Today’s Scrip-Bit 29 May 2013 Matthew 22:36

Matthew 22:36.     Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
 
Oh Friends, it looks like today will be another rainy one in my area. In fact there hasn’t been much relief from the showers of blessing since they began yesterday morning. But if that’s our biggest problem, then we surely can handle it.
 
However some water from heaven is the least of our problems right now. And I’m saying that because yesterday morning I got a zeppo, a message that says it’s time for Christians to rise up, rise up in the LOVE REVOLUTION! It’s time for Christianity to take over, to rule the world!
 
Yes Friends that’s the very serious intention and purpose of our great and wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And He’s saying, loud and clear, it’s time for us to get a move on.
 
But unfortunately, we His followers can only successfully do His bidding if we unite and live in peace and LOVE with each other and our God. All the divisions, dissensions and foolish fighting amongst ourselves is hurting the Saviour’s cause.
 
Remember what Jesus said when the hypocritical Pharisee asked Him our Bit. ‘Master, which is the great commandment in the law?’
 
‘Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt LOVE the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’ (Matt.22:37-40)
 
Yes my people, it’s so simple. There are only two laws we have to worry about; LOVING God and our neighbour, which includes LOVING ourselves, since we can’t truly LOVE anyone else until we have some decent regard for ourselves. And from those two simple commands flow all the other good stuff. It’s the way a true believer ought to live!
 
So please my Friends, neighbours, enemies, whoever you are, all mankind, please for the LOVE of God, let’s get together and stop all the foolish wars of jealousy and greed, stop the senseless hate and violence that only deteriorates to and breeds murder and mayhem, with NO LOVE, NO JOY, NO PEACE.
 
Oh my people, is that the way we truly want to live? Is that the dream our God, our Creator, the great and LOVING Artist put in our hearts? And the answer is a resounding NO!
 
So please let’s do what is right nuh, it’s so simple and easy. When we LOVE and obey God, we prosper. When we don’t, then we suffer the severe consequences, like we’re doing right now. Is simple common sense mih breddren. Oh sorry… I forgot that common sense is no longer in style, it’s not the current vogue of mankind.
 
Nowadays we’re only interested in the foolish and senseless things of Mammon. But remember what happens to those who revere Mammon and his sinful ways. The Good Book says they will surely suffer, pay an exceedingly high price for their disobedience.
 
And I won’t even bother to quote any scripture to that nuh, since on almost every page of the Good Book, and sometimes several times on one page, it reminds us to be obedient, because disobedience only causes havoc, destruction and unnecessary suffering. The world will give us enough suffering. We don’t need to create anymore for ourselves.
 
I’ll quote one scripture here though, and it’s a big one, one that we all know, but few of us really follow. And we’re talking about when Samuel accosted Saul, after he disobeyed God’s directive to totally destroy the Amelakites. (1 Sam.15:1-21)
 
‘And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (divination), and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.’ (1 Sam.15:23)
 
Yes Friends, Saul lost everything because he had not obeyed. And that’s exactly what is happening to us today, we’re losing everything; our joy, peace and prosperity because we haven’t obeyed the dictates of Almighty God. And we’re committing an even greater sin by trying to remove, to totally eradicate Him from our society. Ah Lord eh!
 
Oh mih people, there are so many examples of great societies that floundered and eventually fell because of their disobedience, why do we think ours will fare differently eh? Not very likely!
 
So let’s wake up and smell the roses nuh! Let’s reignite our passion for God, unite and live in PEACE, LOVE, UNDERSTANDING, TRUTH and JUSTICE, for once in our long and foolish existence nuh, for that’s wisdom at it’s finest! 
 
Oh Friends, I sincerely pray this in Jesus’ Name; in the blood that flowed from His bruised and battered body on that fateful day on Calvary’s Cross, when He selflessly gave His holy and sinless life in exchange for our unholy, sinful souls.
 
And for that, we thank Him more than words can ever say. But when He reads our hearts, He’ll surely see and know how much we truly LOVE Him.
 
And all God’s people declared a long, loud and glorious, ‘Praise the Lord! Amen! And again we say, Amen! Praise the Lord!’
 
Much, much LOVE, my beautiful fellow believers!
 
…to not truly live for and obey God…especially in these troubled times….only makes us look real foolish…and Jesus’ sacrificial death…a sad and sorrowful waste…
 
       
 
 
      

Today’s Scrip-Bit 28 May 2013 Revelation 22:14.

Revelation 22:14.    Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.

Oh Friends, oh Friends, it’s been a long and arduous night…of sleep! Hn, hn! My body had its way with me. That’s what happens when you try to burn the candle at both ends simultaneously. (smile) But hopefully, now that the ole bod has had its fill of sleep, it will be able to do the Lord’s work properly, with much vim and vigour.

