Month: June 2012

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to your fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.  Joshua 1:5-7

The promise of God’s blessing on this great responsibility God had given Joshua, hinders on the principle theme that is central to all spiritual effort and success, namely the deep understanding and application of Scripture at all times. God ‘s promises had guaranteed that Israel would be delivered from bondage in Egypt. Here in our text, God promises now to fight for His people, assuring them of victory in battle as they entered the the promise land. There would be many battles ahead for Joshua, and the children of Israel as they moved ahead into their new territory for ungodly nations would always oppose them. Moses as God’s spokeperson, expressed the Lord’s commitment to do battle for Israel, The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place {Deuteronomy 1:30-31}. God’s pledge to Joshua, like Moses before him had also enjoyed, “As I was with Moses, so I will  be with you.” Now the Lord has added the ultimate words of reassurance, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” When facing the certainty of battles, there is nothing greater than having God committed to always be present to fight against our enemies.

We are also engaged in warfare as a Christian today, The promises of God to these biblical figures are a part of our spiritual weaponry. For though we walk in the flesh, we do war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds {2 Corinthians 10:3-4}. I believe our nation was founded on Biblical principles, and God blessed America in its foundation acknowledging Biblical truth as a part of our early settlers way of life. The warning God gave Israel “do not turn to the right hand or the left” is where Israel failed to follow God’s guidance through obeying His Word. I believe It’s the same mistake our country has taken. In less than 236 years, our country has turned to the right hand, and the left in it’s obeying the Word of God. We can have victory in the Christian life, as we realize: It is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. His death, His resurrection, His glories that we get to experience as we live under the authority of the Word of God.

Lord, help us be a nation again, that is completely dependent upon You, and Your whole counsel of Thy Word.  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

 

 

Let no corrupt words proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edication, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.Ephesians 4:29-32

The word for “corrupt” refers to that which is foul or rotten, such as spoiled fruit or putrid meat. Foul language of any sort should never be a part of a Christian’s vocabulary, because it is totally out of character of the new life in Christ. The Christian’s speech should be instructive, encouraging, good for necessary edification even when it must be corrective. Look to Jesus as our example, So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth ( Luke 4:22). And because believer’s have been saved by grace and are kept by grace, they should live and speak with grace. Our Lord Christ set the standard. Grieve the Holy Spirit of God – – –God is grieved when His children refuse to change the old ways of sin for those righteous ways of the new life. This reminds me of when I first read the story of Noah, I was amazed at what I read. For in the days before the judgment of the flood, God made known His thoughts to us. And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years. Genesis 6:3 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. v.v.5-6  I was so moved because this is one of strongest and clearest examples of about man’s sinful nature. Notice that God says, sin begins in the thought life, something the N.T. says in agreement James 1:13-15. Through all of this it should be noted that such responses by the Holy Spirit indicates He is a person. The Third Person of a Triune Godhead. If your a Christian today, you have been sealed by a guarantor of eternal redemption in Christ for those who believe in Him. This Holy Spirit of God, and His saving power is what were grieving, when we don’t allow for His power to fulfill us.

Beloved friend, Stay encouraged. God loves you, and He is still on the throne inspite of all that this world is trying to do. We are sealed for the day of redemption through the Holy Spirit, what great joy! and what great priviledge it is to be a part of God’s plan of salvation!

May the Lord bless your walk!

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and who are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.   1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

If you are attending a church, where the pastor is all about teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word, then this word of exhortation is for you. Paul, a man chosen by God, a man who at one time was a persecutor of the early church, yet now is recognizing, or in this case, teaching others to recognize the efforts of their pastor teachers in their church’s. That they ought to esteem them very highly in love, as they learn to know them well enough to appreciate and value their labor in first knowing, then teaching them sound doctrine. The work of Pastors can be summarized by three character traits: 1st.) Laboring in the Word of God, both to know it’s content, but also to know to whom it is being addressed to, and finally to make others understand their need of it in their own lives. 2nd) Overseeing—Literally standing before the congregation and leading them forward in righteousness both in word and deed. And 3rd.) Admonishing — To instruct in truth the whole counsel of God’s Word, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, all of the Bible is to be taught, and adhered to it’s warnings, as well as to it’s promises. The church body is to think rightly about their pastor teachers, not because of charm or by their personalities, but because God has chosen and ordained them to feed His sheep, and it’s their obedience to God by the congregation to submit to his authority, since he too, is under submission to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. And which will also promote peace among it’s members. Paul, wrote this epistle to show how the pastors are to serve the people and show the Christian how to respond to their pastors. Because there will be unruly members, The Lord showed through Paul’s admonishing that they are to be warned and taught to be submissive to the authority of God’s Word. The fainthearted must be encouraged to remain steadfast in Christ. The weak, those without spiritual or moral strength, must be held up firmly in prayer. These acts should be promoting patience, forgiveness, and good works between all the body of believer’s.

