The Overwhelming Necessity and Wisdom of Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour!

09 Aug 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 3:18a.         He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,

Well friends, it’s another hot, sunshiny summer’s day in August… and I just saw a heat warning advisory on the computer. But what’s new about all of that eh? Nothing! For we have been experiencing those kinds of days for a while now, and through the goodness and grace of Jesus, we’ve learned to handle them. (smile)

And to make matters even better, today is our lazy-day Saturday, which means we don’t need to go out unless it’s absolutely necessary, just stay inside in air conditioned comfort and laze around. What a marvellous way to spend a hot summer’s day! And we can even improve on that by offering up our  Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer, with all sincerity and truth.

So, as one strong and truthful voice: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’

And if our prayer was truly heartfelt, then we ought to be receiving some peace and calm in our souls, bodies and minds right about now. For the Lord answers the prayers of His people, when they are sincere and in His will. And what can be more in His will than to have greater intimacy and communion with Him eh? Nothing really, for that’s His basic purpose for creating us in the first place.

Unfortunately though, too many of His creation have turned their backs on Him, wanting nothing whatsoever to do with Him, and that obviously disappoints Him. But God knew the risk He was taking when He gave us free will, or the ability to make certain choices in this life. The problem though is that those who turn away from their Creator will eventually suffer terrible consequences, the most terrible one being eternal separation from Him through eternity, for they will be caught up in the destruction of the evil and wicked of the earth.

And if you don’t believe me then read Revelation chapter 20, and see, and hopefully understand, exactly what forsaking the Lord God Jehovah and His Saviour Son Jesus Christ will mean in the days to come. And I know that some of us after reading that chapter of Revelation will think it’s all nonsense…and who knows, it just might be.

However, just supposing it isn’t nonsense. Isn’t it better to be safe rather than sorry, and therefore accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, so you don’t have to endure the terrifying end of eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14) painted for those who did not accept Him? Of course! And even if hell and heaven don’t truly exist, and our physical death covers it all, then by accepting Jesus you would still have lived a good and satisfying life; one filled with joy, peace, LOVE, grace, mercy, and all the other good things that Jesus provides for His followers. Now, where else can you find all of that good stuff eh? Nowhere else but with Jesus!

Remember, Jesus came to save the world from certain hellfire and damnation, as He so clearly informs Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler, who, through fear of his associates, came to Him under cover of darkness seeking answers. ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3:17) Please note that it’s only through Jesus that the world will or could be saved. And that means believing in Him, as He then tells Nicodemus. ‘He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’ (John 3:18)

There it is my brethren, in black and white, transmitted down through the ages in the Bible, God’s infallible Word! What more can we ask for eh? Jesus came and died on the cross so that our sins could be forgiven; He told us all that was necessary to know about the Triune God, that’s the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; showed us His overwhelming LOVE and compassion, through healing and cleansing of the sick and suffering, the poor and downtrodden.

He even promised to come back to take us with Him, as He reassured the disciples. ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions (dwellings): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ (John 14:1-3) What an awesome promise friends! And why would Jesus lie? No reason whatsoever, for He can do whatever He promises.

And even more importantly, He also promised that when He went away: ‘I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:18) And He did that through the power of the Holy Spirit coming to live in those who accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. And as per the material things of the world, as per wealth and riches and all the things the world hungers, thirsts and kills for, here’s what Jesus had to say on that subject. ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:33)

Remember too, that ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.’ (Ps. 24:1) In other words, the earth and all that’s in it belongs to the Lord, for He created it all. And let’s not forget this other most important scripture, which Moses pointed out to the Israelites so long ago. ‘But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’ (Deut. 8:18) That means the ability to produce true and lasting wealth, comes only from Jehovah God!

So friends, on this hot, lazy-day Saturday in early August of the quickly moving year of 2025, I’d suggest that we spend some time contemplating all that we’ve said, and see how we match up with it, and then try to improve our positions, for we all have room for improvement. Much LOVE!

…it’s wiser and safer to believe in Jesus…than not to believe in Him…

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

The Need to Embrace God’s Faithfulness if You want to Walk in Safety and Security!

07 Apr 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 14:18.       I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.

So, it’s up and at ‘em one more time, that means getting out to work on a Monday morning, something that many of us do with a monotonous regularity for numerous years of our life. Actually, for the best years of our lives. No wonder, after a while it becomes tedious and tiring and we just sometimes want to cry out for a change, for something to liven up the dreary same ole same ole routine. 

Yes, we often long for a loosening of the restrictive reins that have us tied to a job that does not satisfy our capabilities or skills and act as a de facto killer to our God-given dreams and desires.  But unfortunately, that’s the way our society is structured, and if you want to eat and have a roof over your head, then you’ve got to work, at least with some regularity. (smile) 

On a serious note though, in this latest round of one foolish egotist’s doings, a trade war has erupted all over the world, and many have already lost their jobs, due to no fault of their own, and sadly, it appears that many more will if this nonsense isn’t curtailed as soon as possible. And it’s only when we don’t have a job to go to, with no prospects for one very soon either, that we do appreciate the boring, same ole, same ole tasks that we are forced to perform most days of our lives to earn a living. 