Anyway, let’s get rolling with a poem of prayer from Dr. Schuller’s Hour of Power Devotional. And it’s truly amazing, that though I’ve been reading the Devotional for several years now, most of the stuff I share from it seems entirely new to me. This poem titled ‘Fill Me!’ falls into that category. 
 
Please read and pray with me. ‘O Lord, like the thirsty deer which goes to drink from the mountain spring; like the growing flower which turns hungrily to the satisfying sun; like the empty pitcher which is carried to the fountain to be filled; so I come, O God, knowing that in this time of prayer my soul will be filled with your LOVE and truth. Thank you! Amen.’
 
And I certainly hope that all our souls will be filled with God’s LOVE and TRUTH,  as we go out this rainy Tuesday morning to do His awesome bidding, securely backed up by His amazing faithfulness.
 
And all God’s people declared a mighty, ‘Praise the Lord!’
 
Yes Friends, let’s keep on praising His glorious Name, for He is indeed most worthy of all that praise, and infinitely more than we can ever come up with or imagine.
 
Now let’s turn to our Bit: ‘Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates of the city.’
 
Ah mih people, that’s a warning we should all take very seriously and heed immediately! For as we saw yesterday, the adversity and unfixable tribulation of the opposite action, disobedience, is certainly not to be desired. Being on the outside looking in, is definitely not where you want to be at the end times.
 
And today, I want to look at some appropriate scriptures which corroborate our Bit. And we’re going to start out on a positive note, with the blessings administered for doing right.
 
John tells us in his first letter: ‘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. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.’ (1 John 3:23-24)
 
That’s plain and straightforward Friends!
 
And as per ‘the tree of life,’ Cousin Sol describes it thus in Proverbs 11: ‘The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed (rewarded) in the earth: much more than the wicked and the sinner.’ (Prov.11:30-31)
 
Now hear Jesus’ warning and promise on it. ‘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)
 
Straight from the horse’s mouth my brethren, so it has to be true! 
 
Now as regards  ‘the gates of the city,’ of the New Jerusalem, listen to John’s revelation: ‘And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
 
And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh (causes an) abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’ (Rev.21:24-27)
 
And all God’s people said a loud and thankful ‘Amen!’
 
So there we have it Friends, in black and white. If your name’s not written in the Lamb’s book of life, then you won’t be allowed into the New Jerusalem. And the ONLY way to get your name in that awesome book, is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then obey His commandments in this earthly life.
 
So now the choice is ours. Let’s hope we make the right decision right now, for remember when the end times arrive, there’ll be no chance to change our minds. It’s certainly NOW or NEVER!
 
So please, please, my brethren, let’s be wise for once in our lives and choose Jesus nuh, for He is the ONLY answer to whatever ails us. Much LOVE!
 
…I choose Jesus…because He first chose me…and that says a whole lot…
 
   

Today’s Scrip-Bit 15 May 2013 Psalm 40:6.

Psalm 40:6.    Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering has thou not required.
 
And here we are again Friends, alive and kicking on another God-given day here on Planet Earth. My kicking is a bit less than normal though, for I apparently have the cold or my allergies are in full swing, been sneezing and blowing ever since I came down to write. But that won’t stop anything really, just make it a tad inconvenient. And I wonder what’s happening with our weather service. Yesterday it said that today would be rainy in my area, and outside it is raining, but as I turned on the computer just now and looked at the forecast, it says bright and sunny all day with a high temp of 21. Ah Lord eh! But yuh know what? The sun is shining beautifully in many other parts of the world, and although I may not be able to see it, I know for sure that it’s somewhere up there, as it has been for ages, and will continue to be, until our great God decides otherwise. And all God’s people gave a mighty shout of joy: ‘Praise the Living Lord, for He is most worthy to be praised!’ And that’s a veritable fact my people! He is so awesome and amazing in might and glory, power and majesty, that there is NONE like Him, NEVER was, and NEVER will be! And today we have a Bit which tells us exactly what He does not require of us: ‘Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering has thou not required.’ Now that’s as close to the truth as we’ll ever get my brethren! And while looking for a Bit just now, when my eyes beheld that verse, a little shiver of joy passed through my soul (smile) because I knew that it’s something we desperately need to address in this modern society, and that there were several Bible verses that dealt with it. Now let’s look at some of those verses. And I guess the first and possibly best known comes from Samuel, when Saul, Israel’s first king did not completely obey the Lord’s command to totally destroy the Amalekites and all their belongings. Instead Saul kept the king alive and some of the choicest livestock, ostensibly to use as burnt offerings and sacrifices to God. But as Samuel later informed him: ‘Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (divination), and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.’ (1 Sam.15:23-24) Yuh see mih people, Saul lost the Lord’s favour and his kingship by simply not obeying the totality of His commands! That’s what happens when we disobey, or are not totally obedient to the Lord’s directives. Then we have Bruh David solemnly declaring in Psalm 51, his prayer for cleansing, after the prophet Nathan draped him up for his affair with Bathsheba. ‘O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.’ (Ps.51:15-17) Yes my brethren, what the Lord desires from us is a repentant heart and spirit coming to him in sincerity and truth, not offering other stuff as atonement for our disgusting sins. From our own hearts, souls and minds is where He expects the regret to come. And I like the way the Lord say it through Jeremiah. ‘To what purpose cometh there to me incense (frankincense) from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.’ (Jer.6:20) Now here’s the last scripture for today. It comes from Jeremiah, from a section dealing with the punishment for Judah’s rebellion. ‘Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put (add) your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination (stubbornness) of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.’ (Jer.7:21-24) Oh Friends, does that ring a bell? It should, and very loudly too, because it’s the same thing we are doing today! We have not listened to the Lord, in fact have tried to take Him out of our society, and as a result we’re going backward, not forward, with our world and many of our individual lives in a state of terrible confusion and turmoil. And we’ll close with this appropriate explanation from the scholars. ‘These verses do not minimize the importance of the Old Testament sacrifices, but call attention to the necessity of the believer living a life of total obedience and devotion to God. The Scriptures consistently teach that religious observances devoid of spiritual reality are worthless. (cf. 1 Sam.15:22-23; Ps.40:6-8; Is.1:10-20; Mic.6:8) So Friends, today, let’s ponder our individual situations and see if we’re in total obedience to God’s will. And if not, then let’s come before Him with a penitent heart and contrite spirit and ask for His forgiveness, mercy and grace. That’s wisdom at its zenith. Much LOVE!…the three requirement for following God…obedience…obedience…obedience…
 
