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Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 November 2021 Job 19:25.

28 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: believest thou this, blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, grants me daily breath, he lives triumphant from the grave, he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth, he that believeth in me, I am the resurrection and the life, I know that my Redeemer lives, I shall conquer death, if the Son sets you free, Jesus lives, looking for that blessed hope, LOVE, my hungry soul to feed, my kind wise heavenly friend, my Prophet Priest and King, new variant of Covid virus, our pain bearer and way maker, redeem us from all iniquity, return unto me for I have redeemed thee, Sabbath Day, Samuel Medley, sufferation, the truth shall set you free, then you are free indeed, though he were dead yet shall he live, to help in time of need, to silence all my fears, to wipe away my tears, what comfort this sweet sentence gives, worship online

Job 19:25. For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon the earth.

It’s a chilly Sunday morning friends, with a touch of snow in my area, the first of the season, but we can’t allow a li’l snow to stop us from gathering to worship our wonderful Lord and Saviour on His Sabbath Day. No, we obviously cannot do that! But for those who are frail and still wary of the Covid, what with another new variant now in circulation, just get out your electronic devices and you can worship online with us.

And as always, we open with a magnificent song of worship. Today’s is aptly titled, ‘I know that My Redeemer Lives. Wow! What a powerful song authored by Samuel Medley (1738-1799), who, while fighting as a member of the Royal Navy, got severely wounded and was forced to retire. He eventually became a pastor of a Baptist church and wrote several hymns, this one possibly being his most famous. So, in soulful harmony, let’s raise our voices in sacrificial praise to heaven, singing these heartfelt words as though we are truly grateful for Jesus.

As one voice: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead; he lives, my ever-living head! He lives triumphant from the grave; he lives eternally to save; he lives all-glorious in the sky; he lives exalted there on high. He lives to bless me with his LOVE; he lives to plead for me above; he lives my hungry soul to feed; he lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply; he lives to guide me with his eye; he lives to comfort me when faint; he lives to hear my soul’s complaint. He lives to silence all my fears; he lives to wipe away my tears; he lives to calm my troubled heart; he lives all blessings to impart. He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend; he lives and LOVES me to the end; he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing; he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath; he lives, and I shall conquer death; he lives my mansion to prepare; he lives to bring me safely there. He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!’

And do we ever know that as an indisputable truth my fellow saints! Jesus is our great Redeemer! Job foreshadowed His majesty and glory before He ever came to earth, with these words of total faith. ‘For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon the earth.’ (Job 19:25) And did our Lord and Saviour ever stand proudly on the earth during His first coming and will even more majestic and powerful when He returns the second time!

He’s done, and is doing all that the songwriter says above there! The first and most important thing is that He Lives. He once was dead, but rose triumphantly from the grave, eternally to save, setting us free from the shackles of sin. He’s our comfort, our intercessor, our pain bearer and way maker. He grants us daily breath and because of Him, we too shall conquer death. Oh friends, those are only a few of the things that Jesus does on our behalf. We could spend the entire day writing about His goodness and mercy and still have some left over. That’s How wonderful our Jesus is!

Now there are some other wonderful scriptures on the subject that I think we should consider. Hear the prophet Isaiah talk to his people about ‘The Lord the Redeemer of Israel.’ ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Sing O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.’ (Is. 44:22-23)

Ah mih people, that’s the way all the earth should behave on account of Christ’s wonderful and selfless redemption! Meanwhile, Titus, in the New Testament, when talking about the Christian life, says it this way. ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (special) people, zealous of good works.’ (Titus 2:13-14)

And we are indeed a people set apart, sanctified through Jesus’ death and resurrection, expected to do good works in His name. But we are not doing the good works that He expects of us, otherwise so many of our fellow humans would not be suffering as they are today. Instead, we are, for whatever reason(s) banding with the evildoers of the world, not raising the name of Jesus sufficiently. Obviously, we are not taking the words of Bruh Paul to the Galatians as seriously as we ought to. ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled with the yoke of bondage.’ (Gal. 5:1)

Yes friends, Christ died to make us free from the law, from the yoke of sin. Why are we succumbing to it again eh? Don’t we remember Jesus’ momentous words on the subject? ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free… If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.’ (John 8:31-32, 36)

And as I keep saying, these tough and dangerous times are when all believers ought to raise up their level of faith and stand strong for Christ, because He is the ONLY One who can help us get through the ‘sufferation’ so many of us are currently experiencing. That’s why He is the Redeemer! And if you don’t want to call on your Redeemer, and place your trust in Him during hard times, then what’s the purpose of having a Redeemer?

Now, let’s end with the words of this momentous conversation between Jesus and Martha, Lazarus’ sister when He finally came, after Lazarus had died. ‘Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth, and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:23-26)

And that’s a very good question for all of us supposed believers to ask ourselves this Sunday morning, in these dark and mightily troubled times. Much LOVE!

…a Redeemer…is only as good as…the help we seek from Him… otherwise…His redemption is wasted…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 December 2020 Matthew 12:37.