Let’s hope that all those who find themselves summarily unemployed will wake up and see the light and turn their attentions seriously towards Jesus, for He is the ONLY ONE who can offer you comfort despite the trials and tribulations you might be facing. And I’ve been unemployed, so I know what I’m talking about. Jesus is always the best One to turn to when things aren’t going your way. 

He might not always solve your problems quickly, or even solve them at all, but if you are sincere, He will provide you with a modicum of hope and faith that will keep you going through the tough times, in a calm, non-anxious manner, and not allow you to give up. And that’s always the first step in recovery; having a modicum of hope and the resolve to never give up. 

You can trust Him to always be by your side. Remember what He promised the disciples before His ascension: ‘If you LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

And He did come to them, and consequently to us, on that memorable day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit began to indwell all believers and the church exploded with new saints. And since then, the Holy Spirit has indwelt every believer, acting as a Guide, Leader and Comforter on behalf of Jesus. 

But there’s one thing that we must understand, that life is not easy, never was, and never will be, therefore we have to bear up under the stress and strain of whatever we’re going through, with the help of the Holy Spirit. As Bruh Paul sagely warns Timothy: ‘Thou therefore endure hardness (hardship), as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Tim. 2:3) That’s the living truth; we’ve got to stand up and fight the battles that come against us, all in the name of Jesus. 

Meanwhile, the author of Hebrews puts it thus: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’ (Heb. 10:23) And Bruh Paul also stated that fact, first to the church at Corinth: ‘God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor. 1:9) And then to the Thessalonians: ‘But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish (establish) you, and keep you from evil (the evil one).’ (2 Thess. 3:3) 

That means we can faithfully trust our Triune God to look after us and keep us safe when the storms of life revolt against us. Remember what Jesus said to the stormy waves and howling winds on the sea of Galilee? ‘Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.’ (Mark 4:39) So, if He can calm the real physical storm, why won’t He be able to calm our metaphorical ones eh? No reason whatsoever! 

Now, let’s go straight to the throne of grace for help, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn as we’ve been instructed to do. Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. 

Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. 

Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

So, it’s obvious from our prayer that there are certain things we need to do to get divine aid. We know them…so please let’s do them nuh! Much LOVE!

…in a world beset by darkness and evil…Jesus is the ONLY ONE who can overcome them…with His Light and LOVE…

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

Strength in the Face of Adversity is the True Test of One’s Endurance.

24 Nov 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 24:10.        If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

So friends, we’ve lived to see another brand new day; a Sunday to boot, which means we ought to gather in the Lord’s sanctuary with other faithful believers to give Him much thanks and praise for all the undeserved blessings, grace and mercy He’s bestowed on us this past week, and pray for a continuance of such goodness in the upcoming week. And today we’re going to open our worship with a truly inspirational song, one that we all know and LOVE, written by Gloria and William Gaither, based on a tough time in their lives. It’s simply but most appropriately titled; ‘Because He Lives.’ 

So, let’s raise our voices in sweet sacrifices of praise, and offer up a soulful, sincere, mid-tempo version of the song. Singing: ‘(Chorus: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds my future, And life is worth the living Just because He lives.) (Repeat) God sent His son they called Him, Jesus He came to LOVE, heal and forgive He lived and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives. (Chorus) How sweet to hold a newborn baby And feel the pride and joy he gives But greater still that calm assurance This child can face uncertain days because He lives  

And then one day I’ll cross the river I’ll fight life’s final war with pain And then, as death gives way to vict’ry I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds my future And life is worth the living Just because He lives And life is worth the living Just because He lives And life is worth the living Just because He lives.’ 

Oh my people, that was a beautiful rendition of that most inspiring song. And I guess that’s why we sung it so sweetly, (smile) for all of us have been through hard times and it’s only the trust and faith in Jesus that’s pulled us through. Apparently, it was the same with the Gaither family back in the 1960’s, when a deep shift in values was taking place in their world. The winter of 1969 was particularly hard for them, because it was long and severe, and Bill fell ill with a bad case of mononucleosis. 

Concurrently, there was also strife and false accusations amongst their church family. Gloria says she can remember sitting in their living room in fear and agony on New Year’s Eve, as the educational system was being infiltrated with the “God is dead” idea, while drug abuse and racial tension were increasing. And as always, everybody was blaming everybody else. Nothing has changed since then, except that the idea of God being dead, has blossomed, where schools no longer teach about God, where the Ten Commandments and prayer are now banned in public schools and those of higher education. 

What a time for the Gaithers to discover they were about to have a baby! And though it was good news, they were also concerned about the wisdom of bringing a new life into that chaotic world. Then, one sunny day in the early spring, Bill, Gloria and Bill’s father George walked across the paved parking lot at their small A-frame offices. George called Bill and Gloria’s attention to a spot they had not noticed. He pointed out a tiny blade of grass that had pushed aside layers of dirt, rock and concrete to reach the sunshine of the world above. It had such a strong will to live; it had overcome all the odds to fulfill its destiny. 