  
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 May 2013 Psalm 138:6

Psalm 138:6.     Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
 
And then it was Saturday Friends, where most people are delighted to sleep in late for at least one day a week. Many don’t have that luxury though, for they have young children and their own affairs to look after, stuff they can’t do during the workweek. But however the days play out, it is very reassuring to know that we have a God who looks out for us in each and every circumstance. And all God’s people raised a joyful shout to heaven of ‘Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy to us, His sinful, rebellious creation!’ And now I’m going to put a fly in the ointment by sharing a quote attributed to the American Humorist and Author, Mark Twain, (Samuel Langhome Clemens, 1835-1910). It says: ‘Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen.’ Now that’s surely an interesting situation. Hopefully, because we’d be richly endowed with more wisdom at the outset of our life’s journey, we’d make fewer mistakes, thus live a more godly life, and gradually as we grow younger realize the wonderful benefits and freedoms we have at eighteen. There is a kind of logic to it, but unfortunately the Master Planner didn’t see it that way. He preferred us to be unwise and make mistakes in the early days of our lives, then grow into wisdom as we age.  That leads us to our Bit: ‘Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto (He regards) the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.’ Now that’s a tendency of our God that’s in direct opposition or contrast to that of the world! In His eternal wisdom, one would expect Him to look more kindly on the bright and upwardly mobile of His creation. However, as Bruh David points out in Psalm 113 – God’s mercies are many: ‘The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill (ash heap); That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.’ (Ps.113:4-8) Yes my brethren, our God can be a rather contrary Being when He’s ready. He likes to stir it up by using the most unlikely to do His bidding. Just look at all the prophets and the disciples whom He used to deliver His messages. They were usually poor, downtrodden, disliked by many, and often offensive to their society. But the Lord used them, and He’s still using the most unlikely ones, the broken, and the cracked pots, like me, to let His light shine forth and spread His message. As Bruh Paul tells the Corinthians in his first letter. ‘But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound (put to shame) the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base (insignificant) things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought (nothing) things that are. That no flesh should glory in his presence.’ (1 Cor.1:27-29) Here’s how the scholars describe those verses: ‘God hath chosen: The selection by God is designed to silence the wisdom of man. He chooses the foolish to shame the wise. He chooses weak things to shame things deemed by man to be mighty and things men do not even realize exist to counteract things which are, powers and institutions erected and relied upon by man.’ That’s why all the supposed wisdom and wise things of man are in such a state of confusion and turmoil today! And remember too that Jesus dealt mainly with the sick and suffering, the outcasts, the dregs of society. He didn’t have much time for the religious zealots and hypocrites who ruled the roost. Now here’s a very telling story after Jesus calls Matthew, the hated tax collector to follow Him. The Good Book describes it thus: ‘And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat (at the table) in the house, behold, many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole (are well) need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ (Matt.9:10-13) Oh Friends,what a wonderful Being our Saviour is, with no stupid hang ups and pretences despite His godly state, while foolish mortal men give themselves all sorts of airs and graces, only to be confounded by the contrariness of God. In that last verse, Jesus was quoting from Hosea, re Israel’s reply to God’s admonishment. ‘For I desired mercy (faithfulness), and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.’ (Hos.6:6) And my people, that’s what the Lord still desires of us, so let’s seriously ponder it all. Please read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the lesson taught, for it directly reflects your level of wisdom and status in the Lord’s eyes. Much LOVE!…but many that are first…shall be last…and the last…shall be first…  (Matt.19:30) 
 