Beloved friend, Paul has written for us a summary of the Christian virtues to provide solid foundations not just for the early church, but for us as well. Always pursue what is good, for others first, then yourselves. You will be a influencial member of your church that is about glorifying God the Father, through Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirit working in you!

May the Lord bless your walk with Him.

So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all of His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.  Exodus 15:22-27

After the Israelites miraculously crossed the Red Sea, they were led into the desert. How strange that God would lead them from a place of revelation and power to a place of disapointment and dire need. But God wanted to show them that life is a combination of bitter and sweet, of triumph and defeat. When the Israelites arrived at Marah, they complained because their water was bitter v.23, after Moses interceded v.25, God reminded them to keep His commandments v.26. Then He brought them to the abundance and refreshment of Elim v.27. Why? The Lord wanted to teach them that each experience on their journey would reveal their hearts. This test showed they were living by sight and not by faith in what Moses was giving them, as God’s instructions. They also learned that God is involved and does care about their daily needs. He who parted the Red Sea could be trusted to provide water for their survival. He knew their needs because He planned their way. As Christians today, we can learn from this same lesson. If you, or someone you know who is going through a wilderness trial of bitterness and disapointment right now, trust in the Lord. He knows exactly where you are right now, and even more important, what you need. As you learn from obeying His voice through His Word, He will guide you through it all, and into a place of spiritual refreshment where you’ll find healing and spiritual rest in Christ our Lord.

Beloved friend, There is a great verse of promised deliverance. The Lord showed him a tree. When he cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet v.25). This tree represents to us today, the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, who took away from us, the bitterness of our sins, and gives us an abundance refreshing living waters which is sweet to our soul. You receive this simply by faith, and that from God!

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek {first}the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. “Do not fear, little flock, for it’s the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Luke 12:29-32

There is something about the way I always want to be the first one to say to one of my kids, when something in their life has gone wrong, I like to say to them, “No matter what, It’s going to be alright.” Of course my words of reassuring have no guarantee that things always will get better, but my intentions are always sincere, and is of course because I love them. In our text, Jesus stressed the Father’s tender care over His little flock as a remedy to their fear and anxiety. And it’s His good pleasure to give us His kingdom, as our inheritance. Our world has many things for us to be fearful of, or at least give us reason for anxious thoughts to the uncertainties of life. But if you have made Christ your Lord and Savior, then you also have God as your heavenly Father, because Jesus has said, ” I and My Father are one.”(John 10:30) Because God wanted us to know what He is like, He chose to emphasize His Fatherhood. With every intention by Him to  love, God our Father, has demonstrated His care in regards to our eternal security, by sending to us His Son, Jesus Christ to become our substitute for our sins and pay the price which was His own life in our stead, so we may have our relationship restored to the Father, and enjoy all the benefits as His very own child of God. Which among other things, His providing for us of all of our needs. His forgiving us of all of our sins (1 John 1:9) and His protecting us from evil. While our role as earthly dad, is similarly based, we fall short of what a perfect Father God is to us. Who when He speaks tells us only the truth, He cannot lie. When He tells of a reassuring future, it’s because He knows it altogether, He knows the end from the beginning. So whether we’ve been blessed by an earthly dad, or for the so many who have not, we’ve been redeemed through Jesus’ life given for us, and now have  a perfect heavenly Father, who knows us, and calls us by name, and reassures us not to be afraid, for I am with you. (Isaiah 41:10)

Dear Friend, May the Lord give you the reassurring life of His love and bless you this day. A Father’s day that glorifies and honors Him, in how we recognize and honor our own earthly dads. For those who have not any longer a father in their life, I pray the Lord will give you a father figure to which you may call upon. He is faithful, and wants us to enjoy our Father’s love!

