Whose Day Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #128

06 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Broken Hearts, Comfort, Encouragement, Eternal Consequences, Eternity is Long, The Crucified Life, The Gospel, This IS The Day, This is the Way

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Whose Day Is It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #128

“I will praise thee:

for thou hast heard me,

and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused

is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:21-243

Most are familiar with verse 24 of this Psalm, for this IS the DAY that God has made, and HE has given it to us to use to praise HIM, to use to HIS glory, but also to remember all that HE has done for us IN JESUS!   I don’t know that I’ve ever read these verses with this particular context in mind, but it is amazing how God speaks to us in unique ways, and at unexpected times and places, and I am so glad that HE does!  For as I sit here writing this article, I just praise HIM so much for this day–for HIS sweet presence, and HIS love, grace and mercy showered down on me/us!

We’ve been traveling and had some time with friends and family but had to come home a bit earlier than we had planned, but you see, God’s plans are always the ones that we want–even the seemingly ‘untimely’ things!  We had a safe trip but a longer than expected drive, and yet Jesus led our way, and we praise HIM for each day; for you see, it’s all about the love of Jesus which leads and directs our steps, and as we pursue HIM in all of our ways, ever remembering the “Lamb of God who takesth away the sin of the world”!  Yet, we also want to remember and tie together the references to Jesus, who was not only “The Lamb of God”, but HE is also the “stone which the builders refused”!  This precious Lamb came to be the “cornerstone” of our salvation–HE came to die for you and me!

But we don’t want to miss the reference to this being GOD’S PLAN!  I have often had people ask me about the New Testament and how it is the picture of God’s plan “B” since plan “A”, the law, had failed; to which I almost cry out loud…”no, no, no”!  God has never had a plan “B”, HIS plan has always been Jesus–Calvary–and praise HIS name, the Resurrection of JESUS Christ my Lord!!  Oh, glory, glory, glory!  Ain’t God good?  Yes, HE is! This is what the Psalmist is proclaiming–don’t miss it:

“This is the LORD’S doing;

it is marvellous in our eyes”!

The Apostles confirmed this truth as they proclaimed the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost.  Please don’t miss the beauty that the Psalmist was proclaiming all those hundreds of years before it took place.  Not an accident, or coincidence, or even ‘fate’–no, my friends, it was the “determinate counsel…of God” that planned the amazing work of salvation for you and me!!!  The plan that cost God His Son pouring out HIS precious blood on a cruel Roman cross!  Love ran red down through time for you and me–to TODAY!!!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him,

being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Acts 2:22-24                         (And it will bless your heart to read through this entire chapter!)

I pray that you will heed the call of God on your heart!  Don’t miss the “cornerstone” by disregard or neglect, HE came to save “whosoever believeth on HIM”; not with just lip service but true repentance from my sin/your sin, and faith/trust in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for that sin!  So, in closing, just a few scriptures that paint a wonderful picture of what our Redeemer did for us through HIS precious blood!

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,” Revelation 1:5

“Elect according to the foreknowledge

of God the Father,

through sanctification of the Spirit,

unto obedience

and sprinkling of the blood

of Jesus Christ:

Grace unto you,

and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

which according to his abundant mercy

hath begotten us again

unto a lively hope

by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible,

and undefiled,

and that fadeth not away,

reserved in heaven

for you,” 1 Peter 1:2-4

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

May we rejoice in each “today” that God grants you and me; may we bring joy to others, glory to God, and sing His praises for “THIS DAY” that HE has made for us!  I pray that you find HIS joy and peace sufficient for your every need.  He has NEVER let me down, even though I have failed HIM again and again….  I thank HIM for His faithfulness no matter the circumstances.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness;

and be content with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”  Hebrews 13:5-6

Trust HIM–HE made the day–and HE MADE YOU!!!  And as a preacher friend of mine says, “God never says, “OOOPS”!

Amen and Amen!!!!

Trusting To What/Who??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #127

01 Friday Sep 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Father--heavenly and earthly, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Trusting To What/Who??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #127

Trust is an issue in our world today–in fact it’s always been an issue; whether it was Eve trusting/believing the wrong one, or Abraham and Sarah trusting to their own wisdom, or Saul trusting to his own reasoning, or even Peter trusting to his flesh to help him stand fast.  But there is really only One Person, One way in which we can be sure of that in which we place our faith, confidence, and belief, and assurance–JESUS!  The author of the Book of Hebrews has some great insight as he reminds us of the superiority of JESUS over anything or anyone else.