That blade of grass became a symbol to the Gaithers of how God works in His creation. And it inspired Gloria to write a song expressing the hope that was shaped by the resurrection of Jesus, as well as that blade of grass and the birth of her son. And that’s the story of the song. No doubt many of us also have such inspiring stories, although we have not written any songs about them. But that’s the way Jesus works in our lives; using small and apparently inconsequential things and moments to build our faith and trust in Him. 

That’s why we can never give up hope, despite the many times we fall. That’s why Cousin Sol penned these words in Proverbs. First of all: ‘If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.’ (Prov. 24:10) And then: ‘For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief (calamity).’ (Prov. 24:16) And we can do all of that only because of the completed work of Jesus. As the song says, ‘He came to LOVE, heal and forgive He lived and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.’ 

Oh glory be my fellow believers! Without Jesus, we cannot do much of anything, as He so rightly says in the gospel of John. ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) Yes friends, in the natural we are weak, weary and finite human beings. But if we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, then His Holy Spirit comes and fills our souls and spirits with the power to do anything that He desires us to do. 

It’s like He promised the disciples and those of us who believe in the future: ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

And we all know that Jesus kept that promise, for on the day of Pentecost after His ascension, the Holy Spirit came down from heaven, ‘as a sound of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them, cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (in other languages), as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:2-4) 

And since that time my fellow saints, every time someone accepts Christ as Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within them, to lead, guide and comfort them just like Jesus promised. So, let’s go home today, renewing our faith, promising ourselves to keep it strong and to get back every time we falter or fall, because Jesus empowers us through His Holy Spirit. and as the chorus of the song reminds us: ‘Because He lives, I can face tomorrow Because He lives, all fear is gone Because I know He holds my future, And life is worth the living Just because He lives.’ And that’s the gospel truth my people! Let’s never forget it! Much LOVE!

…with Jesus as our Lord and Saviour…our strength ought not to fail…

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

The Sealing of the Believer by the Holy Spirit!

19 Aug 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ephesians 1:13b.       in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Oh Monday, we’re so glad to see you! You’re like a refreshing breath of air! (smile) You challenge us like no other, to get back into the chaotic world, after a couple days of rest and continue the never-ending fight against the enemy who desperately desires to steal us away from Jesus! But please let him know that that’s an impossible feat, for once we become born again children of God, His Holy Spirit comes to live within us and secures us with an impregnable seal, one that can never be broken. 

Yes friends, the seal of the Holy Spirit is the identification mark that the born-again believer is truly God’s own and is kept forever by the power of God. And this scripture on the redemption by Christ from Ephesians tells us about it. God, ‘Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.’ (Eph. 1:12-14) 

And what does all of that mean eh? Basically, that God, in His own time, according to His own desire, will put everything both in heaven and on earth, under ONE rule, ONE Head, that’s Jesus Christ. So, as the scholars tell us: ‘In the near future, when the time is ripe, God will put His good purpose into effect and carry it out. And His “good pleasure” or intention is the restoration of original universal unity, when all things are brought back into harmony with Himself and under the headship of Christ.’ 

And the Lord got the ball rolling with Jesus coming to earth to give us a better understanding of what was to come. The Jewish Christians were the first to believe in Christ and were given the seal of the Holy Spirit, then, when we Gentiles believed, we were also sealed by the Holy Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance, or the Lord’s promise of salvation. As one commentary says: ‘We just discovered the foundational purpose of the Holy Spirit. He is the seal of our salvation, and He is the down payment of our inheritance.’  

Or, as the scholars further clarify: ‘The Holy Spirit is here called the “earnest of our inheritance.” The word ‘earnest’ means ‘down payment’; as such the gift of the Spirit is viewed as an installment or as part of our salvation. God therefore assures the Christian that the realization of the rest of his salvation is forthcoming. How long is the believer assured of his salvation? Until the redemption of the purchased possession, or “until God glorifies and perfects the believer (the purchased possession) whom He has bought by Christ’s blood.” 

Yes my people, that seal of the Holy Spirit represents the surety that we belong to God, regardless of what we think, or feel or whatever lies the enemy might throw at us! And I like how this commentary answers the question it poses: ‘How does the Holy Spirit seal believers? The Spirit Is Our Seal. By being present in the Spirit, God not only claims us for Himself, He also gives us claim on Him. The Spirit certifies His promise, His pledge to us. Indeed, the Spirit is God’s keeping of His promise.’ 

We can’t ask for more than that my fellow believers, since we know that our ever-faithful God keeps all of His promises. And the Holy Spirit is the workhorse of our Triune God. He does all the work that’s needed now, after Jesus came and did His thing. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, our Guide, our Reminder, our Conscience, our Helpmeet, while working in the hearts of unbelievers to convict and convince them of their sin and of their need for Jesus. 

Remember how Jesus characterized the Holy Spirit. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) And Jesus kept that promise by coming to believers through the Holy Spirit, which began indwelling believers on the day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension. 

So, the Lord’s plan is motion, He’s done all He can. We know all about it, we have all the promises, the only thing left is for us to accept God’s gift of salvation, by accepting His Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, so that when the final bells toll, we won’t be eternally separated from God, because that is the worst thing that can ever happen to a human soul. Now, let’s go to God in prayer, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, seeking help to keep us on the straight and narrow path of life. 

