Today’s Scrip-Bit 17 December 2012 Psalm 11:5

17 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 11:5.     The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

‘Oh be still my racing, astonished heart!’ I commanded that powerful organ. Then I asked in excited wonder: ‘Can it really be true Lord?’ And with an amused smile, the Lord answered. ‘Yes my son, it’s really true. In my universe, wonders never cease, but daily they increase.’  I just chuckled and shook my head in wonder. And I know you all so ‘farse’ and inquisitive that you’re racking your minds, trying to figure out what I’m talking about. (smile) Well prepare yourselves for an astonishing act, cause just as I had trouble fathoming it, so will you. And some of God’s impatient people ‘steupsed’ and complained: ‘Stop with the Hitchcock drama and tell us what yuh talking about nuh!’ Okay. I just hope you all are ready for this. I just saw a group of believers down the street, dancing, clapping and singing; ‘TGIM! TGIM! Thank God it’s Monday!’ Yes Friends, as they say, what ain’t meet you, ain’t pass you. But miracles are still happening in this wicked world. Believe it my brethren. If the Lord brings you to it, then He will bring you through it. So let’s give vent to our feelings of great joy, that it’s Christmas time, and that believers are actually happy that it’s Monday, even thanking God for it. Let’s raise our voices heavenward in loud harmony and make the heavenly hosts sit up and take notice as we trill our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. All together now: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ Yes mih people! All heaven was proud of us, especially Jesus. So let’s go out into the evil, ungodly world now and use that same bold, brave attitude to fight with a true sense of purpose, thereby making Jesus even prouder. Now turning to our Bit: ‘The Lord trieth (tests) the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.’ And both parts of that statement are living truth my people. Our God desperately dislikes wicked and violent people, but though He LOVES the righteous, He tries, tests them to see what their true character is like. And yesterday we saw how He tested Abraham, asking for the sacrifice of his most prized possession, his son Isaac. But Abraham in strong faith, passed that test with flying colours, and was subsequently made the father of many nations, as God had promised. Yes fellow believers, wondrous things like that happen when we listen to God’s directives and faithfully obey them. And I seriously doubt that the Lord will give us any tests of the magnitude of Abraham’s, so technically we should all be able to obey and pass our tests of faith and trust also with flying colours. Now here are some scriptures that deal with testing. I think we ought to be aware of them, as they will most likely come in handy when we are tried. They both come from James. In the first, talking about faith and humility, he says: ‘Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that LOVE him.’ (James 1:12) And there’s no disputing that statement Friends, as we have so many examples, from Noah to Jesus, who obeyed and received the crown of life. And later on, in dealing with patience in affliction, James wisely advises: ‘Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy (blessed) which endure. Ye have heard of the patience (perseverance) of Job, and have seen the end of (intended by) the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful (compassionate), and of tender mercy.’ (James 5:10-11) Ah Friends, unfortunately, to achieve anything worthwhile in this life, we must stand strong in the three ps’; practice, patience and perseverance. That goes for maturing in God’s Word too. So please, let’s not faint or get weary when we’re tried and tested. Let’s remember that our God is true and faithful, and will never give us more than we can bear or handle. We just need to do our part, obey, and He will do His. That’s what covenants, contracts are all about. Much LOVE!…the purpose of God’s tests…that he might humble thee…and that he might prove thee…to do the good at thy latter end… (Deut.8:16)
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 December 2012 Romans 12:21

11 Dec 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Romans 12:21:     Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
 
