Good Shepherds, like Jesus Christ, care very much for their Sheep!

07 Sep 2024 Leave a comment

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

John 10:11.        I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

So it’s Saturday, and are we ever thankful for it because it’s a chance to rest and laze around and do absolutely nothing, if we so desire. (smile) And even if it’s cool, cloudy and interspersed with some heavenly blessings, who cares? It’s our lazy-day Saturday! And to complete the picture, let’s add the finishing touch to it, our Lazy-Day Saturday Prayer. 

So as one voice, in all sincerity and truth: ‘Lord, I want to be with You now. Please slow my thoughts and quiet my soul. Let my muscles relax, my breath deepen. You are here with me – Your peace and LOVE are present. I marvel to think You can’t be contained, that Your LOVE both surrounds and fills me. Thank You for this tenderness, Lord. I praise You for Your unceasing nearness. Increase my awareness of You today, that I may know You all the more. Amen!’ 

And without a doubt, our hearts, minds, bodies and souls will soon feel uplifted with the extra presence of the Lord, because He just LOVES to hear us calling out for more of Him. What a pity more of us can’t be bothered to do that, for then our lives would be ever so much more pleasant and godly. Now, let’s look at an apt, thought provoking poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. This one is interestingly titled ‘Lost Shepherd.’ And by the way, I don’t think I’ve ever shared this one. (smile) 

Please read with me. ‘Sometimes, Lord In my groping effort to find You I have reversed the parable Of the Shepherd and the sheep. In my distorted concept The Shepherd has been lost And the sheep have trudged down Dangerous mountain cliffs to find him. How sadly prone I am to forget That I would not be searching for You If You were not first wanting me. Let me remember always, Lord How foolish it is To stumble through darkness Searching for You When I need only to surrender To your search for me.’ 

Ah friends, how true that is! Sometimes, in our tough and anxious moments, we go searching for the Lord, when all that’s necessary is to surrender ourselves because He has already instituted a search for us. In fact He’s always searching for us, like lost sheep, to bring us back home to His safe and protective fold. And the Bible Promise for our poem today is none other than this one of great assurance, where our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ makes it known: ‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) 

And did He ever back up those words with positive action, by dying on the cross of Calvary to atone for our sins. As Peter tells it in his first epistle. ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again (in return); when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes (wounds) ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (Overseer) of your souls.’ (1 Pet. 2:21-25) Yes my fellow believers, that in a nutshell, is what our Lord and Saviour did to become our wonderful Shepherd! 

And what’s so marvellous about the Lord’s Word, the Bible, are the promises and prophecies made in the early stages that have all come through in the latter times. For instance this scripture about Jesus being the good shepherd. The prophet Isaiah prophesied about it long before Jesus ever came to earth, in these familiar words: ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’ (Is. 40:11) 

And the prophet Jeremiah outlined God’s plans when talking about the New Covenant. ‘Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which was my covenant they brake, although I was an husband to them, saith the Lord: 

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts (minds), and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall know me, from the last of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer. 31:31-34) 

Now what does all of that mean? Here’s a brief explanation from the scholars. ‘In this prophecy Jeremiah foresees the new covenant (testament) that God will make with mankind by extending His grace to the Gentiles. Under this new covenant, God will call out a people for Himself from all the nations of the earth to form the bride of Christ (Rev. 21:1-9). This new and unconditional covenant is better than the old covenant because it rests on the efficacy of Christ’s atonement for the sins of mankind.’ 

And it all began falling into place, when Jesus the good shepherd came to earth and began gathering sheep to His flock, those who were willing to be born again through the Holy Spirit. And that’s why the Bible is such a true and powerful document; for whatever it prophesies, does come to pass. Consequently, we can go home  with these reassuring words from Hebrews. ‘Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect (complete) in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.’ (Heb. 13:20-21) 

And we all know the work that Jesus did on our behalf, setting us an example that He expects us to follow. So let’s get out there and do it nuh! Much LOVE!

…there’s no shepherd as good as Jesus…for His sheep always have the best care…  

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   18 April 2023 Acts 1:5.

18 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

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

Acts 1:5.For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Ah chuh! It’s a chilly, windy, cloudy Tuesday morning in mid-April! The bout of summer weather we had last week has disappeared just as quickly as it came, and now we’re back to regular spring temps, with much wind and rain. But let’s look at it from a positive angle nuh, we’ve gotten a preview taste of summer, and it looks like it’s going to be fine! Glory be! We’ll take a week of hot weather anytime. The important thing though is that we’ll be joyful with whatever we get, and handle it with aplomb, knowing that the Lord’s presence, His grace and mercy are with us, through His Holy Spirit. 