May the Lord bless your walk. 

 

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when they had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them,’You go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them,’Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ ( Matt. 20:1-8)

Now what is Jesus seeking to teach by this parable of sending forth the laborers into the vineyard? Well, we should all take notice what really counts for us as Christians, as we serve the Lord in His vineyard what really counts is the fact  that the Lord sent me. Notice that these people  didn’t go in on their own accord, the Lord sent them into the vineyard. And because they were sent of God, they each one received from the Lord that same portion. Everyone received a full day’s wage, to their shock over the Vineyard owner’s (who is God) generosity as he overpaid some who did not have to labor as long as the earlier ones. This was no slight against those whom he paid a full wage for a full day’s work. That was precisely what they agreed to in the beginning of the day. But it was the Vineyard Owner’s priviledge to extend His grace to the underserving one’s who were just standing idle! Sometimes we see people who on their deathbed receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and they enter into eternal life. And we who have served the Lord all of our lives we enter the same eternal life. It’s God’s to give, and He always does what is right and what is fair to every living being. The last will be first, and the first last- – – Everyone finishes the same, in a even plane. No matter how long each of the workers worked, they each received a full day’s wage. Similarly, the thief on the cross will enjoy the full blessings of heaven alongside those who have labored their whole life for Christ. Such is the grace of God.

Beloved friend, If you are serving the Lord in the vineyard of your life, don’t stop laboring, continue just a little longer! The Lord sees everything that your doing. He will be fair and just with His reward. And let us never be judging the work of the Lord in other men’s lives, they too will get their reward and what what is fair and just.

May the Lord bless your walk!

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” And so, after he had patiently endured,he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:10-15)

The persecution and trials which believers face requires patient endurance relying upon the promises and commitment of God that He will uphold His end, and bring to His children the inherited promise of eternal life. The writer of this epistle is unknown, but he was encouraging these believing Hebrews to continue in perseverance and faith for it would be rewarded by God who sees everything a Christian saint’s life has to face, regardless of their circumstances they were to remember, that God is faithful. To encourage the Hebrews to rely upon faith as opposed to the Levitical system of worship with sacrifice offerings, the writer cited Abraham, who as a great model of faith should be imitated. I love the fact that God, can not, nor does not need to go to any higher authority than His own words of promise. If He said it, it will happen just as He said. God’s Word does not need any confirmation from someone else. It is reliable because God Himself is faithful. People confirm their witness to the truth by appealing to someone greater (especially to God) as witness. This is not so with God, He can only provide an oath from Himself, since there is no one greater than God.

Beloved friend, Has the trials and testings of your Christian walk become too tough? Remember how faithful God is to us, He sees everything and knows what lies ahead. For us who by faith, patiently wait for our Redeemer, Christ the Lord, we too shall obtain His promise of eternal life with Him. But for now, during times of suffering trial, remember who is watching you! You are leaving a legacy of faith for your children,  A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous (Proverbs 13:22) + The righteous man walks in his integrity (Who live what they believe); His children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7). Why all the fuss about remembering all this? God’s reward is not just for you, but through your faithful witness, to the generations after you. There will be great reward for those who embrace God’s viewpoint from here.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

You who love the Lord, hate evil! He perserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, and give thanks at the remeberance of His holy name. (Psalm 97:10-12)