Altogether: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. 

So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And if we’re wise, and truly desire divine aid, then we’d better start by changing our evil ways! Much LOVE!

…come the fullness of time…being on the outside…looking in…won’t be pleasant…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   14 January 2024 John 14:16.

14 Jan 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 14:16.       And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever.

Oh, come one, come all to the Lord’s house on this Sunday, His special day, where there will be worship, praise, exaltation, fellowship, and a whole lot of other good vibes! Please don’t allow the inclement weather to prevent you from enjoying all that good stuff, for when you leave, you’ll be totally refreshed, rejuvenated and filled with the Holy Spirit, so you can step out into the world with the utmost confidence in the upcoming work week. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful ‘Amen!’ 

Why? Because they know that’s the gospel truth! It’s exactly what happens when you visit the Lord’s sanctuary on His day. And we’ll start it all of with some worship, singing this favourite song, not quite an oldie, since it was only written around the middle of the last century, but certainly a goldie, written by prolific songwriters, Jimmy Duncan and Johnny Lange, respectively writers of hit songs ‘My Special Angel,’ and ‘Mule Train.’  No, the young ones won’t know those two songs, but they were big hits two generations ago, and still have the power to uplift hearts and move dancing feet. 

But the Duncan and Lange song we’re going to sing today is simply but rather aptly titled, ‘I asked the Lord.’ So, without further ado, let’s offer up sacrificial praises to heaven in a mid-tempo, sincere and grateful version of the wonderful song. By the way, I added the last two verse from a rendition by one Linus Wee, because I thought they rounded out the song rather nicely. Now, singing: ‘I asked the Lord to comfort me When things weren’t going my way; He said to me “I will comfort you And lift your cares away.” 

I asked the Lord to walk with me, When darkness was all that I knew; He said to me, “Never be afraid, for I will see you through.” I did not ask for riches, He gave me wealth untold- The moon, the stars, the sun, the sky, And He gave me eyes to behold. I thank the Lord for everything, And I count my blessings each day; He came to me when I needed Him – I only had to pray: He’ll come to you if you’ll ask Him to – He’s only a prayer away. I asked the Lord to lead the way, When each step was getting so rough, He said to me “put your trust in me, and I’ll direct your path.” 

I asked the Lord to come inside And take all my struggles away. He said to me, “Cast your cares on me, and live each day by day.” I did not ask for riches, He gave me wealth untold- The moon, the stars, the sun, the sky, And He gave me eyes to behold. I thank the Lord for everything, And I count my blessings each day; He came to me when I needed Him – I only had to pray: He’ll come to you if you’ll ask Him to – For He’s only a prayer away. Yes… He’ll come to you if you’ll ask Him to – For He’s only a prayer away.’ 

And that’s a certainty my people! Our great God is only a prayer away, so we don’t have to go far to look for Him. For as he says through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto (listen to) you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’ (Jer. 29:12-13) So friends, communicating with our heavenly Father is simple, but it does take some effort and sincerity on our part. And having unintentionally begun at the end, (smile) let’s now go to the beginning of the song and check out some scripture references. 

And right there in the opening verse we can find some potent scripture to back it up: ‘I asked the Lord to comfort me, When things weren’t going my way;…’ We’re talking about Jesus’ promise of a Comforter. He advises the disciples: ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

Yes friends, our Saviour is indeed wonderful, promising not to leave us comfortless, but to send someone like Him, the Holy Spirit, which the world didn’t know, but the disciples did, because He was already with them in their daily lives. However, after Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit would then come and dwell in them, and also in every other believer. And that miraculous event happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers sitting in the upper room, with cloven (divided) tongues like of fire, and had them speaking in different languages. (Acts 2:1-14) 

Jesus also told the disciples: ‘These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ (John 14:25-26) Yuh see mih bredrin, how important the Holy Spirit is in our lives. He not only comforts us, but also leads and guides and reminds us of all that Jesus taught. 

And the second verse says: ‘I asked the Lord to walk with me, When darkness was all that I knew;’ And obviously the Lord promised to do so, as Jesus faithfully proclaimed: ‘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) Then we have these great verses from the second most popular prayer, Psalm 23, where Bruh David confidently asserts: ‘He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. 23:3-4) 

Oh my fellow believers, when we’re in the company of our God, there’s no need to fear anything, for the Good Shepherd always has us under His watchful eyes. Then we have these words from Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist: ‘Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring (dawn, Messiah) from on high hath visited us. To give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1:78-79) 

But yuh know what my people, there are so many wonderful scriptures I want to share regarding that song, but there’s just not enough time nor space today, so we’ll just have to continue it tomorrow. In the meanwhile, let’s just continue raising our passion for Christ, and do our best to live a Christ-like life, so that others will see Him through us and want to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour too! Much LOVE!

…comfort ye, comfort ye my people…saith your God… (Is. 40:1) 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ         

Today’s Scrip-Bit   17 July 2023 John 14:15.

17 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 14:15.        If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.