And that brings us back to our refresher course, Introduction to Holy Spirit 101, that we were doing yesterday. Then, we mentioned two prophecies of the Holy Spirit coming upon men at a later date, which happened when Jesus came and then returned to heaven. We quoted the prophecy from Ezekiel, so let’s see what the one from Jeremiah says. ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts (minds), and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer. 31:31-34) 

And all of that happened when Jesus came and did His thing, then returned to heaven. Glory Hallelujah! Yes friends, that New Covenant was made with Israel and with us Gentiles, so that we could be a part of the salvation story. And the major differences there was that animal sacrifices were no longer required to relieve the sins of the people, because Christ’s death had paid for ALL sins, and then the Holy Spirit, which hitherto had only appeared to or dealt with men on a one by one, every so often basis, is now, as the Lord promised, indwelling each believer, and allowing each one to know Him personally. 

That’s the beauty of this new Comforter or Helper that Jesus prayed the Father to send. And it’s interesting to note that before ascending back to heaven, He told the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, ‘but wait for the promise of the Father, which saith he, ye have heard of (from) me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.’ (Acts 1:4-5) 

Now that must have been hard for the disciples to understand, because the Good Book tells us that ‘When they therefore were come together, (at the Mount of Olives) they (the disciples) asked him, saying, Lord, will thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times the Father hath put in his own power (authority). But ye shall receive power, after that (when) the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both from Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.’ (Acts 1:6-8) 

Then Jesus was taken up into the clouds and they saw Him gradually disappear. Not like the other times after His resurrection when He suddenly appeared and then disappeared. This was an intimation that it was final. Although they might not have understood that at the time. But He would not show up to them again until His Second Coming. And like obedient disciples, they went back to Jerusalem to wait for the fateful moment, for the power of the Holy Ghost to fall on, to baptize them. 

And we all know that this happened on the Day of Pentecost, when the whole church, about a hundred and twenty of them were in an upper room, ‘all with one accord (one purpose or mind) in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven (divided) tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues (languages), as the spirit gave them utterance.’ (Acts 2:1-4) 

Wow! What an occasion that must have been; a baptism of enormous significance in our Christian faith. That’s because prior to the coming of the Holy Ghost to indwell those first believers on that Pentecost Day, the Holy Spirit’s work had been done from without, (the Spirit came upon), and it was temporary, and only fell for exceptional reasons. However, after that Pentecost Day, the Holy Spirit automatically indwells each and every believer. Once they come to faith, every believer receives the baptism of the Spirit. 

But there’s an important difference we should all note, that’s between the baptism and the filling of the Holy Spirit. The scholars explain that ‘the baptism is permanent, happening once and for all. But the filling is not received by all believers and thus is ongoing, occurring continuously as seen in the present tense imperative of Ephesians 5:18: ‘And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess (dissipation); but be filled with the Spirit.’ Yes my brethren we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that’s allow the Spirit to fill us with God’s own character, life and values, and not allow the devil to fill us with wine, so that we can live a godly not a dissipated life. 

And that concludes our refresher course in the Introduction to Holy Spirit 101! Thanks for coming, but please note that that’s just an introductory course, (smile) now you have to do some studying on your own, first to assimilate all that we’ve spoken of, then reach the point where you can move on to a higher class on the subject. (smile) Now, for those of us truly interested in living for Christ, let’s go home declaring (awright!!!) our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. 

As one strong voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

Now let’s get out there and do just that; share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others! Much LOVE!

…don’t be contented with mere baptism of the Holy Spirit…but seek to be continually filled with the Spirit of God…for that’s where the abundant life is at… 

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit 26 February 2021 Psalm 90:4.

26 Feb 2021 Leave a comment

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

Psalm 90:4.     ​​For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and a watch in the night.