Ah mih people, welcome to another glorious day on God’s fabulous earth! And all true believers responded with a heartfelt, ‘Praise the Lord!’ Yes Friends, that’s what our Leader and Saviour wants us to do, under any and all circumstances. Regardless of how rough life might be, we are called upon to always give thanks and praise to the Father. As Bruh Paul says so poignantly in the verses before our Bit: ‘Recompense (repay) to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest (have regard for good things) in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in (depends on) you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.’ (Rom.12:17-20) Those are definitely tough rules to live by my people! But before going any further, let’s hear from the scholars; ‘Give place unto wrath: Paul quotes Deuteronomy 32:35 to show that only God has the right to avenge, and He certainly will avenge. Heap coals of fire on his head (cf. Prov.25:22): This may refer to a sense of shame or remorse engendered when we treat an evildoer kindly. Paul is discussing personal, not national enemies. He is not teaching pacifism.’ No Friends, Bruh Paul is certainly not teaching pacifism, which makes these rules even tougher to live by, because we then have to find a fine and healthy balance between completely giving in (pacifism), and taking matters into our own hands (vengeance). But to be true to our Christian faith, we must endeavour to live that way. And how do we do it? By focusing on our Bit: ‘Be not overcome of (by) evil, but overcome evil with good.’ By having that advice as our constant mantra, by writing it indelibly in our hearts and minds, we’ll be reminded that whenever evil shows its ugly face, we have to show a good one in response. Oh fellow believers, that’s not an easy task, especially in these cruel, greedy and evil times. But with all that Jesus asks us to do, so many of which are contrary to the mores of the world, He’s also given us all the tools necessary to accomplish them. Yes, in His LOVING-kindness, mercy and grace, He’s provided His Holy Spirit to guide and protect us, to help us live the kind of life He desires us to live. And with that wonderful Spirit indwelling us, plus things like our prayers, faith, patience, perseverance and fortitude, we can accomplish His will, overcoming the foolishness and folly of Lucifer’s wicked world. It’s up to us now Friends, to use those tools wisely, to be strong and sensible, using them to propagate good and not evil. Now the word I want to focus on today is ‘overcome.’ It’s one that conjures up thoughts of difficulties and hard times, but in the end winning the battle. Let’s listen to some scripture that encourages us to overcome, starting with John’s first epistle. ‘For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome). For whatsoever (every believer who) is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?’ (1 John 5:3-5) The scholars explain that last verse thus: ‘There is conquering power through this confession because God is sovereign over the world, and only through the Son does man have access to and find favour with God.’ And all God’s people joyfully declared: ‘Thank You Jesus!’ Yes my brethren, we do indeed have a lot to be thankful for to Jesus; His selfless sacrifice on the cross to pay for our sins, and then His advocacy in heaven on our behalf. We can never repay those things. But the good part is that Jesus doesn’t want repayment, He just wants us to live a certain way, to overcome the evil of this world. Now let’s hear what He has to say about overcoming. Remember yesterday we saw where He spoke about Him already overcoming the world. (John 16:33) Today we’ll listen to Him from the Revelations of John. In His message to the church at Ephesus, He warns. ‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.’ (Rev.2:7) The scholars say: ‘The promise to him that overcometh probably applies to all Christians with genuine faith (cf. 1 John 5:4-5) (above) and will be fulfilled as believers enjoy the blessings of New Jerusalem (22:2,14), the paradise of God.’ And in the message to the church at Pergamos, Jesus declares: ‘But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of the potter shall they be broken to shivers (pieces): even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.’ (Rev.2:25-28) Oh Friends, according to the scholars; ‘The obedient believer will be given a reward of power or authority in the millennial kingdom as he reigns with Christ (12:5; 19:15; 20:4). The morning star is probably a reference to the eternal presence of Christ Himself.’ In Rev.22:16, Jesus does refer to Himself as ‘the bright and morning star.’ And we’ll end with some uplifting words from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians. ‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Cor.15:57) Oh my people, it’s all over but the shouting! So let’s get on our horses and ride nuh; ride to victory with Christ! Much LOVE!…he that hath an ear…let him hear…what the Spirit saith unto the churches…(Rev.2:29)…wise words indeed… 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 November 2012 2 Corinthians 5:7