Come Monday, we’ll be alright! Yes, friends, come Monday, we’ll be alright, because we have Jesus, our Lord and Saviour looking after us through His Holy Spirit! But it won’t all just automatically fall in our laps; we also have some responsibilities to fulfil. Like first believing in Jesus, accepting Him sincerely as Lord and Savour; then doing the things He desires of us, like being obedient to His commands and following the lead and guidance of His Holy Spirit. 

And that’s why many of us supposed believers are finding it difficult to make any serious headway in this evil and ungodly world. How can you reap the benefits of something when you’re not fulfilling the requirements eh? Listen to how Jesus put it to the disciples, and consequently to us. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15) Now that’s quite plain and straightforward. If you’re truly for Jesus, then the first thing you need to do is what He asks of you. It’s the same with any group or organization; you follow the rules and guidelines if you want it to function properly. 

However, not all rules or commandments are easy to follow, but Jesus also promised heavenly help to help us follow His commandments. Listen as He continues: ‘And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:16-18) 

Yes my fellow believers Jesus promised to send us divine help from heaven when He returned there, divine help that will be with us forever, in the person of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, our Triune Godhead. Back then the Holy Spirit was with some people, as an outward force, but Jesus promised that eventually it would dwell within all believers, which happened on Pentecost Day when the followers were sitting in the upper room in Jerusalem waiting for Jesus to keep that promise. 

The Bible tells us: ‘And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:2-4) And that was the official birth of the Christian Church, when the Holy Spirit, the promised Helper, the Comforter began indwelling each believer as they came to Christ. 

Now let’s look a little closer at the purpose(s) of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Jesus said to the disciples: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter (Helper) which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever things have said unto you.’ (John 14:25-26) There we see that the Holy Spirit is a teacher in its own right, as well as a reminder of the things that Jesus taught in His earthly sojourn. 

For example, per the scholars; ‘The Holy Spirit would enable the apostles to remember all the words and works of Jesus when they were writing the New Testament.’ Now that was what Jesus would be doing for the disciples, meanwhile the disciples were expected to use Jesus words and works and the power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit for His kingdom, that’s help others to come to know and LOVE Him. And in chapter 15 of John, as always, Jesus spells it out plain and simple, using the analogy of a grapevine to explain the divine-human relationship. 

He was the vine, and the Father, the vinedresser or caretaker of the vine. And the vine dresser is continually pruning the vine, so that it can bear more and better fruit. (John 15:1-3) Then He delves even deeper: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ ( John 15:4-5) 

Now that says it all right there friends! Unless we abide in Jesus, and He in us, we are worthless to bear fruit, to do productive work for the kingdom. So you see, like all covenants are, this covenant of the New Testament is a two-way street, with each side having responsibilities to fulfill. Jesus has already fulfilled His part by sacrificing His life to save us, then sending the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, teach and remind us of our duties. Now it’s our turn to do our thing; that’s read and study His word so that we can keep His commandments, then share it, and above all, live in LOVE, the way He desires of us. 

Jesus spells it out loud and clear: ‘This is my commandment, That ye LOVE one another, as I have LOVED you.’ (John 15:12) It could not get any clearer or simpler than that my fellow saints. So, shall we continue letting Jesus down by not living in LOVE, like He prescribes? Or are we going to change, step up to the plate and make Him proud of us? I surely hope and pray that we’ll do the latter as we see the evil and ungodliness of our world becoming more prevalent each and every day, with more and more people falling by the wayside as a result. 

Therefore, through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, let’s go to the throne of grace seeking the divine help we so badly need. As one voice: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. 

Heavenly Father, You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. Yes, we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. So, we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading for wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems. 

Oh Father, please ease the pain of the many suffering from negative situations, show them Your awesome grace and mercy. And faithfully keep Your promise to prosper us if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And if we truly want to have heavenly help, then we need to improve our earthly ways. It’s as simple as that! Much LOVE!

…the Holy Spirit is ready, willing and able…are we ready to fulfill…our part of the New Testament Covenant…  

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ        

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 July 2023 James 2:17.

12 Jul 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

James 2:17.       Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Now Tuesday was nice and hot and summery until the evening hours when it turned cool, and windy with a thunderstorm. And would you believe that during the night outside was cooler than the air-conditioned inside. And this morning when I went out to do some blood tests, it was chilly as ever. The computer earlier on told me that rain was coming, then shortly thereafter told me it will be mostly sunny. 

So who knows what we’re going to get today, this middle of the work week Wednesday, when we try to catch our second win, that enables us to fight the good fight all the way down to Friday? The important thing though is that we have life, the awesome breath of God flowing through us, mightily LOVED by our heavenly Father, created a little lower than the angels but crowned with glory and honour. (Ps. 8:5) 

The unfortunate thing though friends is that so many of us don’t behave like we have that glory and honour of God, which takes us back to yesterday’s Bit, ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:’ (James 1:19) This current version of mankind is certainly the opposite of those wise words. We’re rather quick to speak, and speak a lot, quick to get angry and hardly ever listen. 