  
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 May 2013 James 4:15

James 4:15.     For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
 
‘Hot town, summer in the city. Back of my neck, getting dirty and gritty.’ Yes Friends, that’s how it was yesterday afternoon in my area. The sun was shining brightly, and actually giving off heat. When I first came out side and felt the heat of the sun on my face, I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven. Mama Mia! It felt so good! And I ended up outside most of the afternoon, doing some physical chores, then lounging on my back porch for the first time this year, suitably attired in my shorts and t-shirt. Wow! What a change! The day before I was showering in hot water to try and ease the aches and pains in the old bones, but yesterday it was cold water all the way to wash away the sweat and cool down the body. Like we’re finally getting some good weather, as it’s supposed to be sunny and warm, in the high teens for the rest of the week. And all God’s people in the north country declared a solemn, but happy: ‘Praise the Lord! It’s about time!’ (smile) Yes Friends, it’s surely time that the Lord granted us some decent warm weather up here in the north, but it’s also time that we begin cleaning up our Christian conduct, this in reference to our increasing dependence on ourselves, our own strength, where James appropriately scolds us. ‘Go to (come) now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain (make a profit). Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.’ (James 4:13-14) Ah mih people, what fools we make of ourselves, when we believe we have the wherewithal to control our destiny. That’s the wisdom of a fool. For as our Bit wisely informs us: ‘For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.’ And isn’t that the veritable truth! Hear the scholars. ‘This, or that: This verse teaches that God does have something for Christians to do and that they should plan accordingly. James condemns only elaborate planning that omits God. (cf. Prov.16:9)’ And that’s exactly where we fall down my brethren; omitting our great and wonderful God from all our big and bright plans! For when we turn to Proverbs 16:9, as the scholars point out, what we read is: ‘A man’s heart deviseth (plans) his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.’ Similarly in Proverbs 19:21, Cousin Sol informs us: ‘There are many devices (plans) in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.’ Yes my fellow believers, we can scheme and plan as much as we want, but Almighty God is sovereign over every move we make. Please, let’s remember that, and always include God in our plans, from the very start too, if we don’t want to face too much heartache and disappointment. As you’ll notice, whenever I say we’ll continue stuff the following day, I always include, either ‘God willing,’ or ‘God in favour.’  That’s because I’m not sure if it will be God’s will for me to be around the next day, or even if He will want us to continue with the same stuff from the day before. So it’s always wise to add the proviso, be it God’s will. Now let’s look at some scriptures that create the appropriate mindset, that of including God in ALL of our plans. And we’ll begin in Acts 18, when Bruh Paul passes through Ephesus. The Good Book declares: ‘When they desired (asked) him to tarry (stay a) longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep the feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.’ (Acts 18:20-21) Please notice the three most important words in that scripture my brethren, ‘if God will.’ For without God we can do nothing of much worth, and the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray when we leave God out of the planning. Now listen to Bruh Paul again, this time in his first missive to the Corinthians. ‘But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.’ (1 Cor.4:19) Again, the important words in that passage are, ‘if the Lord will.’ Oh my people, it’s always about the will of the Lord for dedicated Christians, since we surrendered our will to Him when we accepted His Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. And we’ll finish with some appropriate words form Hebrews, where the author desires to talk about the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. He then declares: ‘And this will we do, if God permit.’ (Heb.6:3) Yes Friends, we shall all do what we shall – if God permits it. Let us not forget that, and therefore take God into our inner circle and lay our plans before Him, for His approval. Or better yet, ask Him to show us His plan for our day and our lives, so that we won’t be too disappointed or ashamed by trying to live on the strength of our mortal inadequacy. That again, is wisdom at its highest level. Much LOVE!…man plans…but God overrides…
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 April 2013 Psalm 97:11