31 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: blessed with success, by thy words thou shalt be condemned, by thy words thou shalt be justified, calamitous world, compassionate heart, conspiracy theories, Covid-19 pandemic, curse, disastrous year of 2020, dissemblers of truth, every idle word that men speak, faith, favour, follow Christ more eagerly and faithfully, God's Word, greed, in the day of judgement, irresponsible people, like a faithful fountain, low esteem, misinformation, more contagious, negative word, new variant of Covid virus, New Year's Eve, O generation of vipers, obedience should bubble forth from them, one resolution for 2020, out of the abundance of the heart, power hunger, prosper, scandalous happenings, self-discipline, succeed, the body of Christ, the Book of Truth, the church, the current apostasy, the God of many chances, the Holy Bible, the Lord spoke the world into existence, the mouth speaketh, the one real truth, the shepherds leading the flock astray, the tree is known by its fruit, they shall give account for, Thursday Blessings, true love in our hearts for Jesus, turning away from God, we can't serve God and mammon, wipe our slate clean, words have power

Matthew 12:37. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Well finally, the last day of this disastrous and complicated year of 2020! And will there be any big New Year’s Eve parties? Of course! Not on the scale we are accustomed to seeing, but for sure there are enough irresponsible people out there, irresponsible enough to hold big, everybody’s welcome gatherings. No wonder the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading despite the arrival of some vaccines. And what do you think that irresponsibility will do for the new year of 2021 eh?

Will that improve our situation? Not on your life, for regardless of how many vaccines we have, if our behaviour doesn’t improve, we’ll be bombarded by more difficulties, especially with the new variant of the virus that appears to be more contagious than it’s early relative.

That means unless and until we wake up and get some real sense in our heads and forget all the nonsense, all the conspiracy theories and misinformation and lies and deceits that are floating around and turn to the ONE real truth in this fallen world, God’s Word, the Holy Bible, we will be forever be plagued with some kind of demonic illness or the other!

Now listen to these words of the man who wrote the Book of Truth nuh, Jesus Christ. ‘Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt (bad), and his fruit corrupt (bad): for the tree is known by his fruit.’ (Matt. 12:33) Oh my people, that pertains directly to us believers in this current calamitous world!

Are we being known by our fruit? Certainly! But the problem is what kind of fruit are we being known by eh, good or bad? And sadly, it’s for too much bad fruit, because followers of Christ are some of the biggest hypocrites and dissemblers in today’s world. Christians don’t behave like true Christians, but are more immersed in the things of the world that the things of God. and that’s why the church, the body of Christ, and Christ Himself is held in such low esteem in our current society.

We are not worthwhile ambassadors of our Lord and Saviour! That’s the simple truth friends. And if you want to dispute it, then go right ahead and fool yourselves, but the world knows us for what we really are…dissemblers of the truth, with too many of us sitting on the fence trying to be in both worlds at the same time, but remember Jesus said that we can’t serve God and mammon, or the wealth, the evil riches of this world at the same time. (Matt. 6:24) And furthermore, too many of us are being a part of the current apostasy, turning away from God, just like Bruh Paul warned Timothy of so long ago. (2 Tim. 3)

But hear these telling words of Jesus, not only to the Pharisees and the people of His generation, but even more so to us, in these final days of the church age. ‘O generation (brood or offspring) of vipers, how can ye being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ (Matt. 12:34) And isn’t that the living truth friends, whatever comes out of our mouths, is usually what’s in our hearts? But being the hypocrites that we are, we try to cover it up with falsehood and lies and innuendo, and half-truths.

But hear Jesus continue His monologue on the subject. ‘A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.’ (Matt. 12:35-37) Yes, my generation of vipers, we shall give account for all the idle, untruthful and ungodly words we’ve spoken.

Please remember that the Lord SPOKE the world into existence, so His words have power, and if we are His representatives, his ambassadors, that means our words also have power, but are we using those words of power in the right way, for good, and not for evil? That’s the trillion dollar question! And I’d venture to wager that too many of us supposed believers are not doing so.

Oh mih people, precious people of Christ, why is it so difficult for us to do right and good eh? Just take a good look at the church nuh, Christ’s body, His earthly bride. Its upper echelons are filled with more evil, greed, power hunger and scandalous happenings than even some principalities of earthly power. Every day you hear about some ungodly doings of Christ’s supposedly good and godly shepherds. And yuh know, it’s not the flock that’s crazy or evil, but it’s the shepherds that are leading them astray.

Now is that a bride Christ will be eager and anxious to come for? I doubt it. Sometimes I wonder if that’s why His Second Coming is taking so long. But anyway, for this coming year of 2021, let’s try and do better nuh. Yuh know we made one resolution for this year of 2020, that was to follow Christ more eagerly and faithfully and I don’t know whether we have actually followed it. Deep down though, I feel that we have not, for when the pandemic hit us, instead of being strong and faithful, too many of us simply fell apart.

But we have 2021 coming up, that means another chance to wipe our slate clean and begin again. Yes, our God is the God of many chances! Praise His holy name! And He’s still in the magnanimous blessing business, meaning we still have all those tools that He’s given us to work with. So let’s go home declaring (ah Lord eh!) those wonderful Thursday Blessings nuh, promising ourselves and Him, that with His awesome help, we will put them to better use this upcoming new year of 2021.