29 Nov 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Corinthians 5:7.     For we walk by faith, not by sight:

Oh Friends, I saw a most beautiful sight when I came out on the porch about 5.30 this morning! Looking out to the western sky, towards Store Bay, hanging a little above the trees, was a big, bright, beautiful full moon. I had to stand there and stare at it for a few moments, in awe of our God’s marvellous creation. Oh my people, I don’t care what anybody says nuh, but there are too many mysterious and highly engineered things in our world for them all to be products of mere evolution. Some magnificent Being of outstanding wisdom must have designed and created them. The forces of nature work, and have worked over endless time, too perfectly and precisely, like clockwork, for there not to be some awesome hand involved in their creation and constant operation. And that magnificent Being who created the universe and all therein, all those wonderful and mysterious things we’re talking about, is none other than the MOST HIGH GOD JEHOVAH; the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! A God to whom we ought to bow down to and worship with much respect,  reverence and awe, because He not only deserves but also expects and desires it from His greatest creation; the human being. And to show how our God moves mysteriously and wonderfully, a green parrot just showed up on my porch saying ‘hello, hello!’ in a raspy voice. He escaped from the neighbouring compound and refused to be easily caught. So how can we not believe that there’s a Being higher and mightier than us eh? It’s all these little wonders that add up and give us the true perspective of the God of infinite wisdom, LOVE, mercy and forgiveness who rules our individual lives, as well as the natural habitat that surrounds us. Oh Friends, have you ever sat down and truly considered how intricately and precisely made you are? If not, please do that today. Check out how all the different parts of our body, both external and internal, of different sizes, shapes and functions, work in perfect precision and sync. Now that kind of perfect engineering couldn’t have just happened by chance. It must have been well thought out and then put into action by some rather ingenious Being, who just for that ingenuity, is worthy of being served and worshipped. But my brethren, the Lord God Jehovah has done, is doing, and will do above and beyond just creating us. He’s also involved in guiding, LOVING, forgiving and being merciful to all who call upon Him in true faith, and believe that He is who He says He is; the great I AM, the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, existing from the beginning of time till eternity. Now that’s the quandary too many of us find ourselves mired in. We must see, feel and touch before we are able to believe. That’s why Bruh Paul declares to the Corinthians in our Bit: ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight:’ Our great God desires us to walk in supreme trust and confidence in Him, that’s why He’s imbued us with the characteristics that we possess. And He’s also shown, right down through the ages, that He is absolutely faithful and trustworthy to those who adore Him and are faithful to His way of life. He even sent His One and Only Son Jesus to die for us, so that in our horribly sinful state we could be reconciled to Him, by simply believing that Jesus was His Son and the only way to come to Him. Only a truly caring, exceedingly magnanimous Being would do something so wonderful for undeserving creatures. Now hear these words of absolute truth from Bruh Paul to the church at Rome: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) wait (eagerly) for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) Yes mih people, Hope stems from being able to comprehend stuff that we’re unable to see, stuff that’s in the future, so to speak. It’s just not logical to hope for something you can see or touch, since hope is the creation of a desire, a longing for something that’s presently outside of our reach, our scope, our physical grasp. But spiritually, we see it through our eyes of faith, and eagerly wait for it to come to pass, with patience and perseverance. And that’s well put by Bruh Paul in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, that famous treatise on Faith. He opens the chapter thus: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) Words of consummate truth Friends! For as we’ve already said, logically speaking, it’s impossible to hope for what you already see or possess. And here’s some enlightenment on that verse from the scholars. ‘Verse 1 is not so much a definition of what faith is, as it is a description of what faith does (cf. 11:6). Two truths concerning its activity are stated here. First, faith provides substance (Gr. hypostasis). Though broad in its usage, this Greek word normally has the meaning of “assurance” in the New Testament (cf. 3:14; 2 Cor.9:4;11:17) and this seems to be the best sense here. Second, faith provides evidence (Gr. elegchos). It is evidence in the sense of proof that results in conviction. The difference between assurance and evidence would be minimal were it not for the phrase qualifying each: of things hoped for and of things not seen. The first involves future hope; the second involves present realities that are unseen. The first includes the hope of the resurrection, the return of Christ, and the glorification of the saints. The second involves unseen realities, such as the forgiveness of sin through Christ’s sacrifice and the present intercession of Christ in heaven. Hope is faith relating to the future; conviction is faith relating to the present.’ By the way, the devil and his wife are fighting for the fish bone or ham bone, or something so. That’s what the ole people would say when the rain starts falling in a cloudless blue, sunny sky, as it just began doing. (smile) Anyway Friends, I know that the scholars’ explanation above is a bit heavy, but please  take your time, study and understand it, for that’s the only way to grow in the Word of our God. And we’ll end with some more memorable, encouraging and enlightening words from Bruh Paul on the subject. ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb.11:6) Yes Friends, today, let’s ponder the levels of our hope and faith in Christ Jesus, and do our best to raise them nuh, so that we can walk even stronger and more faithfully in His Name. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Much LOVE!…the believers quest for faith…to hope…to hope…and yet to hope…with eager anticipation…and patience… Visit the Scrip-Bit Blog at https://randyobrien50.wordpress.com.

