Understanding the reality of God’s Control over the Universe He created!

24 Oct 2024 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 33:11.         The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

One more time friends; one more time! Yes, it looks like another bright and sunshiny day in my neighbourhood, but it certainly won’t be as warm. I believe that even the trees have finally got the message, for more of them seem to have finally begun changing colour and shedding their leaves. And my neighbour has a tall tree in his backyard and it’s all golden and yellow and rust and whatever! Every time I look out my bedroom window, I’m amazed at it’s beauty, and the awesome power and imagination of our great God! 

And why not eh, since our God created the universe and all therein mostly by speaking them into existence. As the Bible says: ‘By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth, He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth (deep) in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices (plans) of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.’ (Ps. 33:6-11) 

And that’s the gospel truth, to which Cousin Sol totally agrees, as he says in Proverbs: ‘There are many devices (plans) in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.’ (Prov. 19:21) Yes my people, our God is a great and awesome God, Creator and Father! There’s no other like Him! That’s why we ought to both revere and fear Him in the real sense of the word. For as Jesus said: ‘And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.’ (Matt. 10:28) 

And that’s a sad fact which not too many of us seem to take notice of, and thus keep on whiling away our precious time in the fleshly lusts and carnality of this sinful and ungodly world controlled by Satan and his evil minions. Yes, the Lord can kill all of our many parts, because He created them, but He certainly doesn’t want us to go to hell, and He doesn’t really send any of us to hell, we do it ourselves. He’s given us the way to salvation and eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, and if we don’t obey Him and end up in hell, how can we blame Him eh? 

But from the very beginning with Adam, Eve and Satan, we’ve been  playing the blame game. When the Lord asked Adam why he ate of the forbidden fruit, he blamed Eve, and Eve blamed Satan. (Gen. 3:11-13) So it’s no wonder that today we’re still shirking our responsibilities and then trying to blame others for any negative consequences that occur from so doing. But friends, please, please, let’s remember these fateful words from our dear departed Uncle Charles (Dr. Charles Stanley). ‘Obey God, and lave all the consequences to Him.’ 

That’s about the best motto a human being, especially a supposed Christian can have! It seems though that we have gone back to what we were before the Lord saved us. Listen as Bruh Paul tells the Ephesians: ‘And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.’ (Eph. 2:1-2) Yes my brethren, while we were wasting away in sinfulness and ungodliness, the Lord saved us from our sinful life by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us. 

Before that as the scholars explain: ‘Ye walked means “you lived.”  The course of this world: The word course signifies all the tendencies, thoughts, pursuits, deeds, and so on, that characterize the present period of history. This world means “world system,” that is those philosophies, values, and life-styles that are opposed to God and hostile to Him. Before conversion the Ephesians used to conduct themselves in accordance with such ungodly values. The prince of the power of the air may be read “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” They also used to live by the dictates and wishes of Satan.’ 

Unfortunately friends, that’s exactly what’s happening in our current world; the majority of us are living by the carnal and fleshly lusts and desires as promoted by Satan. Many of us still don’t even know about Christ and His saving grace, and therefore are unable to live the way He desires. And we, the supposed believers are neither spreading His gospel to the degree that’s necessary to combat Satan’s evil ways, or living the true Christian life that just might attract others to Christ. 

And the body that’s supposed to oversee and push the overall work of Christ, that’s His church, is so divided into numerous denominations and cliques, and in such dissension over His Word, that it’s falling far short of what it needs to make any worthwhile difference in this evil world. And we only have ourselves to blame for that my fellow saints. We can’t lay the blame on any one else, for we are supposed to be Christ’s ambassadors on the earth, but for whatever reason, it’s obvious we’re not doing such a good job, because instead of being lifted out of the mire, the world is constantly falling into more evil and ungodliness. 

And if we don’t smarten up soon, make some appropriate changes, and improve our witness, we’ll be doing a whole lot of answering to Christ on the judgement day. But thankfully all is not yet lost, for the Lord in His amazing goodness has bestowed undeserved blessings for us to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare them so that they can be activated in our lives nuh. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘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!’ 

And having made that declaration, it’s now our bounden duty to go out and use those blessings on behalf of others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us! Much LOVE!

…Christians desperately need to improve their witness…if they truly desire to see godly changes…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 22 July 2021 Galatians 5:16.