Psalm 97:11.     Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
 
Oh fellow believers in Jesus Christ, another wonderful day of life is in the offing! What with new mercies and blessings being showered down on the people of Jehovah God, and the faithful promises He’s made us, there’s no reason why every day couldn’t be a glorious day. And all God’s people said a loud and grateful, ‘Praise the Lord!’ Yes Friends, I think we should do a lot more praising and a lot less complaining than we do, simply because we have it so good, compared to most of the world. However, we’ve gotten so comfortable and accustomed to the good life, that if we break a fingernail, we cry out in pain and complain. The Lord expects us to put up with the simple stuff though. Just look at what Jesus bore without complaining eh. Now that should make us feel bad when we complain about minor, petty stuff. So please let’s stop with the endless complaining when we have it so good. Instead, let’s give more praise and thanks for all the goodness and mercy our wonderful God has showered, is showering, and will shower down on us. And on that note, I’ll ask, have you given Him thanks and praise as yet, for allowing you to see another new day? Well that’s the first thing we ought to do when we arise each morning, for the Lord delights in the thanks and praise of those who benefit from His largesse and LOVING-kindness. That’s why our Bit today so wisely declares: ‘Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.’ And that’s an undeniable fact Friends! When our hearts are right, we shine with the glory of God, like Moses when he came down from Mt. Sinai bearing the two stone tablets that held the Ten Commandments. His face shone so brightly that Aaron and the people were afraid to come close and look upon him, and he put on a veil to talk to them. (Ex.34:27-35) And according to the scholars: ‘From that time onward the veil became part of his ordinary dress. Only two occasions were exceptions. (1) When he was alone with God, and (2) when he had a message for the people from God.’ It’s also interesting to note that when Job’s friends lambasted him, they too referred to his life bearing light if he repented and sought righteousness. Listen to Zophar. ‘For then thou shalt lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be steadfast, and shall not fear: because thou shalt forget thy misery and remember it as waters that pass away; and thine age (life) shall be clearer (brighter) than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.’ (Job.11:15-17) Now hear Eliphaz. ‘Acquaint now thyself with him (God), and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.’ (Job 22:21, 27-28) Yes my brethren, light is indeed a big part of the Christian’s walk with God. It was important in the Old Testament and Jesus made it even more so. He spoke a lot about light and darkness. Remember that all important statement He made about us? ‘Ye are the light of the world.’ (Matt.5:14a) He was also characterized as the light shining in the darkness of this evil world. John referred to Him as ‘the True Light.’ (John 1:9) Jesus also portrayed Himself as light; ‘that true light is come into the world.’ (John 3:19) ‘Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.’ (John 12:35-36) So there’s no denying that light is closely associated with belief in Jesus. All God’s dealings are done in light and not darkness, because He has nothing to hide, plus the light is a refreshing change from the darkness of evil where underhanded deeds are done and hidden from the light of truth. Therefore all God’s children affairs should also be done in, or be able to withstand the light, exposed to the truth, for only lies, rebellion and deceit need the cover of darkness. For as Cousin Sol so wisely points out. ‘But the path of the just is as the shining (bright) light, that shineth more and more (ever brighter) unto the perfect day.’ (Prov.4:18) So all in all Friends, we need light in both the metaphorical and physical worlds, for without either, we can’t find our way in the darkness, making us very liable to stumble and fall in both situations. Consequently, our words and deeds should be above board, capable of setting worthy examples for both the believer and unbeliever to follow. As the psalmist so rightly declares in Psalm 112 – Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. ‘Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.’ (Ps.112:4) Oh my brethren, as followers of Jesus, and therefore children of light, please let’s go out today and in all our endeavours, endeavour to be gracious, righteous and full of compassion, so that we may further the righteous and glorious kingdom of God, as we are expected to do. That’s the epitome of wisdom! Much LOVE!…don’t hide your light under a bushel…set it at the top of the hill…so that all the world can see…and be gloriously reflected in that light…the light that’s Jesus…
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 24 April 2013 Psalm 21:13

Psalm 21:13.     Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength, so will we sing and praise thy power.
 
