The Amazing Faithfulness of God To His Promises And His People!

18 Mar 2025 Leave a comment

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

2 Thessalonians 3:3.       But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you safe from evil (the evil one).

And isn’t it wonderful to have another sun-filled, not too cold winter’s day? (smile) But of course! Now, let’s hope that spring is truly in the offing and winter isn’t playing an untimely joke on us, only to come roaring back with a vengeance in the next little while. However it turns out though, we believers will do well in handling the situation because we have an awesome protector…the Best there is…that’s the God of All Creation! And if we stick sincerely with Him, then all will be well with us. 

And on that note, I want to share this prayer on Protection from the recent Prayer Cards issued by the In Touch Organization. So please pray with me: ‘God, how grateful I am for Your protection. The evil in this world may threaten, but it’s no match for You. Truly You are sovereign over all heaven and earth. Thank You for Your promise to watch over those who LOVE You. Please keep me safe in Your care. Guide me away from danger and temptation. Destroy every attempt of the evil one to bring me harm. I praise and thank You, God, that I can rest confidently in the shelter of your hand. Amen!’ 

And indeed, we can rest confidently under the shelter of God’s omnipotent hand my fellow believers! Why? Because He’s made numerous promises in His Word to that effect, and we know that His promises are always faithful and totally kept. And if you don’t believe me, then let’s check His Word and review some of those faithful promises of protection. And our first scripture passage will be one the prayer writers referenced, to which I’ll add the two verses before it so we can get the full context of Bruh Paul’s message on the Faithfulness of our God. 

‘Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course (run free), and be glorified, even as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you safe from evil (the evil one).’ (2 Thess. 3:1-3) And the scholars tell us that there Bruh Paul is contrasting the unfaithfulness of men to the faithfulness of God, which is a favourite topic of his. And they reference a couple of scriptures on the subject (1 Cor. 10:13, 1 Thess. 5:24, 2 Tim. 2:13) 

So let’s look at them nuh. This first one we all know and quote all the time. ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13) Meanwhile, the second one, with an added verse from Bruh Paul’s final exhortations to the Thessalonians is this: ‘And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.’ (1Thess. 5:23-24) 

And the last reference with a couple of added verses for enlightenment says: ‘It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer (endure), we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.’ (2 Tim. 2:11-13) And that’s the gospel truth my people; our God cannot deny what He is. He cannot turn off His LOVE, faithfulness, compassion, holiness, or none of His other major attributes! That’s why He’s such a great, faithful and unchangeable God! 

Now, we still have space for a couple of other faithful scripture references, like this one that we all know: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)’ (Heb. 10:23) Then there are these words from Moses to the children of Israel, as he lets them know that God had chosen them as his people. ‘Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that LOVE him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that (delay with him who) hateth him, he will repay him to his face.’ (Deut. 7:9-10) 

Yes friends, our God is faithful on either side of the coin, (smile) so it’s wise to stay on His good side. And what about these words from that great Psalm 91, which features God as our refuge and hiding place. ‘I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust… Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the most High thy habitation (dwelling place); There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh (near) thy dwelling….

Because he hath set his LOVE upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. he shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life (length of days) will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.’ (Ps. 91:2, 9-10, 14-16) That’s how it goes when you know the Lord and consistently make Him your go to person my fellow believers. 

And we’ll end our scriptures on God’s faithfulness with these awesome and truthful words from Jeremiah in his Lamentations. ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness…It is good that a man should both hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.’ (Lam. 3:22-23, 26) Truer words were never spoken my brethren! It’s only because of God’s great compassion and faithfulness that we haven’t been long ago wiped off the map for our total disobedience and abominable evildoings. Instead, we ought to be praising Him and giving much thanks for His faithfulness to us woeful ingrates. 

Now, let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting the whole world know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere 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!’ 

And having said that, we’re now duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…because of God’s true, holy and unchangeable nature…He cannot be anything other than faithful to His promises and His people…

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

Today’s Scrip-Bit   9 April 2023 Revelation 1:17.

09 Apr 2023 Leave a comment

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

Revelation 1:17.Fear not: I am the first and the last.