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 August 2012 Proverbs 13:12

02 Aug 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Proverbs 13:12.           Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
 
Oh Friends, the ole fella must be really getting old yes! Why am I saying that? Because this is Caribana week, sorry, it’s now officially called the Scotia Bank Caribbean Carnival, or something to that effect. There have been some lawsuits regarding the ownership of the name ‘Caribana,’ and whoever is running it now apparently can’t legally use that name. But Friends, from now until forever, it will always ring on in the minds of the local populace and visitors as Caribana. Anyway, as I was saying, Caribana week is in full swing and I’m not enthused or excited about any of the events. Even my beloved Pan Competition doesn’t awaken the usual enthusiasm. I suppose because I can’t jump and prance like I used to, due to my bad knees, I’ve just lost the excitement of the season. But don’t write me off just yet, for ole Lucifer has been whispering in my mind: ‘Go to the Caribana Parade. You can do it.’ And if I truly felt that excitement, I believe I could do it. However, it’s not only the state of my knees that have me unenthusiastic, but also the fact that these days when I go to the parade, I don’t see any of the people I use to party with over all those earlier years, Plus the young people’s attitude sucks, to put it mildly. They don’t know how to party in the streets, don’t know how to jump up without causing confusion. Unfortunately they only know about rushing and pushing, blatantly ignoring the space and rights of the other revellers. That’s why I understand they now have six foot barriers to prevent people from getting into the bands. Those barricades might just turn me off too, because as far as I’m concerned Caribana is a participatory event, not something to just stand on the sidelines and watch. Who knows though what will happen come the weekend? Only the Good Lord in His high heaven, and He’s not telling. But don’t be too surprised if you see the ole fella sashaying down the boulevard as best he can, for with our God, ANYTHING is possible. (smile)So saying, I guess I can slip in a quote from Gramps Schuller (Robert H) of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California. He says: ‘Blessed are those whose dreams are shaped by their hopes, not by their hurts.’ And that’s so very true Friends! When we concentrate on our hopes and dreams, rather than our hurts and disappointments, we always come out better off. That’s because hope entails positivity, reaching outwards and upwards to heaven and God, while hurts cater to negativity, looking down to Lucifer and Hades. And that’s why our Bit so rightly declares: ‘Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.’ Yes my people, if we don’t have hope then we’re lost; we become depressed, anxious and easily traumatized. But when hope invades our souls, then we’re revitalized, enthused, become excited about Life and LOVE again. As Cousin Sol says later in the same chapter: ‘The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abominable to fools to depart from evil.’ (Prov.13:19) And the extraordinary good thing about hope is that when it revitalizes us, it grows like a well watered tree. Everything around us takes on a completely different look; a more positive and amenable feeling comes over us. I know we’re not supposed to live by our feelings, like a yo-yo, but feelings are a part of our God-given nature, and at times the negative ones will lead us, but hopefully not for very long. And remember Friends, that hope is the basis of all Christian endeavour, as Bruh Paul declares to the Roman Church: ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for it? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) (eagerly) wait for it.’ (Rom.8:24-25) That my Friends is the irreversible, unalterable truth! If we see it, why hope for it eh? But when we don’t, then we eagerly hope for it and persevere until it becomes a reality. And this scripture verifies all that: ‘Now faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen.’ (Heb.11:1) That means brethren, before we can have faith, we must first have hope. It’s the seed of hope, planted in the deep, dark recesses of the rich soil of our souls, that germinates when watered by the Word of God and bursts out into the bright light of Jesus as faith. It’s like the little acorn that through God’s marvellous engineering eventually grows into a mighty, towering oak tree. Oh my people, we Christians are the only ones who have the hope of salvation and eternal life built into our belief system. But unfortunately, too many of us allow the negative appraisals and feelings of the world to lead us, so much so that we’re in danger of losing our hope. Friends, that’s something we definitely cannot allow to happen, because if we lose our hope in God, then we’ll be totally lost, shipwrecked, done like dinner! We might as well be dead. So in these troubled and fearful times, one thing we have to dearly hold on to is our hope; our hope in Jehovah God, who’s created us, who LOVES us unconditionally, and has promised never to leave or forsake us. As Bruh David so rightly declares in his prayer for self-understanding: ‘And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.’ (Ps.39:7) Please remember that my brethren! And furthermore, let’s write it indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls, so that we won’t lose our hope. Much LOVE!…once there is the breath of life in our mortal bodies…then there’s always the seed of hope present in our spirits…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 20 May 2012 Matthew 7:7