Oh mih people, the ole fella’s at a loss for a good, moving, encouraging opening statement this Friday morning! Would you believe it? (smile) Strange things do happen at times yes! But you can bet your bottom dollar that before we finish today, I will have too many words to say, with the Lord’s help obviously. (smile) 

Anyway, it’s a bright sunshiny day outside, so there’s no reason why we should not have a bright, sunshiny day on the inside also, especially when we have the amazing Spirit of Christ Jesus lighting up our souls! And all God’s children said a loud, proud and grateful ‘Amen!’ For there’s nothing in this world as good and wonderful as the Holy Spirit of Christ lighting up our inner being! And that’s a promise ourawesomeand ever-faithful God made to His people many many moons ago. 

Hear the Good Book tell it nuh, through the prophet Jeremiah. ‘But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, (sufferation for disobedience) saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts (mind), and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer. 31:33-34) 

And that’s exactly what the Lord did my friends, through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross at Calvary, His death, resurrection, ascension and the filling of His people with the Holy Spirit on that long ago Pentecost morn! Glory be! Bless His holy name! That just goes to show how faithful our great God is! He keeps ALL the promises He makes! But we have to abide with His timing…and that causes us a lot of problems, because in today’s fast paced world, we want everything now for now, if not yesterday! (smile) 

But God doesn’t count days and hours and minutes like we do. Moses said it thus in Psalm 90.‘For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and a watch in the night.’(Ps. 90:4) Meanwhile, Peter, in quoting Moses, said it this way. ‘But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.’ (2 Pet. 3:8-9) 

Yes friends, our God moves in His own sphere of time which is ever so much higher than ours, and thus incomprehensible to our finite and puny minds. That means abiding in His eternal timetable is ever so important for the followers of Christ, if we are to ever truly receive the best that He has for us. And one thing we surely have today in our modern society is an attitude of gross impatience. Consequently, we are always at odds with the Lord re timing, His timing in particular. 

And for our info, the Lord is NEVER late. He might be a bit tardy in our estimation, but NEVER late. And that I can testify to. However, we badly need to get up off our fat pride and ego and remember that He is the Controller and we are the controlled, and we are to move at His pace, not the other way around. But despite our disobedience and rebellion, the Lord is good towards us as Peter says above. He is long-suffering, patient and generous, and puts up with our faults and foibles like a benevolent Father. 

Why? Because that is exactly whom and what He is, a benevolent Father, not wanting any of His creation, His children, to suffer eternal death and damnation, but that all of them should come to repentance, receive salvation through belief in His Son Jesus Christ, whom He made to be Lord and Saviour for that express purpose. Yes my brethren, that’s the Lord’s greatest wish. So why are we so annoyed with Him eh? All He wants is what’s best for us. 

But remember we are in a partnership, thus both parties have a part to play. The Lord’s played His part already; giving us the opportunity to receive eternal life through faith in Christ. It now behooves us to do our part; accept that free and bountiful gift with gratitude and stop complaining about things we know nothing about. Just come to Him in humble obeisance, with prayer and thanksgiving, and do what He asks of us. That’s what it all boils down to. 

So let’s do just that right now nuh, through our Friday Chant. As one strong voice: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. Yuh know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and the racial strife causing. We not accustomed to that kind of life Lord, and it really telling on us. And we know we can’t handle it on our own, that we desperately need your help. 

Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the sure and wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. 

And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, so that we can avoid any more serious setbacks. And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to also bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion because of the way we, your faithful believers, handle the situation. 

Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

So, having pleaded so sincerely with the Lord, what’s it going to be now eh my people? Are we going to behave like faithful followers; repent and observe His rules and regulations? I truly hope so, otherwise we just going to keep on suffering for our gross disobedience and rebellion. Much LOVE!

…the Lord is long-suffering…but even His patience will run out at some time…so be warned… 

P.S.I did not forget the ordinary workingman’s spiel, he just had nothing to say. (smile)Much LOVE! 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 January 2019 Jeremiah 31:31.

14 Jan 2019 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 31:31.   ​Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Jacob.
 

Awright folks it’s Monday once again…and it’s somewhat cloudy and a tad depressing…so what eh? No big deal, for we are all well equipped to deal with it. We just don’t put out that heavenly power that we possess. We allow the negative thoughts of the new workweek to oppress us and make us anxious. 

Oh my people, instead of letting Monday come up over us, with the help of Jesus, we ought to come up over it! This is a new year and we’re supposed to be coming closer to Jesus, and one of the things that needs to happen is that we become better able to deal with Mondays and all its negative connotations. Right ho! We simply need to be better prepared. 

