The Overwhelming Importance of Believing that God is the Creator and Controller of this Universe!

Isaiah 40:25.           To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One.

Aye friends, as the song says: ‘Monday, Monday, Monday…Monday morning!’ And you better believe it’s another new work week, another of the numerous Mondays in our lives, where we get out into the crazy, misdirected world to earn a living. Let’s hope today is not as hot and humid as the last two days, especially when the living is already not easy. We don’t need the weather to make it any more difficult. (smile)

However, with the help of Jesus and His Holy Spirit dwelling within us we can make it successful, if we sincerely stand by their teaching and guidance. If we surrender, trust and obey God’s directives, then He’s promised to forgive our sins, heal our diseases, redeem us from destruction, shower us with blessings, with mercy and grace, and satisfy our mouths with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Ps. 103:3-5)

And who would not want those wonderful things eh? It seems like many of us don’t, because many of us don’t adhere to God’s commandments and His will for our lives. Why is that eh? Is it because we believe that we know more than God, and we don’t need Him to help run our lives? Granted, He gave us a modicum of free will, hoping that we would use it to choose His way and standard of living.

But apparently He was ever so wrong, since so many of us prefer to go our own way, and associate with Satan and his evil doing cohorts, than with Jesus and His goody, goody two shoes people. And when Jesus comes back and separates the sheep from the goats, (Matt. 25:31-46) and many of us end up on His left hand with the goats, we’ll wonder why, but it’ll be all because we did not value His importance enough to listen to Him and follow His directives.

Instead, to our great detriment, we followed idols and other man-made doctrines that have no power whatsoever. But there’s none that can compare to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who created the world and still rules over it, although with all of the current confusion, strife and hardship that’s currently manifesting itself, some of us might not think so. Ah my people, it’s time we paid serious attention to this passage from the Book of Isaiah, where he expounds on the Greatness of God’s Might.

‘To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? Saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth (is missing). Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement (just claim) is passed over from my God?

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God , the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is. 40:25-31)

Yes friends, that’s what the Lord does for those who wait on Him! Can Satan or any of his evil cronies do that kind of thing for you? The obvious answer is a loud and resounding ‘NO!’ For they are created beings of God, just like us. So it’s utterly foolish to trust them and their evil and wicked schemes over the righteousness of God. And though life might be somewhat rough in this ungodly world when living for Jesus, we have these marvellous and encouraging words of Bruh Paul to the church at Corinth to bear us up.

‘We are troubled (hard pressed) on every side, yet not distressed (crushed); we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast (struck) down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.’ (2 Cor. 4:8-11)

Yes my fellow believers, though we suffer and are persecuted for Christ, even killed for His sake, we can stand on His faithful promise that if we die with Him, we will also live with Him. So  let’s not give up on our faith when there seems to be no way out, for the Lord has promised that He will always make a way where there seems to be no way. (1 Cor. 10:13) And now having those words of encouragement lodged securely in our hearts, souls, bodies and minds, let’s go to the throne of grace, seeking divine aid to help us turn our world around.

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!’ 

Ah mih bredrin, our own prayer shows what we have to do to receive divine aid: humble ourselves, pray, turn from our evil ways, and sincerely seek God’s face. So, let’s get on with that nuh, if we truly desire heaven’s help! Much LOVE!

…why would created beings listen to other created beings…instead of their Creator eh…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit   3 February 2024 Isaiah 40:25.

Isaiah 40:25.       To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.

Oh boy, when I opened my bedroom blinds on this first lazy-day Saturday morning in February, was I ever glad to see bright sunshine! But the best part is when I came down to the living area and opened the shutters at the eastern side of the house, I couldn’t see outside because I was blinded by the bright sunshine. The sun was shining directly in my eyes, blocking my vision of the area out there. And although it seemed somewhat chilly, I couldn’t help but say, ‘Thank You Lord!’ Yes, I was oh so thankful to see another day, especially one filled with glorious sunshine, to drive away the steady diet of damp and cloudy days we’ve recently been having and brighten up our winter doldrums and melancholies. 

Now, let’s truly open up our hearts and souls to the Lord, as we offer up our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. As one sincere 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 you were sincere, then I’m sure that your spirit was lightened and lifted through God’s overwhelming, all-consuming presence. That’s the beauty of prayer; the Lord reasserts Himself in our souls and eases the pain, or whatever negative circumstance we’re going through. And NO other supposed deity can do that, because they are all false, inanimate, dead gods. The ONLY true and living God is the One of Abraham Isaac and Jacob! That’s why the psalmist could proclaim in Psalm 146:

 ‘Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgement (justice) for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth (gives freedom to) the prisoners: The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed: The Lord LOVETH the righteous: The Lord preserveth (watches over) the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down (makes crooked). The Lord shall reign for ever. Even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord.’ (Ps. 146:5-10) 

Yes friends, for all that the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is in Himself, and what He does for those who worship Him in sincerity and truth, it is indeed imperative that we praise his holy name. As the last verse of Psalm 145 declares (yesss!!!) ‘My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.’ (Ps. 145:21) Therefore, let’s  shout ‘Praise ye the Lord! Hallelujah! How great is our God! The One who created the universe and all therein! There’s NONE other like Him!’ And that’s the glorious truth my fellow believers, there’s no other god like our God! 

And if you don’t believe me, then listen to the prophet Isaiah tell it like it is, as he speaks of the Majesty and Power of God. ‘Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out (measured) with the span (a span of His hand), and comprehended (calculated) the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgement (justice), and taught him knowledge, and shewed him the way of understanding? 

Behold, the nations are as a drop of (in) a bucket, and are counted as the small (fine) dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up (lifteth) the isles as a very little thing. and Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing: and they counted to him less than nothing, and vanity (worthless).’ (Is. 40:12-17) Oh my people, that certainly tells us of God’s might and majesty, and how small, puny and insufficient we really are when compared to Him. 

That’s why Isiah could continue: ‘To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth (moulds) a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and (the silversmith) casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation (no such offering) chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning (skillful) workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved (totter). Have ye not known? have ye not heard? Hath it not been told unto you from the beginning ? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? 

It is he that sitteth upon (above) the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth (reduces) the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity (useless). Yea, they shall not (scarcely) be planted; yea, they shall not (scarcely) be sown: yea, their stock shall not (scarcely) take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.’ (Is. 40:18-24) 

Yes mih bredrin, manmade idols are certainly no comparison to our great God! Note His omnipotence, His omniscience and His omnipresence! Consequently the Lord asks, through Isaiah: ‘To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might. For that he is strong in power, not one faileth (is missing). Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgement (justice) is passed over from my God? 

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (grow weak).’ (Is. 40:25-31) 

Now tell me, can any other supposed god do those things? Absolutely not! The Holy One of Israel has no equal, and only He has such omnipotence; that’s power to create, to take away and to regenerate! Oh my fellow believers, it’s time for us to wake up from the slumber induced in us by the evil and ungodly world and recognize that Almighty God rules, and that time is fast slipping away from us and we desperately need to appreciate His sovereignty, constantly praise Him and sincerely do His work, if we expect to live with Him for eternity! Much LOVE!

…the Lord God Jehovah created the universe…and He still sits upon His throne and rules it as He sees fit…remember that…

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