20 May 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Matthew 7:7.    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Oh Friends, there’s some good news to share this beautiful Sunday morning! The ole fella’s getting better! All thanks and praise to our heavenly Father!  Yeh, I’m not feeling as weak, unenergetic and wishy-washy as I was a couple days ago. I guess that’s because I’m finally getting some more sleep and getting back into the riddim of my normal routine. The ole ying and yang seem to be finally getting in sync again. And I just want to glorify our great God for enabling me to do it, because I certainly couldn’t do it on my own. For remember, without Jesus we can do nothing. (John 15:5) And that’s why He spoke the critical words of advice and wisdom contained in our Bit: ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Those are action words my people, and Jesus desires His followers to be persons of action, like He was during His earthly sojourn, and like He still is, pleading and advocating for us with the Father. Consequently, we should be talking less and putting more of our energy and efforts into actually doing. Now let’s look at some scriptures that corroborate our Bit, obviously beginning with Jesus, where all things begin. (smile) The Good Book says: ‘And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart).’ (Luke 18:1) The parable was about the woman denied justice who kept bugging the judge until he heard her plea, though for the wrong reason. (Luke 18:2-8) Like that persevering woman, followers of Jesus ought to keep on fighting for their rights, for truth and justice! And we can only do those things by taking positive actions, like asking, seeking and knocking on closed doors, since stuff won’t just fall into our laps because we wish it to. Remember it takes plenty backbone and belly, born of a strong, persevering, fortitudinous faith in Jesus, to successfully navigate this evil, ungodly world. Now listen to these famous words of James on our topic: ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach); and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting). For he that wavereth (doubts) is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ (James 1:5-8) There’s abundant truth in those words my brethren! If we want wisdom, or anything from our God, who’s ever so generous with His gifts, we have to ask for it. But we have to ask with faith, being decisive, not double-minded, for such a one is unstable and untrustworthy. Meanwhile, the beloved disciple, John, in his first epistle, puts it this way: ‘Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and LOVE one another, as he gave us commandment.’ (1 John 3:21-23) Therefore Friends, if we live right with God, He will give us whatever we ask, though with the ever so important proviso; provided it coincides with His will. And before we conclude, let’s hear from the scholars: ‘Both Jesus (Luke 18:1) and Paul (1 Tim.2:1) emphasized the importance of prayer, noting that people ought always to pray. Prayer includes asking and getting answers from God. But it is more than just asking; it is confession, adoration, thanksgiving, and fellowship with God. By its nature, prayer is talking with God. It is the basis of the successful Christian life, and is so important that not praying is considered a sin (1 Sam.12:23). When we pray, we should follow the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples and address it our heavenly Father- beginning with adoration, including thanksgiving and confession of sins, making reconciliation with others, praying for our needs and the needs of others, and concluding in Jesus’ name  (Matt.6:9-15; John 14:14).’ Those are indeed wise and truthful words my Friends, which we should most definitely heed! Now let’s end with the heartfelt, authoritative words of Jesus, as we like to do whenever possible: ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto (for) you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath LOVED me, so have I LOVED you: continue ye (abide) in my LOVE!’ (John 15:7-9) There you have it Friends, in black and white, from our Lord and Saviour. So, if we’re to be considered His true followers, then let’s do as He desires nuh. It’s the only wise and sensible path! Much LOVE!…,continual heartfelt communication with God…is the hallmark of the true Christian…

