Jesus; Our Creator, Controller, and Redeemer of All Mankind!

02 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

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

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

Come on down friends, it’s Sunday once again, that means despite the cold weather, (smile) it’s time to join in fellowship in the Lord’s sanctuary with other believers and renew and restore your faith and confidence in Almighty God, through worship, prayer and the reading of His Holy Word! And on tap for today’s worship session is an old 18th century hymn written by ex-army officer turned pastor, Samuel Medley (1738-1799). We know it as the old faithful ‘I know that My Redeemer Lives.’ 

And surely He does, for Jesus Christ after offering once and for all time, His sinless life as a sacrifice for our redemption is alive and kicking, sitting at the right hand of the throne of God waiting for His enemies to be made his footstool. (Heb. 12-13) So, in sweet sacrifices of praise, let’s offer up this champion song in gratitude to our Lord and Saviour, in a soulful but joyful mid-tempo version, revealing from the depths of our hearts, that we truly believe what we’re singing. 

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

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

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

And if you don’t truly know and believe that friends, then I’d say you’re in a spot of bother, and ought to get it fixed right away, for all that the song says of Jesus is true, and the Bible proves it. And we can begin with this assured confirmation from the mouth of the patriarch Job. After the Lord had humiliated him, and his supposed friends were crying him down, he turned on them and proclaimed: ‘For I know that my redeemer (kinsman) liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon the earth.’ (Job 19:25) 

Oh my people, let’s hope that we’re all as sure of those two facts as Job was…our Redeemer lives, and He will be standing beside us on the last day! I like how the scholars put it; ‘But from the depths of degradation he (Job) expresses the confidence that if his case could be recorded for posterity (vs. 23-24), future generations would judge him favourably. Furthermore, he knows confidently that he has a Redeemer. One who will champion his cause and vindicate him. Clearly Job viewed God Himself as the Redeemer.’ 

And it so happens that Job’s words were saved for posterity, and we do judge him favourably, and Jesus Christ has redeemed us all, through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary.  And the word ‘redeemer’ has been used of God all through the Old Testament, for example in Psalm 19:14, a verse which we all know well. Bruh David writes: ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength (rock), and my redeemer.’ 

Isaiah also talks about it when he reminds Israel on God’s behalf that although they were sinful and disobedient, God will not forget them. “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.’ (Is. 44: 22-23) 

Now that’s exactly what we should be doing; singing, breaking forth in true joy, or as Psalm 150 says; ‘Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord (shout Hallelujah)!’ (Ps. 150:6) That’s because the Lord our God has most definitely redeemed us through His Son Jesus Christ! And of a fact, Salvation is the greatest gift our God could ever have given us sinful ingrates! 

And who can deny these poignant and powerful words on the subject of redemption that Jesus spoke to Martha, Lazarus’ sister before He raised Lazarus from the dead. ‘Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’ (John 11:25-26) 

Now friends, that’s a most important question we should all be asking ourselves, and if the answer is no, then get to changing it immediately! And Bruh Paul made it very clear to the Ephesians that their redemption in God, was brought about through Jesus Christ: ‘In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.’ (Eph. 1:7) 

And we could not end with better verses of scripture on the subject of redemption, than these three from the Epistle of Titus. ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people (his own special people), zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.’  (Titus: 2:13-15) 

What more can I say friends, but exhort us to go and do as the apostle says, if we consider ourselves true believers. Much LOVE!

…Jesus became the Redeemer of mankind…because He was the ONLY One capable of doing it…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   20 August 2023 Job 19:25.

20 Aug 2023 Leave a comment

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

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

Well here comes Sunday, here comes Sunday, coming down as a sunny day! Yes friends, today is supposed to be really hot and sunshiny in my neck of the woods. So we need to get to church early, to fellowship with other believers, worship and glorify our wonderful God, give thanks and receive renewed confidence for the upcoming week. Now that doesn’t mean we have to rush through our worship, but try to get to the cool of home before the stifling heat develops. 

With that in mind, let’s get straight to our worship song for today, which most appropriately states ‘I know that My Redeemer Lives.’ And if you are a true believer in Christ Jesus, then you know that for a certain fact. This soulful hymn, so rich in biblical imagery and truth was written by the British Pastor Samuel Medley – 1738-1799. It’s one we all know and LOVE, so let’s sing it now with sincere hearts, raising our voices in sacrificial, soulful praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, who most certainly is very much alive and kicking today! 