Anyway, seeing that our God is gracious and merciful and forgiving and kind, He’s given us a way to embrace all that He is and has to conquer those fearful feelings of Monday. It’s appropriately called our Monday Morning Battle Hymn! It’s the undisputed antidote for all that ails us on a Monday morning. So let’s declare it now with some enthusiasm and sincerity. 

In unison: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. 

We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. 

But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your incredible aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. 

Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ 

Wowee! Wowee! Just feel the Holy Spirit rise within us now and get all the adrenaline flowing and our own spirits soaring to high heaven! We’re feeling like true conquerors through Him who LOVED us! Yes friends, that’s the power of prayer…especially where two or three are gathered together and agree on it! Mamacita! 

Ah mih people, I hope all of this also puts a smile on our faces and some joy in our souls, because our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was indeed a person who smiled a lot and was always joyful, even through His trials and tribulations. ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33)

We obviously don’t have all the parts that He had, but we do have sufficient to keep us joyful throughout our earthly sojourn. And as always, it’s for OUR benefit, not God’s! So why feel bad when you can feel good eh? No reason whatsoever! 

 Now let’s see what the Good Book has to offer us this glorious morning, this awesome day in the life! Give our amazing God some thanks and praise for allowing us to see another bountiful day on this precious earth nuh! 

And the Good Book reminds us today of these faithful words of our God, spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Jacob.

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord.’ Jer.31:31-32). 

Oh my people, I can’t help but keep on declaring (spelled it wrong): ‘What a wonderful God we serve and worship!’ Even though His people broke their covenant with Him, He was still ready, willing and able to make another one with them; and an even better one.

‘But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts (minds), and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth (disturbs) the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name.’ (Jer.31:33-35) 

Oh Mama Mia! What an awesome and faithful promise from the Creator of the universe my brethren! Only a real FOOL would not accept such an exceptional offer! 

And if you didn’t realize what all of that was about, listen to this explanation from the scholars. ‘31:31 New Covenant: In this prophecy Jeremiah foresees the new covenant (“testament”) that God will make with mankind by extending His grace to the Gentiles. Under this new covenant, God will call out a people for Himself from all the nations of the earth to form the bride of Christ (Rev.21:1-9).

This new an unconditional covenant is better than the old covenant because it rests on the efficacy of Christ’s atonement for the sins of mankind (Heb.8:10-12). First Ref. Jer.31:31; Primary Ref. Luke 22:17-20; cf. Eph.1:10.)’ 

Yes friends, it was all about the coming of Christ, our inclusion into the house of God as His beloved children and the forgiveness of our sins! About the Holy Spirit that now dwells in each and every one of us, to lead and guide us in a godly manner on this ungodly earth!

The same Holy Spirit that just lifted our spirits and made us feel joyful! And yuh want to tell me that our God isn’t faithful and true to ALL of His promises? That’s foolishness, utter rubbish yes man! 

So let’s get out there this Monday and just do Jesus’ work yes and ignore all the chupidness that the world wants to tell us! Cause we are beloved children of God! That’s who we are! Glory Hallelujah! That’s certainly something to celebrate, so let’s do it nuh! Much LOVE!

…that in the dispensation of the fullness of times…he might gather together in ONE…ALL things in Christ…which are in heaven…and which are on earth…even in him… (Eph.1:10)

 

 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 December 2014 Jeremiah 31:31

14 Dec 2014 Leave a comment

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

Jeremiah 31:31. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. 
 
Oh Friends, it’s a new week! Yeh! And today, Sunday, is the first day in it. So let’s give our wonderful Creator and God big thanks of praise and glory for bringing us safely through the dark, demon-filled night into the bright, brilliant, bountiful and ever so beautiful Son-light of Jesus Christ, our most LOVING Lord and Saviour!
 
And on this auspicious day of the Lord, the Sabbath, let’s joyfully remember the reason for the seasons we’re celebrating; Advent, the eagerly awaited expectation of the Christ child; Christmas, the actual birth of the Christ child.
 
And all God’s people gave out with a heartwarming shout of grateful praise. ‘Thank You heavenly Father, for sending Jesus to sacrifice and atone for our sins. We’re not worthy of Your LOVE, but You still bless us with it because You are a merciful and ever-LOVING God.
 
We praise Your Holy Name, and will endeavour to live lives that are pleasing to You, and glorify You. This we pray in the name of Jesus, whose birth at Christmas gave us hope for a new future, heralded a new era in our lives, and whose death on the cross at Calvary, along with His resurrection and ascension brought Your promise of a new covenant to pass.
 