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 April 2012 Hebrews 6:15

22 Apr 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hebrews 6:15.     And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Oh Friends, many of you are going to fellowship with other believers this Sunday morning, or have already done so, if you celebrate the Sabbath on another day. Now many of the physical churches will be, or were crowded, but how did you feel? Did you feel as though you had ample room to interact with God? Or were you sort of stifled? You know the saying that an empty church seems to have more room for God. I believe it’s true. When the church is full, all the bodies take up so much space, that there’s less for God. Hn! Okay, I’m just being facetious, a bit foolish, because as Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well: ‘God is a Spirit, and those that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.’ (John 4:24) Therefore, His spiritual presence doesn’t take up any physical space. But the saying is true in the sense that an empty church, or one with only a few people, allows us a closer and often more meaningful interaction with God because there are fewer distractions. And if you don’t believe me, just try it for yourself sometime. Find an empty church, sit down, kneel, or whatever, and see if your communication with the Father isn’t much smoother with less static and external disturbances. That’s why Jesus always went to a quiet place to pray, to talk to the Father. This brings me to what I want to share. Last year in the Gethsemane watch on Holy Thursday night, by myself in the church, around midnight, the Lord advised me to listen. I took that to mean listen to Him more closely and often for guidance, as well as listen to others; do less talking and more listening. Well I believe I’ve improved a fair amount in listening to Him, but definitely not as good in listening to others. I still think I talk too much. Shut up children and stop smirking! (smile) But that’s because of my passion for whatever I’m talking about. However, I’m working on it. Like building faith, it’s a work in progress. Now this past Holy Thursday, the message I received during the Gethsemane watch was; abide in me – with patience. Please note the proviso Friends – with patience. Abiding in the Lord is surely worthwhile, but if we don’t do it patiently, we’ll lose most of the benefits of abiding, for we can’t be faithful and trusting without that important element of patience. We all know that God’s time does not always coincide with ours. We always want everything now for now. But He challenges us to wait on Him, testing us, while building our Christ-like character. But unfortunately, patience is not something on which our society places a high premium. Rather, our world has become very impatient, what with the advanced technology and the numerous, almost immediate ways of communication, we tend to want everything like yesterday. However my people, God’s Word, from beginning to end, stresses patience. Now that could mean mere waiting on Him, or persevering through adversity, or being steadfast and true in faith, basically enduring, but always letting God lead in His time. And one of the biggest tests of patience comes from our Bit: ‘And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.’ The author of Hebrews, whom most scholars consider to be Bruh Paul, is there referring to Abraham, to whom God promised a son when he was seventy five years old, by his wife Sarah, who was around sixty something, way past normal childbearing age. (Gen.12) In the natural that seemed impossible, and they both had their doubts, Sarah even laughed, but they persevered in faith, and twenty five years later, when Abraham was one hundred, and Sarah about ninety, the promised son, Isaac, was born. Thus Bruh Paul could confidently say: ‘Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience (endurance), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.’ (Heb.10:35-36) Oh my brethren, strong faith with plenty patience is a must if we truly want to serve the Lord God Jehovah! And as Bruh David so eloquently puts it in Psalm 37: ‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass.” (Ps.37:7) Therefore Bruh Paul could also write this famous passage to the Romans, re the results of justification through Christ. ‘And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (produces perseverance); And patience, experience (character); and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed (does not disappoint); because the LOVE of God is shed abroad (has been poured out) in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ (Rom.5:3-5) And I’ll stop there for today my people, because I don’t want to try your patience too much, (smile) seeing that we live in this very impatient, ungodly world, and many of us have sadly been thus programmed. But we’ll renew our acquaintance with patience tomorrow, provided the Lord sees fit to continue breathing life into our bodies and souls. Till then, please go safely, in peace, hope, LOVE and patience, as Christ Jesus desires. Much LOVE!…I waited patiently for the Lord…and he inclined unto me…and heard my cry… (Ps.40:1)

