter, the computer expert in the family. And her wise advice was to simply change the batteries in the keyboard. Brother! Did I ever feel foolish, for only then did I remember having that same problem before and simply changing the batteries solved it. It’s a hell of a thing when yuh getting old yes!

But thanks be to God, we solved that most vexing problem! So we can move on now with some serious stuff. Yes, my fellow believers, serious stuff like Psalm 34. A psalm Bruh David wrote after narrowly escaping death at the hands of king Saul. (1 Sam. 21) He lied to the priest Abimelech about being on an important mission for the king and hadn’t had time to collect food or weapons for himself and his men. The priest gave him the shrew (hallowed) bread, the only bread he had, and also gave him Goliath’s sword, the only weapon in his possession. What a godly coincidence (smile) Bruh David using his mortal enemy’s sword. But that’s how our God works.

And having gotten those things, he fled to Gath, the city of the Philistine king Achish seeking refuge from Saul. Imagine the boldness, or stupidity, (smile) of running from your people, to seek refuge in your enemy’s camp. But that’s what you do when you have no choice. Obviously though, the Philistine king was wary of his presence, as his servants recognized Bruh David and said, ‘Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

And David laid up these words in his heart (took these words to heart), and was sore (very much) afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands (feigned madness), and scrabbled (scratched) on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle (spit) fall down on upon his beard.’ (1 Sam. 21:11-13) The king believed the mad actions of Bruh David and refused him entry, so he and his men fled to a cave in the wilderness.

Ah friends, Bruh David was indeed a man of many parts, and with God’s help put on a good show. And these are some of the marvellous words that he wrote after that narrow escape. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked at him and were lightened (radiant): and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him from out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want (lack) to them that fear him. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want (lack) any good thing.’ (Ps. 34:1-10)

What gospel truth, my people! Those who put their trust in the Lord God Jehovah will not want for anything! And I like how the scholars describe the psalm. They say: ‘It bears all the marks of the testimony of one who narrowly escaped death, just as the passage in Samuel describes. As such, it contains the praise and testimony of one who was redeemed (vs. 1-10) and the seasoned instruction that can stem from such deliverance (vs. 11-22).’ Today we’ve covered the section of praise…and is it ever so encouraging and uplifting and true! Tomorrow, if God spares life, we’ll look at the section of ‘seasoned instruction’ and see what we can gain from it.

Now, let’s go to the throne of grace, through our Friday Chant, seeking divine help for ourselves and our chaotic world. Altogether: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough…  because our many serious problems are escalating instead of improving. And it’s obvious we can’t fix them on our own, so Lord, we’re desperately crying out for your help. 

Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat the simmering unrest in our land. We therefore ask you Lord to give our leaders the wise guidance to handle these unexpected storms properly. And please help the rest of us to be responsible and to stay safe amidst all the anxiety and confusion of these ungodly times.

We fervently pray too Lord that you’ll use the discontent and dissatisfaction in our land as a means of restoring faith in you. Return backsliders to your fold. Show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a new flock of believers, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. So that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, wake up and smell it sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’

And friends, despite our supposedly sincere prayer, we also know that our witness for Christ is not good enough, that’s why our world is in such a disastrous state. So please, let’s get ourselves together and improve our witness nuh. It’s the least we can do, for all that Jesus has done for us. Much LOVE!

…you can only have a testimony…when you’ve passed a test…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 February 2024 Psalm 34:19.

Psalm 34:19.       Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Once again it’s Sunday, and time for Christ’s followers to gather together and renew their allegiance to a great Lord and Saviour, while receiving His goodness and mercy and confidence to face another week of work and numerous distractions fashioned by the enemy to get us off of our game for Jesus. But although the enemy knows that He who is within us is greater than him, who is in the world, he still insists on tempting us, just in case we falter when times and circumstances make us weak. The enemy believes he can win by being persistent, and it surely is possible, unless we are also persistent in following Jesus, by continually studying His Word and praising His holy name. 

And that’s exactly what we do when we gather in the Lord’s sanctuary every week and open with a song of praise, like this one, titled ‘The Anchor Holds.’ It’s a song that shows forth the great faith that we all need to have in this ungodly and turbulent world, which looks like we’re in the last days. And before we sing the song, I think it will help if we know something about its origins. 