Singing: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives, who once was dead; he lives, my ever-living head! He lives triumphant from the grave; he lives eternally to save; he lives all-glorious in the sky; he lives exalted there on high. He lives to bless me with his LOVE; he lives to plead for me above; he lives my hungry soul to feed; he lives to help in time of need. He lives to grant me rich supply; he lives to guide me with his eye; he lives to comfort me when faint; he lives to hear my soul’s complaint. 

He lives to silence all my fears; he lives to wipe away my tears; he lives to calm my troubled heart; he lives all blessings to impart. He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend; he lives and LOVES me to the end; he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing; he lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King. He lives and grants me daily breath; he lives, and I shall conquer death; he lives my mansion to prepare; he lives to bring me safely there. He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives! He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Savior, still the same. Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!’  

Wow! My fellow saints, there’s not an untrue word in that hymn, and for every statement made, there is a scripture that can be brought forth to prove its inerrant truth! And the first thing we need to get our heads around is that our Redeemer LIVES, for that’s the essence of the song as well as our Christian faith! Because if we don’t acknowledge and sincerely believe that Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose from the dead and still lives on both in heaven and our souls, then there’s no substance to our faith. 

And isn’t it strange and rather prophetic that long before Jesus came to earth to do His thing, that the patriarch Job could have made this mind-boggling statement on the subject. When crying out for his friends to have pity on him because the hand of God had touched him with many trials and tribulations, he steadfastly declared (steups!!!): ‘For I know that my redeemer (kinsman) liveth,and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me (how my heart yearns for that day).’ (Job 19:25-27) 

Ah friends, that is such a powerful scripture, especially for Old Testament times. And the scholars offer these interesting explanations on the passage. ‘19:23-27: God has humiliated Job (vs. 8-12), his friends and relatives have abandoned him (vs. 13-20), and he has been reduced to pleading for pity. But from the depths of degradation, he expresses the confidence that if his case could only be recorded for posterity, future generations would judge him favourably (vs. 23-24) Furthermore, he knows confidently that he has a Redeemer (vs. 25) One who will champion His cause and vindicate him. 

The Redeemer is more than an arbiter (9:33) or a witness (16:19) but a Kinsman Redeemer who will avenge him. Clearly Job viewed God Himself as the Redeemer, and the Hebrew word is in fact used often of God (Ps. 19:14, Is, 41:14, etc.) In my flesh (vs. 26) speaks of a resurrected body. Though it may also be translated “apart from my flesh,” as a spirit being, the emphasis of the original means “from the standpoint of my flesh,” in my resurrected body. Here then is clear evidence of the Old Testament belief in the resurrection of the human body.’ 

Now that’s definitely interesting information. And before Jesus came, the Lord Himself declared (chuh!!!) it through the prophet Isaiah. Where He warns: ‘Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee, thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of (by) me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.’ (Is. 44:21-22) It could not get any clearer than that my faithful brethren. 

And since time and space are quickly running out on us, we have to get to Jesus and His New Testament Redemption. And redemption is basically a metaphor for ‘buying back.’ Jesus bought back our sins through His death on the cross, resurrection and ascension. His shed blood paid the high price that was needed to redeem or buy back our sinful souls from the bondage in which the devil held us captive. As Bruh Paul says in Ephesians. ‘In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.’ (Eph. 1:7) 

Meanwhile in his message to Titus, Bruh Paul pens it thus: ‘Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people (his own special people), zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.’ (Titus 2:13-15) 

And my fellow saints, that’s as good a way as any to end today. So, let’s take Bruh Paul’s advice to Titus to heart and go out and ‘speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority,’ while allowing no one to despise us. Much LOVE!

…without the price of Jesus’ sinless blood…which flowed on Calvary’s hill…redemption would not be possible…and we’d still be slaves of Satan… 

 Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ       

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

28 Nov 2021 Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 1 October 2014 Hosea 7:13

01 Oct 2014 Leave a comment

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

Hosea 7:13.   Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemd them, yet they have spoken lies against me.