Now yesterday we stopped where James was saying that anyone who was not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the word, his deeds will be blessed. (James 1:25) And he continues in this vein. ‘If any man among you seem to be (thinks he is) religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain (useless). Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’ (James 1:26-27) 

And that’s what Christianity is all about my people! Remember Jesus’ great compassion for widows and orphans, the sick, the poor and the lonesome. He came to save the downtrodden. And throughout the Bible there are numerous verses that indicate that God LOVES the widows and orphans. Psalm 68 describes Him as: ‘A father of the fatherless, and judge (defender) of widows, is God in his holy habitation.’ (Ps. 68:5) Meanwhile Isaiah 1:17 instructs on the Lord’s behalf. ‘Learn to do well (good); seek judgement (justice), relieve (reprove) the oppressed (oppressor), judge (vindicate or defend) the fatherless, plead for the widow.’ And Jesus even promised: ‘I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:8) 

So helping those in need is what we should be focused on, physical help as well as spiritual and emotional concern. That leads us to these powerful verses in 1 John. ‘Hereby perceive we the LOVE of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good (goods or riches), and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion (heart) from him, how dwelleth the LOVE of God in him? (1 John 3:16-17) It obviously doesn’t! 

That’s why James continues later on in his epistle about the relationship between faith and works. ‘What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.’ (James 2:14-17) 

And that’s the gospel truth my fellow believers! We can have all the faith we want, but if we don’t have some sacrificial work in that faith, it’s basically useless, because faith is not just believing, but also doing! As James continues: ‘Yea, a man my say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.’ (James 2:18) 

Faith and works just have to go hand in hand my brethren if any of them are to be worthwhile. That’s why sometimes when we try to evangelize the poor and downtrodden, instead of filling them with scripture, we first need to fill them with food, clothing and shelter, that way they will be more amenable to receiving the good news of Christ’s gospel.  

Remember when Jesus talked about separating the sheep from the goats? (Matt. 25:31-34) What reasons did He give for that separation eh? ‘For I was an hungred (hungry), and ye gave me meat (food): I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord….when did we do all these things unto you…. And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’ (Matt. 25:35-37, 40) 

Yes friends, that’s what Jesus is looking for in His followers; kindness to our brethren, especially if they are poor, sick, a stranger, widowed or orphaned. Our basic faith might get us into heaven, but it’s our selfless, sacrificial works that are going to earn us heavenly rewards. And it all begins by speaking less and listening more, so that we can understand the truth of the kingdom of God. 

Now for those of us who are sincerely trying to do that, let’s go home declaring (steups!!!) 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 as we keep reminding, if we endure with Christ right down to the very end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So please let’s us e that as one more bit of encouragement to endure to the very end! Much LOVE!

…Jesus set the example of doing good works…so that His followers could follow it… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ       

Today’s Scrip-Bit   27 May 2023 John 14:18.

27 May 2023 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 14:18.       I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.

Well friends, a blessed Pentecost lazy-day Saturday to you. And if there ever was cause for a lazy day in these parts, this was it, because it’s not only gloriously bright and sunshiny, but you can also feel the heat from the rays of the sun. I went out earlier today to our annual Pentecost Prayer Breakfast and as soon as I got outside, I could feel the sun’s hot rays, and eventually had to take off the light jacket I was wearing. 

And it was a wonderful Prayer Breakfast, with lots of good fellowship, plenty singing and moving, with uplifting prayer and encouraging speeches from our Host Priest, Father Jeff, and the guest speaker, Roshni, a young female priest, a recent incumbent from a nearby parish. It’s good to see young women going into the service of God. The food was also plentiful and excellent, with the result that after I came home, I had to lie down and rest before I could even consider writing the Bit. 

But I’m up and about now, fresh and rearing to go. (smile) And I want to begin with this beautiful and very appropriate prayer for this lazy-day Saturday, that I found in this month’s In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me. ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

Wow! Isn’t that a beautiful and heartfelt prayer my people! It most certainly is! And I even considered making it our regular Lazy-day Saturday Prayer. (smile) But I haven’t quite made up my mind on that. Will have to check with the Big Boss about it. And the last line of that prayer reminded me of these heartwarming and encouraging words of the song, ‘No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus, sung by Christian songstress, Grace Brumley of the Family Worship Centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

The song emphasizes these wonderful and oh so true sentiments. ‘The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows. The more that I LOVE Him, more LOVE He bestows. Each day is like heaven, my heart overflows. The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.’ Mama Mia! 

Oh my fellow believers if you don’t experience that amazing experience while walking with Jesus, then something’s seriously wrong with your walk. For I can personally testify to those overwhelming sentiments. Each day you get up and decide to continue following Jesus is like a brand-new experience. As I keep reminding us, truly walking with Him is not always easy, but it’s always interesting and adventuresome. And that’s better than easy any day! 

And I believe that’s a good way to judge your maturing or is it maturation (smile) in Christ. If you’re not feeling more joyful and Spirit-filled as your time with Him goes by, then you’re not doing something right, or something’s simply missing from your walk. Because as we grow in Christian maturity, we are supposed to become even more Spirit-filled and obedient to God’s Will and Word, which in turn ought to bring us greater, peace, LOVE and joy. 