It seems that in 1992, the writer, Lawrence Chewning and his wife were going through a rough season. He called it their year of sorrows. His father died, He was a burned out pastor in a church that was having some problems, and then his wife had her third miscarriage. He took a sabbatical for six months, and just ended up playing the piano all the time, while talking to God. And found himself creating the song. Sometime later, while speaking with singer Ray Boltz, Chewning mentioned the rough season and the song the Lord had given him during that time. 

Obviously Boltz liked the song, remodelled it, recorded and released it 1995, and the rest is history. We all badly need to understand and desperately hold on to the fact that there is indeed life after the storm, and the anchor does hold with Jesus operating it. Now, let’s turn to offering up sweet sacrifices of praise in a rocking, rollicking reggae version of the song, a la Judith Gayle, because I believe if Jesus is our anchor, then a joyful, exuberant song should be our response. 

So singing: ‘I have journeyed, Through the long, dark night Out on the open sea By faith alone, Sight unknown And yet His eyes, were watching me. (Chorus: The anchor holds, though the ship is battered. The anchor holds, though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees, As I face the raging seas, But the anchor holds, In spite of the storm.) I’ve had visions, I’ve had dreams, I’ve even held them in my hand, But oh Lord, I never knew, They would slip right through, Oh my Jesus, Like they were only grains of sand. (Chorus: The anchor holds, though the ship is battered. The anchor holds, though the sails are torn. I have fallen on my knees, As I face the raging seas, But the anchor holds, In spite of the storm.) 

Oh, I have been young, but I am older now, thank the Lord, And there has been beauty, that these eyes have seen, But it was in the night, through the storms of my life, Oh, that’s where God proved, His LOVE for me. (Chorus: The anchor holds, though my ship is battered. The anchor holds, though my sails are torn. And I have fallen on my knees, As I face the raging seas, But the anchor holds, In spite of the storm. Oh, I have fallen on my knees, As I face the raging seas, But the anchor holds, In spite of the storm. Yes, the anchor holds, In spite of the storm. Thank You Jesus! I have fallen on my knees, As I face the raging seas, But the anchor holds, In spite of the storm. Yes, the anchor holds, In spite of the storm. Thank You Jesus!’ 

Oh friends, what heartfelt praise, because we all know the truth of the sentiments, since we have all experienced God’s goodness and mercy at some time, or rather many times, when our lives were swallowed up in sadness and discouragement, and He eventually puled us up out of the dark dungeon in which we were wallowing. And all we could truly say was: ‘Thank You Jesus!’ For there are no words that really contain or can truly convey the sense of true relief and gratitude we feel in those remarkable times. 

But maybe some scriptures like these words of Bruh David from Psalm 34 can uplift us and keep us constant in the Lord. He writes: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and they were lightened (radiant): and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.’ (Ps. 34:4-6) Yes friends, we all find ourselves in difficulties, or our spirits are just sad and melancholy for whatever reason, but please remember that the Lord is our guide and good shepherd, and He is the One we ought to turn to when our lives feel like they are suffocating, trapped, under the shadow of death. 

That is when these words of Bruh David from Psalm 23, ought to rise up and drive those doubts and fears away. ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ (Ps. 23:4)  And that’s not always easy to do when it seems like your whole world is falling down around you, but it’s in these times that your faith needs to overcome all the obstacles and temptations of this world and rise up with scriptures that remind you of our God’s great and faithful promises. 

Scriptures like this one from the prophet Micah. ‘Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.’ (Mic. 7:8) Wow! What a powerful scripture. And what about this one from the wisdom of cousin Sol. ‘For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (stumble into calamity).’ (Prov. 24:16) And what better words to finish with than these of Bruh David from Psalm 34. 

‘The Lord is nigh (near) unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite (crushed) spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate (condemned, held guilty) The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate (condemned).’ (Ps. 34:18-22) 

Words of awesome wisdom and truth my fellow believers! And it would do us a whole lot of good if we spent some time today meditating on them and writing them indelibly in our hearts, so that we can raise them up in times of need. Much LOVE!

…O my soul…why art thou cast down…hope thou in God…who is my salvation…and my God… (Ps. 42:11)

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   24 January 2024 Psalm 34:4.

Psalm 34:4.        I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

And after the snow, comes the rain. Yes friends, yesterday it snowed all day in my area, but thankfully the white stuff only trickled down from heaven, like a drizzling rain, so we only ended up with an inch or so when it stopped. However, during the early morning hours, the fog came in and it’s still out there fairly thick, you can only see about fifty yards ahead properly, and yet some people are still driving without their lights on, as well as several of them only have one working headlight. 