What’s up my people? It’s Wednesday morning, which means we’re halfway home, half way to the end of the workweek, halfway to our valued weekend. (smile) Please give the Lord some thanks and praise for bringing us this far without any serious problems. And all God’s children said a loud and grateful ‘Praise the Lord!’
 
Yes Friends, our God is definitely worthy of praise and thanks, plenty of them too, in light of all that He has done, is doing, and has promised to do in the future. So please remember to always give praise and be thankful, and check out the new mercies and blessings that are coming down the pipeline today, strictly for us, through His everlasting LOVE and grace.
 
And today I want to also remind us about courage, courage that we all desperately need to make it through this evil and ungodly world. It’s found in an interesting quote from Charles Caleb (C.C) Colton (1780-1832) an eccentric English cleric, writer and collector.
 
It says: ‘Physical courage, which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage, which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another. The former would seem most necessary for the camp; the latter for the council; but to constitute a great man, both are necessary.’
 
Yes my brethren, those words are certainly true! We need a physical kind of courage to fight our physical battles, and also a moral courage, one that’s based on our faith and comes from deep within our souls, to fight the spiritual battles that are always coming against us.
 
Now many of us possess one or the other, but not both, however as C.C says, to be an extraordinary pilgrim, we need to have both. But believe me, it’s not easy to have both, because together they are usually bigger and tougher than many of us can handle.
 
But please remember my fellow believers, that with our omnipotent God, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! So if we come to Him with sincere pleas for both kinds of courage, be assured that He will grant them to us. The problem though is whether we are willing to handle all the stuff that both physical and spiritual courage entail.
 
In any case, I do advise us to seek both kinds, so that we won’t be undone by either aspect, we won’t give the enemy any chance of victory over us, be it in physical or spiritual mode, and thus end up great in the power of the Lord.
 
Now here’s our Bit: ‘Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.’
 
It’s the last day for this Bit… and I hear those who like a new Bit everyday muttering under their breath a thankful ‘Praise the Lord!’ Please remember though Friends that it’s not solely my decision as to how many days to use a Bit. I do what I’m guided to do by Holy Spirit, for He is the real leader of the show. (smile)
 
And today, as we did yesterday, I just want to share a few scripture passages on redemption. That’s where Holy Spirit has led me. And we’ll begin with Bruh Paul writing to the Galatians, re God’s covenant with Abraham.
 
‘But that no man is justified (declared righteous) by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but the man that doeth them shall live in (by) them.
 
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made (having become) a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed be every one that hangeth on a tree; That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.’ (Gal.3:11-14)
 
Yes my brethren, Christ bore our sins, was cursed for us, so that we could be redeemed, so that we could receive His righteousness.
 
Then to Titus, re the Christian life, Bruh Paul proclaims: ‘For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (age);
 
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar (His own special) people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.’ (Titus 211-15)
 
Yes Friends, as the scholars tell us: ‘2:11-15. The salvation that appeared to all men is based on God’s grace that has provided salvation universally for all mankind through the unlimited atonement of Christ.’ And consequently we should try to live righteous and godly lives, looking with hope and faith to His Second Coming.
 
And then John, in his Revelation, re the lion and the Lamb, boldly declares: ‘And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book (scroll), and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred (tribe), and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.’ (Rev.5:8-9)
 
Oh my people that should embolden us, give us all kinds of courage, to live righteously for Christ!
 
And last, but definitely not least, here are two scriptures that we all spout, but few truly believe, and thus are not really integral parts of our lives, as pointed out by our actions.
 
We’re talking about Job’s showing of his great faith: ‘Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways (defend my ways) before him.’ (Job 13:15)
 
And secondly: ‘For I know that my Redeemer (kinsman) liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter (last) day upon earth:’ (Job19:25)
 
Yes Friends, Jesus Christ, our wonderful Redeemer, will be there, standing proud and tall, at the last day, whenever that might be! No doubt about it.
 
Oh my fellow believers, throughout all the ages, our wonderful and mighty God promised redemption, and He finally delivered it through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ. It’s all there in black and white in the Good Book for us to see.
 
And since God gave us the ability to choose, it is now up to us to accept or reject it. I implore us, today, please let’s be wise and choose the free gift of redemption through Jesus Christ nuh, for it is certainly the wisdom of heaven! Much LOVE!
 
…and they remembered…that God was their rock…and the high God…their Redeemer… (Ps.78:35)