“But we see Jesus,

who was made a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honour;

that he

by the grace of God

should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him,

for whom are all things,

and by whom are all things,

in bringing many sons unto glory,

to make the captain of their salvation perfect

through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth

and they who are sanctified

are all of one:

for which cause

he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying,

I will declare thy name

unto my brethren,

in the midst of the church

will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again,

I will put my trust in him.

And again,

Behold I and the children

which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers

of flesh and blood,

he also himself likewise

took part of the same;

that through death

he might destroy him that had the power

of death,

that is,

the devil;

15 And deliver them

who through fear of death

were all their lifetime

subject to bondage.”  Hebrews 2:9-15

Jesus came to die in my place and yours, that we might have life in HIM; that we could place our confidence, trust, and faith in THE ONE who died that we could have eternal life and live with HIM!  Hebrews goes on to remind us that HE is ever there and faithful.  YOU can trust JESUS!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul

and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things are naked and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched with the feeling

of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:12-16

YOU can trust to God’s Word, God’s care, and God’s provision in JESUS! Run to HIM not the world–they can’t deliver!  JESUS can and does–HE already gave HIS life for YOU and me!

Hear Paul’s assurance to all who will come to Jesus.

“Who gave himself for us,

that he might redeem us from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself a peculiar people,

zealous of good works.”  Titus 2:14

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

He’s waiting for YOU!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

One Of Them??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #126

27 Sunday Aug 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Father Forgive Them, God's love, Grace, Jesus IN You!, Jesus Is Coming!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, Salvation, Saved by grace

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One Of Them??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #126

Are you one of “them”?  Well, if you’re not you’re in trouble.  I’m referring to the “them” for whom Jesus prayed from the cross:

“And when they were come to the place

which is called Calvary,

there they crucified him,

and the malefactors,

one on the right hand,

and the other on the left. 

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them;

for they know not what they do.

And they parted his raiment,

and cast lots.

35 And the people stood beholding.” Luke 23:33-35

Here in Luke’s account, we see Jesus dying with sinners–the guiltless Son of God–dying for sinful men, amongst sinful men.  Isaiah describes this in Isaiah 53.

“And he made his grave with the wicked,

 and with the rich in his death;

because he had done no violence,

neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;

he hath put him to grief:

when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,

he shall see his seed,

he shall prolong his days,

and the pleasure of the LORD

shall prosper in his hand.”  Isaiah 53:9-10

Jesus fulfilled both parts of verse 9, HE died with the “wicked”, the malefactors, the terrorists who were crucified at the same time and place as Jesus; the second part of this prophecy was fulfilled by His burial in the borrowed tomb of a rich man, Joseph of Arimathaea.

“Joseph of Arimathaea,

an honourable counsellor,

which also waited for the kingdom of God,

came, and went in boldly unto Pilate,

and craved the body of Jesus.”  Mark 14:43

Jesus came to die for you and me–the very people, the “them” that watched HIM die crucified, knew HE was buried, and had to decide if they would believe in HIS resurrection for salvation!  He didn’t come for “good people” but for sinners, will you come?

“And Jesus answering said unto them,

They that are whole

need not a physician;

but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous,

but sinners

to repentance.”  Luke 5:31-32

Paul makes this clear in his letter to the Roman believers, and we must realize this in our sharing of the gospel, only those who can see their lostness (by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit) can be saved. I wish I had time to share Romans 1 through 3 with you here, but I encourage you to read it through this week.  My summation of those three chapters is: chapter 1–the “UN”-righteous; chapter 2– the “SELF” righteous; chapter 3–the “NONE” righteous!  We can never come to Jesus in our own “righteousness”, our own “value”, our own “goodness”, or our own “self-worth”!  We must see our sin as sin and bow before the redeemer for mercy and grace!  Let’s dive into part of Romans 5.

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice

in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad

in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom

we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:1-11

And another of Paul’s amazing pictures of the beauty of grace by faith that is found IN Jesus, crucified, risen, and coming again!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

 it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Are you one of the “them” who has come to Jesus to receive HIS forgiveness; or are you going your own way.  There’s only one way to God, and JESUS IS IT!

“This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:11-12

Won’t you join us “them”s?  Jesus loves you and so do I!

Amen and Amen!!!

Comic Relief??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #125

23 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by in A heart of faith, Abiding In Jesus, Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Laughter is good medicine

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Comic Relief??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #125

 

Just a short note this morning to hopefully give you a smile and a laugh, for even scripture encourages us to laugh.  And my friends, I’m sitting here still laughing.