But the snow is melting and the rain is beginning to slowly drizzle down. So by day’s end we should not be too badly off, unless the temperature decides to freeze up again and thus cause ice problems. But there’s no need to fear, for Jesus is with us, guiding our every step, that is, if we’re listening to Him. (smile) And talking about fear, I decided to continue today with some scripture verses that promote faith over fear, since fear is a very real and troublesome problem in our current society. 

What with the unfortunate fallout from the pandemic and all the strife and anger that’s proliferating out there, fear has become a major source of worry, and the only way to stop it, or even lessen it is by believing and proclaiming powerful scripture verses of faith. And brother, I’ve found so many that I don’t know which to choose, or really where to begin. (smile) But begin we must, so let’s check out this famous scripture on fear and faith, from Bruh Paul’s second letter to Timothy, where he admonishes Timothy thus: ‘Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting (laying) on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound (disciplined) mind.’ (2 Tim. 1:6-7) 

And I like how this commentator in the abide and seek.com website adds verse 6 to the mix, because it adds a li’l something to the next verse, the fanning of the flame of faith, that we don’t usually get when we quote that verse by itself. As the commentator writes. ‘I just LOVE this scripture! The Spirit which dwells within us believers holds the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! The Holy Spirit is there to empower us to places where we could not tread without it! We are called to entrust and to call on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, thus fanning that small flame into a powerful fire! To allow the fear of anything that lies ahead to dissipate and allow that light to shine in these dark times.’ 

Yes friends, that’s surely the job of the Holy Spirit, but it only makes a difference if we listen and obey it’s commands. Then there’s this verse from Psalm 34, as Bruh David testifies: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.’ (Ps, 34:4) Ah mih people, when we’re afraid, the first and best thing to do is turn to the God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, because He is the Creator and Controller of the universe, and our very heavenly Father, who has such great compassion for us, His most precious creation. 

And we all know that’s what Bruh David did throughout his life, and despite his many faults and mistakes, the Lord still considered him His friend and a man after His own heart. That means there’s forgiveness and LOVE for us too, when we open our hearts to Almighty God. And I can’t do scriptures on fear and faith and not include one of my favourites from Joshua, when the Lord made Joshua the leader of the Israelites after the death of Moses. In his last statement to Joshua on how He would be with him like He was with Moses, the Lord said: ‘Have I not commanded thee? be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whither thou goest.’ (Josh. 1:9) 

Now isn’t that a marvellous verse of encouragement? It surely is! Especially if it’s the Lord Himself speaking to you! Just like God was with Moses, He would be with Joshua, and also with us. As this commentary says: ‘God’s promises are never broken and that is what God was pointing out to Joshua as he was taking on this calling of leading His people. He was frightened and unsure yet God’s promises and LOVE can never fail!’ And that’s what we need to believe in spades my fellow saints! The promises and LOVE of our great and faithful God will never fail! 

And He’s made that declaration (chuh!!!) a thousand times in His Word, as these two verses of Deuteronomy ascertain. This first one, Moses speaks to the people of Israel: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6) Then Moses called Joshua before all the people and reassured him with the same basic words. ‘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.’ (Deut. 31:8) You can’t get any better encouragement than that my people! 

And what about this other magnificent scripture of faith from Psalm 27, where Bruh David joyfully and faithfully proclaims: ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ‘ (Ps, 27:1) Yes mih bredrin, we are certainly maturing when we too can make such a positive declaration (yesss!!!) of faith! And we’ll conclude today’s faith incentive scriptures with these two verses which we have been seeing a lot of recently (smile) 

It’s these most reassuring words of Bruh Paul to the church at Philippi. ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep (guard) your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’ (Phil. 4:6-7) Truer words were never written my brethren, so please, let’s take them to heart and sincerely practice them if we truly want to receive that wonderful peace of God which man’s finite brain cannot understand. 

Now let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus. Altogether 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!’ 

And please remember that if we endure with Jesus right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine! Much LOVE!

…if fear knocks at your door…just send faith to answer it… 

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   2 January 2022 Psalm 34:4.

Psalm 34:4.      I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 

Here it is friends, the first Sunday of this new year of 2022! And although we still can’t worship with the freedom and gay abandon that we once did, with the Lord’s help, we’ve found technological ways to keep on worshipping individually, while gathering in small Covid regulated groups for corporate worship. But regardless of how we do it, the important thing is that we are still worshipping despite the many constraints and restrictions placed upon us. 