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 March 2012 Romans 12:2‏

25 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Inspirational Living Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Romans 12:2.:   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ah mih Friends, it’s another day in the life! A life where we are constantly bombarded by the cares and concerns of the world, especially in these seriously troubled times. And being merely human, these worldly problems often weigh us down to the point where we are ready to give up. But please remember that believers in Christ NEVER GIVE UP! And a persevering and steadfast nature against whatever odds we face is one of the signs that the Spirit of Christ is truly in us. Now the best way to resist and eventually conquer worldly matters is by following our Bit: ‘And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’ Yes mih breddren, the only way to beat this world is by not conforming to it, not allowing the things it considers so important to overwhelm us and/ or make us lose faith, when we can’t measure up to its demands. And that’s only possible when the LOVE of Jesus, His faith and strength are continually working in us! Remember what Bruh Paul says about accepting Christ: ‘Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold; all things are become new.’ (2 Cor.5:17) That’s right Friends, to become a true believer we have to get rid of all the old, worldly stuff in our lives, and the first place that change must begin is in our minds, for our minds are the controlling mechanisms of our beings. So if we don’t change our way of thinking, then nothing much will ever change in our lives, and being born again in Christ, literally means that some things must change. As Bruh Paul says in the verse before our Bit: ‘I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (rational) service.’ (Rom.12:1) Now hear the scholars explain it; they term it Dedication to God’s Will. ‘God’s will refers to His purpose for the life of the believer. It implies His guidance or direction in all of life’s decisions. Dedication is an act of surrender or submission to His will for our lives whereby we become a ‘living sacrifice.’ Daily dependence on God results in our transformation into the image of Christ. Illustration: When we seek to discern the will of God we must also be committed to doing the will of God as it is revealed in the Word of God. (John 7:17) Application: The believer should evaluate every decision on the basis of biblical principles, knowing that obedience brings God’s blessing.’ And their First Reference is Gen.22:12, where Abraham is about to kill Isaac as God requested, but is stopped at the last moment, when God says to him: ‘for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing that thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.’ Oh Friends, that’s what you call true obedience and real faith! God had promised Abraham to be the father of many through Isaac, but was then told to sacrifice him. Hn! How many of us would have prepared for the sacrifice with no arguments, like Abraham eh? Not too many, I suspect. We’d be more like holding our heads and bawling, crying out to God for some explanation of the inconsistency.  Remember though people, ours is not to question God, just to obey whatever He says, even when things don’t look right, for He drew up the original plan for the world, and has everything under control.  Now let’s go home with some appropriate words, from James: ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is the (makes himself an) enemy of God.’ (James 4:4) And the scholars weigh in with this explanation: ‘As Israel was a spiritual adulteress, unfaithful to God, so the church is a spiritual adulteress when she is the unfaithful bride of Christ (cf. Hos.2:5, 19, 20; Matt.12:39) One cannot be both a lover of God, and a lover of the world.’Let’s remember those wise and very true words my people, and let them dictate the way we live; for God. More on this tomorrow, provided we’re still alive and kicking. Much LOVE!…Ye cannot serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Lucifer)… (Matt.6:24)

 

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