And with this Pentecost Sunday upon us, where the Holy Spirit first indwelled believers, we ought to be concerned with walking in the Spirit of God, the third member of our Holy Trinity and constantly being led, guided, refueled and replenished by Him. And I guess tomorrow the fireworks will be happening all over the world as we celebrate that most memorable day in our Christian faith. (smile) 

But please, let’s not get carried away by the drama of the situation, but stay more focused on what the dramatics actually did; that’s bring God’s Spirit, the Comforter and Helper that Jesus promised His disciples after He returned to heaven. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father to give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

Yes friends, the Holy Spirit then surrounded the disciples and the other believers, but eventually it was going to come and dwell within them and give them the great power and authority they needed to carry out His Great Commission. That’s why, before His ascension back to heaven, Jesus told them, not to depart from Jerusalem, ‘but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence….

But ye shall receive power, after (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld (looked on), he was taken up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. ’ (Acts 1:4-5; 8-9) And ten days later on Pentecost Sunday, which we will celebrate tomorrow, that marvellous promise came true! 

Wow! Doesn’t that renew and strengthen your faith in Christ? It most surely should, making you believe more than ever that He is indeed whom He says He is, and will indeed do the things He’s promised to do! Please, let’s take a li’l time today and ponder the state of our faith nuh, and see if we’re growing, stagnating or backsliding, for in the tempting and evil world in which we’re currently living, we need to be continually monitoring our Christian faith! Much LOVE!

…each day we spend with Christ should be like heaven…for the longer we serve Him…the sweeter He grows… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ      

Today’s Scrip-Bit   1 December 2022 John 14:15.

01 Dec 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 14:15.       If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.

And I have to open today’s Bit on December first, 2022, with a chuckle. Why you ask? Because yesterday we were talking about the rain and snow situation in our northern climate, and were somewhat surprised but very appreciative for seeing rain and not snow, but noting that the white stuff will certainly come in due course. Well, some of it did come last evening as the rain ended. Not much, but enough to leave traces of white on the lawns and housetops this Thursday morning as the sun shines brightly in an unclouded sky. 

That’s what amuses me: one day rain and cloudy skies, next day snow and sunny environs. But that’s simply how the cookie crumbles, and you just have to learn to take it as it comes, both the good and the bad. That’s why Job didn’t curse God and carry on nasty when the Lord allowed the devil to bring down his earthly fortunes and destroy his family. And though it’s never easy to accept the bad, especially after a season of good, if we sincerely believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we must also have the faith to understand God’s ways, how He operates in the lives of His people. 

And the first step in doing that is accepting this foundational scripture that Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome. ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that LOVE God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28) Yes friends, our great God has promised that in the end, He will make all things right for those who put their sincere trust in Him. He doesn’t promise that life will be a constant bed of roses or a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, but the ending will surely be worthwhile. 

And to further strengthen our faith we need to remember these magnificent words of Jeremiah on the Lord’s behalf. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope). (Jer. 29:11) Now why would He make such a promise if He didn’t intend to keep it eh? That brings us to another important aspect of our faith; to understand and believe that our God does not lie. 

Listen as the Bible informs us: ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.’ (Num. 23:19-20) Oh my people, after LOVE, faithfulness is perhaps God’s greatest attribute! He WILL NEVER renege on a promise! He does exactly what He says! And we need to understand that in spades, if we intend to loyally follow and fellowship with him. 

And if you’re still uncertain about following God based on His promises, or you think all we’ve said so far is simply Old Testament stuff, then listen to these marvellous New Testament promises from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and let your faith soar!  First off is this promise of the Holy Spirit. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Helper), that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:15-18) 

Wow mih bredrin! What a marvellous promise! Jesus was going back to heaven but promised His disciples and future followers that He would be with them through the indwelling presence of the third person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit, which so excitingly happened at the Pentecost celebration some fifty days after Jesus ascended back to heaven. And you can read all about it Acts chapter 2; as His followers sat together, and a sound from heaven broke into the room, like a rushing mighty wind, and cloven (divided) tongues of fire appeared and sat on each of them, and the Holy Spirit filled them all up, and they began speaking in various languages! 

Mama Mia! That’s how our Christian church was born! What a marvellous and exciting moment that must have been. But my people, it all hangs on our believing in Christ Jesus and on our growing in faith in Him! And that is brought into question right after He promises the coming of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, when He declares: (yesss!!!) ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14:27) 

And all of that follows what He had earlier said to them. ‘Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions (dwellings): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ (John 14:1-3) And that’s why we’re following Hs commandments, growing our faith and ever watching so closely for His return, that we could be with him in heaven or wherever He is forever! 

Now there’s one last promise of Jesus that seals the deal. He says: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) Yes my fellow saints, our Lord and Saviour has overcome the world, defeated Satan and all his iniquity workers, and it’s just a matter of time before they are destroyed forever, while we will enjoy eternal life with the Lord! 

And if all that doesn’t lift your faith, then check out what we call our Thursday Blessings, that’s been bestowed on us to do the work God has enlisted us to do down here. And since they must be declared (awright!!!) out loud for them to be activated, let’s do that right now, as one loud and sincere voice. 