It’s Sunday friends, Easter Sunday, and Christ has risen from the grave! Yes, He has! The tomb is empty, and He’s been seen walking in the garden. Glory Hallelujah! That makes this day, possibly the most marvellous, momentous and meaningful day in the history of mankind! Why? Because it means that since Christ has risen from the dead, and is now alive forever more, whosever believes in Him will also rise from the dead and have eternal life! Glory be, my fellow believers! 

As Bruh Paul wrote to the church at Rome: ‘Now if we be dead (died) with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.’ (Rom. 6:8-9) We know that Jesus wasn’t the first person who was raised from the dead, but He was the first one who was raised, never to die again! That’s because with His resurrection He conquered Satan, fought him mano a mano, took away the keys of death from Him, left him powerless. 

He says it quite clearly to John in Revelation as John lies like dead at His feet. ‘…Fear not: I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell (hades) and of death.’ (Rev. 1:17-18) That means our faith in Christ is absolutely worthwhile, we have been liberated from sin by His resurrection. But enough talk, let’s get to some worship, as we sing this old but wonderful hymn, written by the master hymnist Charles Wesley, and most appropriately titled, ‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, Alleluia!’ 

And we have an interesting introduction from the Simple Series musical ‘Mercy Tree’ which was based on the album inspired by the message and mission of Billy Graham, titled ‘My Hope.’ So, let’s declare it (awright!!!) together. ‘We have gathered today to lift up the name of Jesus. We rejoice in His victory over sin and the cross. Our cries of ‘Hosanna! Save us now!’ have been answered. Our Redeemer has conquered death! And because we are certain of that, we have reason to celebrate.’ 

Now, it’s time to get on with that celebration. Therefore, in an upbeat tempo, in loud and sincere voice, with the rampant joy in our hearts flowing out through our words and actions, let’s offer up our sweet sacrificial praises to heaven. Singing: ‘ Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where’s thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to LOVE, Alleluia!’ 

Ah friends, That’s such a beautiful collection of scriptural statements, based on a number of different places in the Bible, for instance, Matthew 28:6, Acts 2:32, 1 Peter 3:18 and Revelation 1:17-18, as well as the varying versions of Christ’s resurrection as outlined by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. However, as the scholars tell us: ‘All four gospels essentially agree in reporting the facts of the Resurrection. The variety of details in each account supplement rather than contradict one another.’ 

We see in Matthew 28, where there was a great earthquake early on the morning of the resurrection, and when the Mary’s came to check out the situation, to finish embalming Christ, they found the giant stone that had guarded the tomb’s entrance rolled back by an angel of the Lord and he sat on it. ‘His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment (clothing) white as snow. And for fear of him the keepers (guards) did shake, and became as dead men. 

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come see the place where he lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and, behold he goeth before you into Galilee; there ye shall see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.’ (Matt. 28:3-8) 

Now isn’t that a rather interesting comment, the women were filled with fear and great joy? I guess such an important occasion studded with such immense surprise is able to produce those two emotions simultaneously. And I’m truly sorry my fellow saints that we have neither time nor space to get into the details of the other gospels, like specific accounts of Peter and John running to the tomb after hearing the news, Peter going in and finding it empty. Then Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus in the garden and taking Him for a groundskeeper, as well as the two disciples walking with Jesus along the road to Emmaus and not recognizing Him. And Jesus appearing to the disciples on the beach and in the Upper Room a few days later. 

You’ll just have to read all the gospels to get the full gist of what happened, and how important Christ’s Resurrection was back then, and still is today. It’s the very foundation of our faith, for without it our faith is futile, without any sound basis. Bruh Paul says it quite clearly in his first epistle to the church at Corinth, when some questioned the resurrection. ‘But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain (futile), and your faith is also vain (futile).’ (1 Cor. 15:13-14) 

It’s as simple as that my people. If Christ didn’t rise from the dead, then our faith is false, futile and worthless. But the important thing is that we know Christ truly rose from the dead because He was seen by many people after His resurrection, even showing the disciples, in particular, Thomas the nail prints in His hands. So please let’s discount any information to the contrary and rejoice greatly, because our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed risen today on Easter Sunday! Alleluia! Much LOVE!

…there’s nothing else worth believing…but Christ’s Resurrection…  

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