Oh Friends, I thought rest and sleep were supposed to be so good for the body and soul, to be refreshing and renewing. So how come I went to bed early last night, but got up this morning sneezing and sniffling, with my back aching, as though I’d done some back-breaking labour to bring on those woes? Ah Lord eh! Who knows the way their days and nights will go? Sadly, none of us. Only the great God who created us, and whom we serve and worship, who controls our going out and coming in. But the good thing about that Friends, is that once we surrender our lives to Him, we don’t need to worry about anything, just take everything to Him in prayer. And that’s exactly what I did this morning. I didn’t bother asking why, because I knew that most likely I wouldn’t get an answer. So I just asked for help and relief, then put on my back brace and took a tablet for the allergies. (smile) And now I’m ready to rumble! Who says our God isn’t a good God eh! Consequently, He led me to this most appropriate Bit: ‘Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength, so will we sing and praise thy power.’ Yes my brethren, our Lord is so mighty in power, strength and LOVING-kindness, that it’s only appropriate for us to sing and praise His awesome majesty! Bruh David apparently wrote this psalm after a victory over his enemies, as it’s subtitled – Praise for victory. And I like how he begins it: ‘The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden (withheld) the request of his lips.  Selah.’ (Ps.21:1-2) Oh my people, that first verse, or something like it, should be on our lips every day – rejoicing in the strength, power and faithfulness of our omnipotent God, and the LOVING-kindness and mercy of His blessed salvation! And all God’s servants gave a joyful shout of, ‘Praise the Lord! Thank You Father for Your strength and glory in Jesus! Amen!’ And in Psalm 59 – A Prayer for deliverance – when Saul sent his henchmen to watch Bruh David’s house for an opportunity to kill him, he fervently declares: ‘Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth.  Selah. And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Let them wander up and down for meat (food), and grudge (howl) if they be not satisfied. But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.’ (Ps.59:13-17) Oh my people, do we have that solid faith and trust in the promises and faithfulness of our God? I surely hope so, because it’s only with that kind of unshakeable faith will we be able to handle the evil powers and people of this evil world. And that’s why Bruh David, despite all his problems and wrongdoings found such favour with God. He always looked to Him for support and guidance, revelled in His strength and LOVING-kindness. Listen to him as he continues in glorious adoration. ‘For thou preventest (meeteth) him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever. His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him. For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad (joyful with gladness) with thy countenance (presence). For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved (shaken).’ (Ps.21:3-7) Ah Friends, there’s no feeling in this world that compares to praising our most wonderful and adorable God! Now listen to how the psalmist Asaph follows in like manner, as he opens in Psalm 81 – God’s goodness and Israel’s waywardness. ‘Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise (shout) unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm (raise a song), and bring hither (strike) the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery (lute or lyre). Blow up the trumpet in (at the time of) the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.’ (Ps.81:1-4) Now, though according to the scholars, ‘The background of the psalm appears to be the Feast of the Tabernacles (Lev.23:34-44) which reminded the people of God’s law and also constituted the feast of ingathering (Ex.23:16)’ that doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t sing and praise our most worthy God in full voice with instruments, each and every day, or whenever we feel like it. So my fellow believers, on this Wednesday morning, in the penultimate week of April, in the year 2013, I’m asking, or rather imploring us all to get ourselves together and shower the world with praise and glory, exaltation and joyfulness in the power and LOVE, mercy and forgiveness of our most amazing God! Please allow our joy to sing out over the land, let the heathen hear it, and see the wonders that He works in our lives, so that they too may come to learn about Him, then believe, LOVE, honour and glorify Him the way we do. That is my sincere prayer for all believers this chilly spring morning. In Jesus name. Amen. Much LOVE!…how can the unbeliever learn about God…unless the believer sings, shouts and lives a life…filled with His goodness, grace and mercy…
 
   
 
 
 
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 April 2013 Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46:12.     Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Oh Friends, another day is dawning beautifully in many parts of God’s wonderful universe, and many new blessings and mercies are being made ready for distribution to God’s people down here on planet Earth! Wow! And just the thought of all that wonderful, divine, heavenly help drives God’s children to boldly declare: ‘Thank You Lord, thank You! You are so LOVING and generous to the undeserving children of men. We praise You and bless Your Holy Name, and promise to serve and worship You forever. Amen.’ Yes my people, this is indeed the day that our Lord God has made for us to enjoy, therefore let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad in it, for there’s no deity like the one we bow down to! That’s why the psalmist could confidently proclaim in our Bit: ‘Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.’ And that’s no lie Friends! The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whom we worship, is the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD IN ALL THE UNIVERSE! As the first few verses of the psalm declare: ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present (abundantly available) help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst (heart) of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.   Selah.’ (Ps,46:1-3) Oh my fellow believers in Christ, those are very strong, reassuring words, based on God’s actual help to the Israelites, not simply the unrealized hopes and dreams of a troubled, enslaved people. Therefore, they are words that we should also hold on to, write indelibly in our hearts, minds and souls to give us the strength, faith and courage to live this difficult, but oh so interesting pilgrim’s life down here on Mother Earth. And even more importantly, through the Lord’s mysterious machinations, His Holy Name will eventually be exalted amongst the unbelievers. We obviously have a major part to play in that exaltation, but without God’s help we’re basically powerless to do much of anything. For as Jesus said: ‘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) Words of undeniable truth my Friends! And though the heathen seems to be in control of the earth right now, there’s no doubt that in the Lord’s time, that evil and unworthy scenario will change. Listen as the psalmist continues: ‘There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles (dwelling places) of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved (shaken): God shall help her, and that right early (at the break of dawn). The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.’ (Ps.46:4-7) And that’s the gospel truth my brethren! And it encouraged all God’s people to declare a loud and grateful; ‘Glory Hallelujah!’ Oh Friends, it’s so sad that so many of God’s human creation don’t know and don’t worship Him, for He is truly a most magnificent Deity! And the psalmist continues raving about his God: ‘Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in fire.’ (Ps.46:8-9) Yes my people, all of that is indeed possible with our God! And in His time, it will surely come to pass. As Isaiah prophesied, re the day of the Lord: ‘The lofty (proud) looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.’ (Is.2:11-12) So please don’t join the ranks of the heathen, the unbeliever, the evil enemy, for as Isaiah continues: ‘And the loftiness (pride) of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. And the idols he shall utterly abolish. And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear (from the terror) of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth (to make the earth tremble).’ (Is.2:17-19) Oh my brethren, on that fateful day, when the Lord decides to pronounce judgement on the sinful earth, there will be no escape for the heathen! And the scholars provide an interesting note. ‘The unshakeable confidence with which the psalm leaves the believer prompted Martin Luther, (the Protestant leader) to pen one of the great hymns of all time, ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ Ah mih breddren, that bit of info should just boost our strength, faith, hope, trust, esteem, reverence and LOVE for our most worthy God! If the psalm was powerful enough to move the fiery Martin Luther a few centuries ago, when things were much rougher than now, then it certainly ought to move us too. And we’ll end with some wise words of Cousin Sol on the subject. ‘The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil (doom). Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged (atonement is provided for iniquity): and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.’ (Prov.16:4-6) Oh Friends, those verses cover it all; from the beginning to the end, so please take serious note of them, so that in that fateful day, you will not be numbered amongst the proud, haughty, evil heathen. That’s the ultimate in wisdom! Much LOVE!…it starts with a promise from Jehovah God…that leads to hope, faith, trust and surrender…then ends in the promise being fulfilled…becoming reality…for the Lord God is faithful…