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

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

And it’s now our bounden duty to go out and share those blessings as generously and magnanimously with others, as the Lord has generously and magnanimously shared them with us. Much LOVE!

…if there’s true LOVE in our hearts for Jesus…then…like a faithful fountain…obedience should just be bubbling forth from them…

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 December 2020 Revelation 4:8b.

27 Dec 2020 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: a sea of glass, all thy works shall praise thee, cast their crowns before the throne, casting down their golden crowns, cherubim and seraphim, early in the morning, fellow saints of Christ, God in three persons, holy holy holy, in love and purity, in the year that king Uzziah died, Isaiah's vision, lord god almighty, new variant of Covid virus, oldie but goldie, our song shall rise to thee, perfect in power, physical gathering, Praise ye the Lord, Reginald heber, sing Hallelujah, the eye of sinful man, the greatest hymn, the Lord God of Abraham Isaac and jacob, the Three in One, the Trinity, though the darkness hide thee, which was and is and is to come

Revelation 4:8b. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Yuh know people, if we think things were bad before with the physical gathering in church, well they even worse now with the tighter lockdown in our province. Brother! When it going to end eh? But if people refuse to obey the few rules we have to keep the pandemic under control, then what yuh expect eh? And with some new variant now on the scene too, it’s only going to make life more difficult, even with a vaccine or two being slowly administered.

But right now all of that is immaterial, we only concerned with getting together by whatever technological means possible and offering some praise and worship to Almighty God on this His special day. So let’s get going with this oldie but goldie nuh, that reputedly, in a poll in the U.S and Canada was chosen as the greatest hymn. Oh my, my!

And you must be wondering what hymn that could be eh? (smile) Well it’s one written by an Anglican Bishop Reginald Heber (1782 -1826) a long time ago, but still persists as a favourite of all believers. It’s the immortally titled ‘Holy, Holy, Holy.’ The hymn that pays tribute to our marvelous and wonderful Godhead our Three in One Trinity. Therefore, in loud but sweet, harmonious and soulful tones, let’s raise our voices heavenwards, in sincere praise to our great God.

‘Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity! Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be. Holy, Holy, Holy! though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man, Thy glory may not see:

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee, Perfect in power in love, and purity. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, Holy, Holy! merciful and mighty, God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity! Holy, Holy, Holy! merciful and mighty, God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!’

Amen mih people, Amen! And the wonderful thing about that hymn is that all the numerous sentiments contained therein are true! Our God is merciful and mighty! And it is indeed a Godhead made up of a Trinity of three persons; Father, Son and Holy Sprit! And yuh better believe all the saints adore our wonderful Godhead – although sometimes you wouldn’t think so, judging from our behaviour. (smile) And that part about the saints casting down their golden crowns and Cherubim and seraphim falling down before our God, well all of that is also true.

Listen to the Good Book tell it nuh. ‘And round about the throne were four and twenty seats (thrones): and upon the seats (thrones) I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment (robes); and they had on their heads crowns of gold…And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts (living creatures) full of eyes before (in front) and behind…And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts (living creatures) give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created (by your will they exist).’ (Rev. 4:4, 6,8-11)

Yes mih bredrin, ole Reggie didn’t lie at all when he put this marvellous hymn together so long ago. And yuh better believe that the parts about the eyes of sinful man can’t see His glory, and there’s NONE beside Him; that only He is holy, perfect in power, LOVE and purity…all of that’s also gospel truth! Consequently, it’s a no-brainer that our voices should rise early every morning to Him in praise and thanksgiving, and all the things He’s made ought to also worship and adore Him. That’s why so many of the psalms are filled with praises to Almighty God – Ps. 63:1; Ps. 59:16; Ps. 108:3; are only a few of them.

And we going to quote these magnificent words form Psalm 148 – All creation to praise the Lord. ‘Praise ye the Lord (sing Hallelujah): Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished (established) them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.’ (Ps. 148: 1-6)

Yes friends, everything that God made and set in His wonderful universe ought to praise Him! And we going to finish this li’l introspection of our hymn (smile) with another mighty piece of scripture which I’m sure Reggie also took into consideration when he wrote it. It concerns Isaiah’s vision and commission.

Isaiah says it thus: ‘In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train (the train of his robe) filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain (two) he covered his face, and with twain (two) he covered his feet, and with twain (two) he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.’ (Is. 6:1-4)

And yuh better believe that yes, ye fellow saints of Christ, else crapaud smoke yuh pipe! (smile) Seriously though, there’s no doubt whatsoever that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob indeed deserves our praise, thanksgiving and adoration! We all know and privately admit it. So let’s start doing that on a much wider scale nuh. It is our bounden duty as wonderful creatures of His awesome and amazing creation! Much LOVE!

…worshipping the Creator of the universe…should come automatically to His creations…

SCRIP-BITS

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 November 2021 Job 19:25.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 31 December 2020 Matthew 12:37.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 December 2020 Revelation 4:8b.

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