22 Jul 2021 Leave a comment

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

Galatians 5:16.     This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

And now it’s Thursday…getting close to the end of July, and the end of summer too…what li’l true summer weather we’ve had so far. Some people claim that the days of this pandemic are moving too slowly, but I feel they are moving too fast! Look, we just celebrated Canada Day and the Fourth of July, and yet the month is almost finished. And everybody else seems so busy with stuff to do…except me. (smile) 

Oh, I have lots of things I would like to do, but, for whatever reason, I’m just not doing as much as I would like to do. I don’t know if I simply want to do too much, or that laziness and procrastination are holding sway over my life. Most likely though, it’s a combination of all three. That brings to mind Bruh Paul’s predicament that he wrote about to the Roman church. ‘For that which I do I allow not (don’t understand): for what I would (want to do), that I do not; but what I hate, that I do.’ (Rom. 7:15) 

Ah friends, I’m sure that many of us have that same problem, especially in these pandemic times, these unforeseen or unexpected times, when the world seems to be falling apart, going to hell in a hand basket. And I know that Bruh Paul blames it mostly on sin. ‘If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law (I agree) that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.’ (Rom. 7:16-17) And yes my brethren, sin does play a large part in our lives, but we can’t blame everything on it, or Satan, as so many of us like to do. 

Listen as Bruh Paul talks to the Galatians, re walking in the Spirit. ‘This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.’ (Gal. 5:16) The Lord gave us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the way we should walk. Therefore, it is our responsibility to follow it. We can’t be making excuses and blaming other things and people for our poor choices, as we like to do. 

Hear the scholars’ explanation of that verse. ‘5:16. Walk in the Spirit (i.e., “live by the Spirit”): Christians are to live with the Spirit’s help. How does one “live by the Spirit”? (1) The Christian must believe that the Spirit is with him, having been sent by God into his heart (4:6). (2) In every spiritual confrontation the believer must yield to the Spirit, that is, submit his own desires to those of the Spirit. (3) One must depend on the Spirit for help, enabling him to live a God-pleasing life (vs. 5). (4) The believer should anticipate the effects of the Spirit’s help in his daily life. The believer who “lives by the Spirit” will not fulfill (accomplish, carry out) the lust (strong desires) of the flesh (sinful nature).’ 

I could not explain it any better my people. But for good measure, I am going to spoon feed us with those couple of verses mentioned in the explanation above, because I know most of us won’t bother to look them up, although we don’t know them. (smile) And the first one that deals with God sending His Spirit into the believer’s heart says: ‘And because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.’ (Gal. 4:6) 

That’s because ‘Every child of God was divinely given the Holy Spirit the moment he was adopted by God. Abba is an Aramaic domestic term by which the father was called in the affectionate intimacy of the family. It corresponds to our “daddy” or “papa.” The Spirit gives us an awareness that God is our Father.’ 

And the next verse to which they refer is Gal. 5:5, which says: ‘For we through the Spirit (eagerly) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.’ And ‘Through the Spirit means that by the Holy Spirit’s help, which is obtained by faith, believers wait for the hope of righteousness, that is live the Christian life awaiting the consummation of their salvation.’ 

And now that we understand it all, (smile) let’s move back to Bruh Paul’s writing on walking in the Spirit. ‘For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.’ (Gal, 5:17) 

And the scholars explain. ‘5:17. One’s sinful human nature (flesh) and the Holy Spirit lusteth against one another, that is, they have desires and yearnings that are contrary to one another. The Christian, then, is a battlefield, having desires to do good and evil. The outcome is that ye cannot do the things that ye would: the flesh seeks to thwart the Spirit, who, in turn, attempts to frustrate the flesh’s evil desires.’ 

Therefore, Bruh Paul continues: ‘But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.’ (Gal. 5:18) And the scholars have this to say about that. (smile) ‘5:18. Verse 17 may leave the impression of a believer being caught in a hopeless tug-of-war between the flesh and the Spirit. This is not the case. The Christian is led of (by) the Spirit, when yielding to Him, to turn away from the flesh’s evil yearnings, thus putting sin out of his daily life. The verb “led” indicates voluntary submission; the believer decides by whom he will be led – either by his flesh or by the Spirit. The Spirit-led person is not under the law. The Christian does not need the restraints of the law because his moral life is governed by the Spirit.’ 

Mamacita! That tells us like it is my fellow saints in Christ! It’s time to stop blaming everything and everybody else for our problems and begin looking at the real heart of the problem – ourselves. For we have all the tools necessary to live a decent Christian life, we just have to put our hands to the plough and stick to the Lord’s plan for our lives. And we can’t doubt our God’s goodness, either, for not only has He given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, but also all these wonderful tools that we call our Thursday Blessings to do His earthly work. So let’s go home reminding ourselves of them now nuh. 

As one strong voice. ‘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 there’s no more we can ask for. It’s our bounden duty to now go out and share those blessings just as generously with others, as the Lord shared them with us. Much LOVE!

…time for Christians to stop playing the blame game…and take responsibility for their own actions…                                                                                               

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