Biblical truth: Wisdom hates what God hates! The highest Christian virtue we possess as a believer in Christ, is humility (submission to God), and thus God’s Word hates pride and opposes self-exaltation above all. Why? We should have good reason to hate evil, for consider what harm it has already done. Not just in our world, but in the human heart. Sin which can substitute here for evil has blinded countless people from seeing the beauty of our Savior, Jesus Christ! It makes so many deaf so as not hear the invitations God has given to look for it in Christ, our promised Redeemer and Messiah. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, For when you were slaves to sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things you are now ashamed ? For the end of those things is death (Romans 6:20-21). We were all heirs of the wrath of God and dead in our sins and trespasses. We loved doing those things His Word warns against, the law of His commandments. In fact, it is our nature to do such things. Such were all of us; but then Paul reminds us: “but you were washed, you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God ” (1 Corinthians 6:11). We have good reason indeed for hating evil when we look back and trace its deadly workings in our B.C. days. We we destined for hell had it not been for our great Redeemer’s love that interupted that vicious cycle of sin and set us free from such things. And even now, today, evil is waiting its chance to bring harm to us. But what a mighty God we serve! He preserves us from the evil one, we are His, and nothing can separate us away from our Savior’s redeeming love (Romans 8:35-39).

Dear friend, Jesus paid the penalty for all of our sins by His death on the cross. When you admit you are a sinner, your spirit is in agreement with God’s Holy Spirit, and then by placing your faith in Him alone for your forgiveness, you will be reconciled to God. No longer a statistic of sin and evil’s destructive forces who have already claimed enough victims. Let us go on to a life that gives thanks and praise to His name, and glorifies God in all that we say and all that we do. Amen.

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra —What persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Faithful believers must expect persecution and suffering at the hands of the Christ–rejecting world. Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) The lines have been drawn already. If you are choosing a life of obedience to the virtues of Christ, then expect opposition to come, and when should you expect it? Since Satan is the one who dominates the evil world system in rebellion against God, the result is that the world not only hates Jesus, but those who follow Him. So then every day as a follower of Christ , You and I must put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). The Christian life is likened to that of a soldier’s life, a life of warfare that is of a spiritual nature, therefore our weapons must be of a spiritual nature. Enter into prayer with your Father in heaven, ask Him for His hedge of protection over yourselves, your families, and to be with you in the work place. As Paul wrote this letter to his younger in the faith Timothy, he reminds him to stand firm in what he has learned from Paul, and to trust in the same Lord who was so faithful to him, to deliver him from every trial and test of persecution. To stand firm in the Lord, is be about doing His will for your life. We must study the Word of God to know what His will is for our life. Our spiritual maturity is to bear the fruit of righteouseness even during times of trial and persecution. And that cannot happen unless we study the Bible which will make us strong in Him and we will find grace to be our strength in our time of weakness.

Dear friend, If you were the only one who could witness what Scriptures say to others near you, would they be convinced that Jesus Christ has overcome this world, and we have overcome this world by placing our faith and hope for eternal life in only Him, and His finished work of the cross. Even if suffering and persecution is often a part of our existence. Do you remain steadfast in Him? In His unfailing love for you?

May the Lord bless your walk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making right the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.  (Psalm 19:7-11)

This law might be better translated , “His teaching,” or “a direction,” or better yet, “instruction” The word ” Testimony ” derives from the root word “to bear witness.” Overall, it bears testimony to its Divine Author. So we can see Jesus being characterized who is perfect, sure, right and pure. The reality of all Scripture is that it is God breathed: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The psalmist David understood that it was His God, and His Word who was making his life as king over Israel, enriched by his trusting in the Lord. God’s Word in the life of a believer brings much growth and spiritual maturity. But only when it is obeyed by the believer. David had this true and intimate relationship with God because David spent time before Him in His Word, and in prayer. Some people might be saying to themselves, “If God would just speak to me directly . . . Then maybe I would believe more.” Maybe if we obeyed His Word more, we would hear more. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous — When a country declares war on another country, it first brings home it’s ambassadors. The Bible says that we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God  (2 Corinthians 5:20). Jesus will return for His church first, then after a seven year tribulation period will return again and this time, bring swift judgment to this earth. We will be with Him to start what the Scripture declares as the millienial reign, in which Christ will reign and rule over all the earth, and we the church, the body of Christ will reign with Him.

Beloved friend, The fear of the Lord is clean enduring forever. The Lord has taken away your sins by dying on the cross, we are washed and clean and made new before Him. Don’t live a defeated life of sin anymore, God has more for those who look to Him and His Word which is described as being Perfect, Sure, Right and True. Which is what our Savior, Jesus Christ is! Praise the Lord!

May the Lord bless your walk today!