“A merry heart

doeth good like a medicine:

but a broken spirit

drieth the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

and our tongue with singing:

then said they among the heathen,

The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us;

whereof we are glad.”  Psalm 126:2-3

This morning started off a bit stressful, for we had lost something of value and searched high and low for it.  Then we found it and the stress just kind of hung overhead, and just passing some time, I sent my son a text to see if he got some money I had sent via “text”, he replied no!  He replied, “I wasn’t expecting it, so I deleted the money thinking it was a phishing scheme”!!  Well, I just cracked up, and believe me friends, I needed that ‘comic relief’!  God is so good and sends what we need when we need it, and I praise Him that we found our lost item, and that HE sent some laughter to relieve the stress that I seem to be regularly subject to. (And yes, I resent the money! And he’s expecting it this time!)

In a word–“ain’t God good all the time?”?  YES, HE IS–good all the time, and I am grateful, how about you?  Blessings on you and yours dear ones, and may God send you some laughter today.  I love it.

Amen and Amen!!!

Revival Or Recycle??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #124

20 Sunday Aug 2023

Posted by in A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Born Again, Looking Unto Jesus, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Remember, Renewing or Reviewing, REvival, Revival or Recycle?, Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin

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Revival Or Recycle??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #124

I have what will probably be a short post for today as we’ve been out several times today in the heat and it is treacherous!  I’m hot and tired, but I have a few things I’d like to share this evening for your consideration.  A word that I hope will challenge and encourage each of us to ‘examine’ ourselves before God and be sure that we know whose we are, and what we’ve been called to be and do (if we’ve answered God’s call to salvation)!

As the title implies, I want us to consider the difference between ‘recycling’ and ‘Revival’!  I like to recycle and yet it is often hard to find places to recycle items that need recycling. We often try to apply ‘recycling’ principles to our spiritual life; we want to ‘try over’, ‘try harder’, as a once popular quote implied, putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t’ change the pig!  We often apply these kinds of ideas to life–we don’t want to face God the way we are, yet we don’t really want to live HIS way.  We don’t want to face our sin, we just want to justify it, clean it up, call it something else, or convince ourselves that “everyone else is doing it” so that makes it OK!  God has a different perspective–and revival and recycling are two very different things.  When we sing “Revive Us Again”, we need to understand that revival can only come to people who have ‘come to life’ IN Jesus.

Paul paints an amazing (yet often offensive) truth about sin and life.  I’d like us to consider this truth today.

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy,

for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved😉

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace

in his kindness toward us

through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:1-10

To begin with, “quickened” means to make alive, and the only way for us to have spiritual life is to be “born again” so that we have Jesus’ life IN us (being “born again” is referring to “life” from Jesus, in Jesus, and through HIS blood sacrifice).

“But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man, but

of God.”  John 1:12-13

And as John went on to record the very words of our Lord, I’d like to simply compile some truths from various portions of scripture.

“….Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born

of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God”. John 3:5

“The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10-11

One of Jesus’ most profound statements of “truth” is that “life” is found only in HIM, and from ‘the beginning’, all life came from God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”   John 14:6

“All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.    

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.”  John 1:3-4

 So, let’s consider what we have observed; Paul makes it clear to the Ephesian believers that their “new” life came from Jesus, because we were all “dead in sins” until God, through Jesus “when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;”.  We were “dead” in sin, and only Jesus can and will give “new life”!  According to John 1, we see that we can’t work up this “new life”–we can’t inherit it by DNA–we can’t work it up by our “will”–and we can’t receive it because someone else “worked it up” for us!  Only Jesus can give LIFE!  And only those who have life can be ‘revived’!

“Wilt thou not revive us again:

that thy people may rejoice in thee?”  Psalm 85:6

Jesus gives us new life, for the merciful God of the universe “gave HIS only begotten Son” that by HIS sacrifice we could have “Life” –real life, abundant life, eternal life!  And HE will revive us when we stumble, because He is ever working to conform us into the image of Jesus!  Oh, what a delight to know that The God of the universe is ever working in/on me.  He’s not recycling sin–but making us into the “image of HIS SON”!

“And we know that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30

Are you settling for ‘recycling’ or are you pursuing God’s purposes and revival so that we can experience a move of God among HIS own, and then to see the lost affected by the work of God in HIS own! We can see lives changed and transformed by the power of Jesus’ blood and the work of The Word of God!  Not “BY” works, but unto good works, that Jesus might be seen IN US!  Remember we are in a battle, and we must “suit up” to be prepared!

“Put on the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to stand

against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities,

against powers,

against the rulers of the darkness of this world,

against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,

that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all, to stand.”   Ephesians 6:11-13

Suit up my friends, we need revival not just recycling!  May Jesus Christ be praised by our living for HIM–revived, renewed and equipped for the battle.  Remember, we win!!!

Amen and Amen!!!