 

     

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 27 March 2013 Daniel 11:32

Daniel 11:32.     And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.

Oh Friends, at last, at long last, we had a day yesterday akin to, that bore some resemblance to spring! Now it was still a tad nippy with a noticeable wind blowing, but you could feel the difference in the atmosphere. I can’t think of a suitable analogy at the moment, but it’s like one of those things you can’t exactly put your hands or mind on, however you just know, you can feel the difference in your spirit. The sunshine was decent, people were walking around in shirtsleeves, and there was even water running in the drains from the thawing of the snow. Wow! And all God’s people in the northern climes gave out a joyous shout of, ‘Glory Hallelujah! Spring is here at last! Thank You Lord!’ Yeh mih people, rejuvenation of the earth up north is just around the corner; wet earth, green grass, blooming flowers, budding green leaves, singing birds, buzzing bees, lots of flora and fauna, all for real. And isn’t it wonderful that it’s all happening just when our souls and spirits are also being rejuvenated by a sacrificed Christ, who will winter in the grave for three days, from this Friday, Good Friday, then is going to rise majestically, like spring time, on this Sunday, Easter Sunday, to proclaim new life for the faithful for all eternity? It sure is! Oh Friends, I get so emotional when I think about it all, that I just have to keep reminding us of the wonderful and ever-LOVING God that we serve and worship. What other supposed deity has ever come close to the standards of our Holy Trinity eh? NONE my brethren, NONE! And NONE will ever come close, because our Godhead is the ONE AND ONLY TRUE GOD IN EXISTENCE! And all God’s children sang out loud and clear: ‘Praise the Lord, for He is indeed a wonderful God, worthy to be served and praised!’ And in this Holy Week of 2013 Friends, we need to buckle down, to get real serious about the work Christ has called us to do. As our Bit so rightly declares: ‘And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt (pollute) by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits (take action).’ That comes from Daniel’s prophecy, re the scholars: ‘an amazing summary of about two hundred years of the history of the wars between Egypt and Syria that took place during the fourth through the second centuries B.C, All of these prophecies, however, were written by Daniel in the sixth century B.C.’ That’s at least a couple hundred years before the wars actually begun, solidifying the Good Book and its contents as a vehicle, a testimony of awesome truth! However Friends, we are also experiencing hard and troubled times, Life’s not getting any easier, in fact it’s getting more difficult day by day as we trundle along in our evil, ungodly ways. And it’s getting even shorter for those of us moving up the ladder of age. That means, if we want to leave a mark in this world, to make a difference as is required of us, then my brethren, we have to get serious and get our action going NOW! Tomorrow will be too late! The believers in Christ have to transform themselves into followers, meaning DO as Christ desires, not merely talk about it. Oh Friends, I don’t know how to truly galvanize us Christians to action nuh, but I know that we do need to become much more action oriented than we currently are. We need to begin seriously fighting back against the evil powers, both physical and spiritual, that are currently controlling our world. I know that saying it and doing it are two different things, and the doing is much harder. But then we need to remember that we’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit of the Most High God Jehovah, Creator of the universe and all therein, which means that we have the most powerful force in the universe right in our own backyard, so to speak. And don’t forget the scripture that so rightly and reassuringly tells us that ‘greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4b) And that’s gospel truth Friends: Jesus is indeed greater than Beelzebub! So we have no real excuse for our tardiness or inaction in moving the LOVE Revolution along, because the scripture also tells us: ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of LOVE, and of a sound mind.’ (2 Tim.1:7) So what are we waiting for to rise up and take back what rightfully belongs to our God eh my people? It only needs our willingness now to do it. Obviously it won’t be easy, because Lucifer and his evil cronies won’t give up their ill-gotten gains without a serious fight. But as I’ve just pointed out, we have all the tools to take it away, we just need to unite, be of the same mind, have one true purpose. And unfortunately, until we seriously make a move towards Christian unity, Lucifer and his buddies will remain enthroned, continuing the successful strategy of dividing and conquering us. Oh my brethren, today I’m calling on all true believers in Christ to become followers, to unite as He desires us to do, then to get some serious action going, so we can ignite a flame over the whole world and thus ensure the success of the LOVE Revolution that our God requires us to instigate and WIN! And what better time to do it than this Easter Season, the most important time in the history of our Church, when Christ defeated death, Lucifer and the grave, and rose to glory, taking us with Him. Oh my people, Jesus requires us now to step up to the plate and fight a strong, steadfast and faithful fight, like He did in His time here on earth, and is now doing on our behalf in heaven. Please, let’s not disappoint Him and allow all His sacrifice to go to waste. I pray that today we’ll all hear this message, ponder it sincerely in our hearts, minds and souls, then rise up as one and retake our Father’s inheritance. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Much LOVE!…true unity, real LOVE and much action…are the necessary ingredients…for the success of Jesus’ LOVE Revolution…
 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 13 March 2013 Psalm 15:1