And today, this first Sunday of the new year, we are going to open with a most appropriate song, one of the most remarkable and beautiful songs of this century. We are talking about the reworking by Shane Barnard of the first ten verses of Bruh David’s famous Psalm 34 – The Lord hears the righteous. And that He certainly does my people! Barnard subtitled his song ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good,’ and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has done a wonderful version of it. 

Every time I see the live video of it, my spirit gets a miraculous lift. As one comment on the performance says: ‘Every time I listen to this song, I imagine myself along with all the other saints in heaven worshipping. This song carries a strong anointing. You can feel the presence of the heavenly hosts.’ And that’s no lie. So, a la the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, let’s raise our voices in sacrificial praise, let’s magnify and exalt the Lord’s holy name together, letting Him know that this year we are determined to be more faithful than we were in 2021. 

From the depths of our hearts and souls then: ‘I sought the Lord And He answered me And delivered me From every fear. Those who look on Him Are radiant They’ll never be ashamed They’ll never be ashamed. This poor man cried And the Lord heard me And saved me from My enemies. The Son of God Surrounds His saints He will deliver them He will deliver them. 

Magnify the Lord with me Come exalt His name together Glorify the Lord with me Come exalt His name forever. Oh taste and see That the Lord is good Oh blessed is he Who hides in Him. Oh fear the Lord Oh all you saints He’ll give you everything He’ll give you everything. (Magnify the Lord with me Come exalt His name together Glorify the Lord with me Come exalt His name forever. Repeat) 

(Let us bless the Lord Every day and night Never ending praise May our incense rise. Repeat 4 times) Magnify the Lord with me Come exalt His name together Glorify the Lord with me Come exalt His name forever. {Repeat} Oh taste and see That the Lord is good. He’ll give you everything He’ll give you everything. Oh taste and see That the Lord is good. He’ll give you everything He’ll give you everything. …He’ll give you everything…’ 

Oh my people, that was just wonderful! We were almost as good as the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir! (smile) Wow! Heaven knows now that we are serious about worshipping our great God. And a couple more accolades for the BTC, are in order here. One says: ‘I just imagine being in heaven worshipping with this magnificent choir, just magnifying our great God! Hallelujah!!’ 

And the other declares: ‘The worship that the people utter after the song is like Heaven, every race, every tongue raising up their voices in one accord unto The King of Kings.’ But you know what grabs me most about the whole performance is the way the musicians get into the song. You can see that they are truly feeling it. And that to me is what makes it so lively and enchanting, for when musicians really feel what they play, it just lifts the entire performance. 

And the whole psalm is based on Bruh David’s simple but heart felt words: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.’ (Ps. 34:4) Yes friends, that’s what sincerely seeking the Lord can do. And we know that’s what Bruh David did for his whole life, despite the many mistakes he made, and the Lord blessed him continually. 

Now the prophet Azariah also made a similar claim to the people of Israel on one of the occasions when they had turned away from the God of their forefathers and found themselves in serious trouble. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, (the pious and faithful king who was sincerely trying to clean up Israel’s idolatrous behaviour) and said unto him, 

Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest (prophet), and without law. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the Lord God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.’ (2 Chr. 15:1-4) 

Yuh see that mih bredrin? Although Israel had forsaken the Lord, when they turned back to Him in time of trouble, they found Him, and He released their fear. So what does that tell us in this current time of great fear and ungodliness eh? It’s simple and so apparent: we need to turn back to the God of our forefathers and ask for His help. But very few of us, comparatively speaking are even looking to the Lord for help in these turbulent, fearful and very disruptive times. 

And listen to Bruh David’s advice from Psalm 9 nuh. ‘The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.’ (Ps. 9:9-10) Oh my people, it couldn’t be any plainer or more straightforward than that! In times of trouble the Lord God Almighty is our surest refuge, the best place to turn to for help! So why aren’t we turning to Him in greater numbers eh? 

Because we are too hard-headed, proud and stubborn, and like to do our own thing, even though it’s not working. But please remember these wise words of Jesus: ‘And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’ (Luke 11:9-10) 

And I believe that’s a good place for us to end today. But please my fellow saints, let’s not forget that though this is a new year, nothing has really changed, just some digits on our computers and papers. We still have a host of problems to deal with and changing a date won’t solve them. The only thing that will, is for our society to sincerely turn back to Jesus Christ, and all that He stands for! Much LOVE!

…to Christ be the honour…to Christ be the glory…for all that He’s done for mankind… 

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