And we can’t end without saying a big, big thank You to Jesus for selflessly sacrificing His holy and sinless life for us. He didn’t have to do it. But He was obedient to Your will. Help us to be likewise obedient to Your dictates. Thank You Jesus! We bow to Your eternal majesty, and confess that You are indeed Lord of All! Amen.’
 
Ah mih people, that prayer might seem long and disjointed, but the important thing is that it came from the heart, as all prayers ought to, regardless of their length or correctness of language. (smile) And please don’t forget that today is the day for worship, praise and fellowship with both man and God.
 
Please let’s fill God’s sanctuaries with our bodies as well as with joy, thanks and gladness of heart, because our Bit is now in a sure mode of fulfillment. ‘Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah.’
 
Yes Friends, that wonderful promise was set in motion through Christ’s birth and His selfless actions as a young man. We’re now awaiting its culmination through His Second Coming in blazing glory!
 
And today I want to share some important explanations of the scholars, re that covenant, because they are invaluable in helping us to understand it. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to get in, because it takes up almost an entire page of the Good Book.
 
But here goes: ’31:31-34. The new covenant is the culmination of God’s covenant-making with Israel. It may be viewed as a document of God’s prophetic programme and of His policies of administration.
 
As an administrative document, it renders obsolete and succeeds the old Sinaitic covenant that served as the manual of procedure for carrying out the moral, civil, and ceremonial regulations relative to national Israel in the pre-Christian era (cf. Deut.7:6-11; Heb.8:7-13).
 
Some features of the old covenant are carried over into the new covenant: (1) There is in the new covenant a stress on the importance of the unchangeable principles of God’s law.
 
However, these will now be written not on stone but in the hearts of God’s people – they will become part of their inward code for living, and will conform in all respects to the moral law of the Scriptures.
 
Accordingly, the ideal that the old covenant called for (cf. Deut. 6:6-7; 10:16; 30:6) in external commandments will be internalized under the terms of the new covenant.
 
(2) With the establishment of the covenant at Sinai, Israel had become nationally God’s people (Ex. 6:6-7; 19:5-6). As such, they were to be a faithful and obedient people, reflecting His standards in their lives (Deut. 14:1-2; 26:16-19).
 
In a far greater way, the intimacy of the believer with God makes the realization of God’s relation to His people under the terms of the new covenant to be a full and living experience. Moreover, not just the Israelites but all believers (those who know God, v.34) are now called under the new covenant my people. (See 2 Cor.6:16; Gal.3:6-9, 15-18, 26-29; Titus 2:14)
 
These features of vital inwardness and a universality of the knowledge of God stand out as the two great distinctive elements in the new covenant.
 
(3) A third feature that represents continuity with the old covenant, yet superiority under the new covenant is the matter of forgiveness. Although God is said to forgive their iniquity under the administration of the Sinaitic covenant (Ex.34:6-7; Num.14:18; Deut.5:9-10; cf. Ps.86:15; Joel 2:13), in the stipulations of the new covenant, God will remember their sin no more.
 
This feature is a reminder that men in Old Testament times were saved in anticipation of the finished work of Calvary. Under the old economy, believers approached God in their worship experience through human mediators (Ex.20:19); but with the completed redemption by Christ, the members of the family of God now have direct access to God (cf. 1 Tim.2:5-6; Titus 2:11-14, 3:5-7; Heb. 9:1-10:22).
 
Where full forgiveness has been granted, there is no more remembrance of sin. Positionally and experientially, with the living reality of both God’s law in the heart and the indwelling Christ (Col.1:20-27) in the believer, there is not only full and continuous forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:8-9), but full provision for faithful and victorious living.’
 
And we’ll stop there for today. I do hope that some of that explanation does improve our understanding of some of the differences between the old and new covenants. I apologize for some of the big words and terms the scholars use that might have you running to your dictionary. But that’s just the nature of the beast – scholars just use big words because they feel that shows their scholarship. (smile)
 
So basically Friends, the new covenant writes God’s law in our hearts, rather than on outward things like tablets of stone; allows us to go directly to God not through some other human mediator, and in addition to forgiving our sins, now throws them far behind God’s back, never to be remembered again.
 
As I keep saying, what a wonderful God we serve and worship! And whoever rejects Him is a total idiot. Much LOVE!
 
…to know, know, know Him…is to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Him…