Altogether: ‘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 every day! Amen!’ 

Now let us go out and use those blessings wisely and generously as Jesus desires of us. And I do hope that all we’ve spoken of today will encourage us, and bring a refreshing breath of life to our faith! Much LOVE!

…without an abundance of hope, faith and LOVE…there can be no Christian brotherhood… 

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ         

Today’s Scrip-Bit   12 September 2022 John 3:16.

12 Sep 2022 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 3:16.        For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Another Monday friends, another week of work…but we can handle it with kid gloves because we have the Holy Spirit of Christ dwelling within us, plus we went to church yesterday, fellowshipped with other believers, got encouraged and rebuilt our confidence, so that we can go out into the evil and ungodly world and do the Lord’s work! Glory be! 

No wonder, my fellow believers, the Good Book tells us that in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that LOVED us.’ (Rom. 8:37) That’s our Creator, our heavenly Father, who showed His mighty and amazing LOVE for us through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 

And we can’t doubt that, because it’s written in the truth of the scriptures: ‘But God commendeth (demonstrated) his LOVE toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:8) So I don’t see how we can ever doubt God’s unconditional and deep-seated LOVE for us. 

Would you send your son to die for somebody if you didn’t care for them greatly? Obviously not! Why is it so difficult then to believe that Almighty God LOVES us eh? I don’t know what else He has to do to prove it to us. He’s already given us His Son as a Saviour, His Holy Spirit and His Word as Guide and Guidebook for earthly living, and all we have to do is believe on His Son and follow the guidance of His Spirit and His Word. 

But you know what, I suspect that the fleshly lures of the world, plus our inherent sinful nature keep us in bondage to a life of sin and ungodliness. We enjoy the illicit pleasures of the world too much, so we reject Jesus, believing that if we accept Him as Lord and Saviour, we will have to give up all those wonderful, sinful, fleshly pleasures. And yes, we will have to give up most, if not all of them, depending on what they are, and what kind of hold they have on us. 

But my brethren, our Jesus is so wonderful that He helps us to do whatever we need to do to come to Him. Remember what He said to the disciples when He told them that He had to go back to the Father. ‘I will not leave you comfortless (as orphans): I will come to you.’ (John 14:18) And when He left, he sent the Holy Spirit to indwell all believers on the first Day of Pentecost after His ascension. 

Oh my people, at all times, our Jesus is only a prayer away, so there’s no need to fret or worry. Like Bruh Paul told the church at Philippi: ‘Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests 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) 

Yes friends, our omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present God has made provision for all our needs, regardless of our situation. But it must all begin with simply believing, simple belief in His Son, Jesus Christ, which Jesus spelled out quite clearly in that famous verse of scripture which we all know, but are so hesitant to accept. ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) 

It’s straight to the point friends. And it gets better when you add this other scripture where Jesus says that He is the way, the truth and the light, and the only avenue to the Father. (John 14:6) You can’t ask for any clearer explanation. But as I said earlier on, we just LOVE the sinful, ungodly things of the world, which makes it difficult for us to come to Christ sincerely and totally. But maybe these thought provoking and oh so true words of John from his first epistle might just stir us up enough to truly come to faith. (smile) 

‘LOVE not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man LOVE the world the LOVE of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh (physical desires), and the lust of the eyes (personal desires), and the pride of life (self-interests), is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.’ (1 John 2:15-17) 

Now, if John’s kind and gentle reproach doesn’t work for you, (smile) let’s see if James’ rough and tumble, take no prisoners approach will do the trick. James says without mincing words: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.’ (James 4:4)  

That’s cutting right to the chase, getting right to the heart of the matter my brethren, and if you’re not willing to accept it, then crapaud smoke yuh pipe; you’ll just have to suffer whatever consequences come of your disbelief. But as the Good Book so wisely advises, let’s go to God with prayer and supplication and thanksgiving through our Monday Morning Battle Hymn, pleading for His awesome grace and mercy. 

As one voice: ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, we, Your humble servants, praise Your Holy Name and thank You this Monday morning for life and strong faith in Christ, despite the mass confusion in our world. We desperately need Your divine help, for You are the ONLY ONE with the power to solve our many problems. 

Heavenly Father, we admit that we have all sinned and seriously disobeyed Your Word, but we know that You are a merciful, forgiving and gracious God, who has faithfully promised to hear and answer our prayers when we humble ourselves, pray, and sincerely seek Your face. That’s why we come to You now, with sincere repentance in our hearts, pleading with You to give us wise guidance and direction to alleviate our problems.  

And Father, we pray that you will ease the pain of the many who are suffering from negative situations. Please show them Your awesome grace and mercy, and keep Your promise that You’ll hear our prayer, forgive us, and heal our land if we turn from our evil ways. Show this evil world that You are indeed Jehovah Rapha; the God who heals! We pray this in the holy and blessed name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen! And again, we say: Amen!’ 

And if we truly desire God’s grace and mercy, then we have to believe and apply ourselves accordingly. Much LOVE!

…Satan’s passing earthly pleasures…can never compare to the eternal ones of Jesus… 

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