Psalm 15:1.    Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
 
Oh Friends, sorry that this is a tad late, but I got up later than I wanted to, then had problems connecting to Hot Mail. I’ve noticed that several times in the last few days. It’s that unreliability which turns me off of computers; just when you want something, you find it’s unavailable, and most of the time you don’t even know or can’t find out why. In essence, you’re at the mercy of the providers. And unfortunately there’s not much we can do about it, but put the patience and perseverance of Jesus to work; that spiritual enabling His Holy Spirit anchors in us. In addition to that, there are many blessings and favours that show up in our lives which totally overshadow the few disappointments. And all God’s people said: ‘That’s for sure! Praise the Lord our God for His goodness to us, children of undeserving men!’ Now turning to our Bit. In it, Bruh David asks a very interesting question. ‘Lord, who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?’ In other words, who is worthy to serve in the Lord’s tabernacle, or on His holy hill? What are the qualifications for that most important position? Then he gives us the answer. ‘He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up (receives) a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.’ (Ps.15:2-5) Ah Friends, yuh see that the qualifications needed to truly serve Almighty God are basically a pure and LOVING heart and personal integrity, reflecting the character of Jesus. However, they differ substantially, are actually the exact opposite of what the world teaches about everyday survival in this current dog eat dog time. Now we all know that we can never achieve perfection like Jesus did, but nonetheless He expects ALL His followers to work towards it. In other words, striving for excellence in all our doings. But the million-dollar question is whether we’re doing that, whether Christians are truly striving for excellence in all our affairs? I sincerely doubt it because there are still too many non-Christian activities taking place in our lives. Things like anger, resentment, strife, jealousy and envy, many of which are petty and spurious in nature, but nevertheless cause serious divisions and dissensions amongst God’s people. Remember Friends, back in the days when Bruh David wrote, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies and come before Almighty God. But thankfully, with Jesus tearing down the veil that separated the Holy Place from the rest of the temple, (Matt.17:51) all believers can now worship without any restrictions, we can all come before Almighty God now. But that also means, since we now have the Holy Spirit of Jesus indwelling us, to lead and guide and strengthen us, we’re ALL now expected to come up higher than the people of the Old Testament who didn’t have the Holy Spirit automatically indwell all believers. My brethren, Christ is certainly asking a lot of us, but as always, He’s also giving us the tools to do His service. Remember, He’ll never allow us to carry more than we can bear, and will continually be at our side as we work through our problems. And if by chance we stumble and can’t continue, then in His awesome LOVING-kindness, He’ll gently lift us on to His strong shoulders and carry us the rest of the way. That’s the wonderful kind of God we serve and worship, my people! And all God’s children offered up a loud and grateful: ‘Thank You Lord! Thank you for sending Jesus to save us. We praise and bless your Holy Name!’ Now let’s end with some further words of Bruh David on the topic. In Psalm 24; the king of glory, he again asks: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place?’ (Ps.24:3) Then he answers it thus: ‘He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.  Selah.’ (Ps.24:4-6) Ah mih breddren, I’m disturbed by that last verse. Is this generation truly seeking God? It certainly doesn’t seem so. But we can surely dream it; see it through our eyes of faith, can’t we? So today, let’s ponder on all the qualifications necessary to serve God in His sanctuary, His holy hill, and life in general, for they are all the same now. Let’s see how we currently rate, then sincerely promise ourselves and God to do better, to climb that ladder of excellence required by Jesus, and thus fulfill the dream to truly seek God on a personal level, and also to share it with others, so that His righteous kingdom can be further expanded and glorified. Much LOVE my brethren!…on our own…we’ll never be worthy to stand before God…but through the sacrificial blood of Jesus…we’ve all been granted entry…into the majestic throne room of the Most High God Jehovah…
 

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