Faith

Building Barns

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And He spake a parable unto them, saying,
“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  and he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?’  And he said, ‘This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’  But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:’ then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

Barns are built for the purpose of the storage of grain, hay for the cattle that is hauled in out of the field during the summer months, and they can be built as protection for their from the weather for their farm equipment.  Then there are milk barns where the Dairy farmer milks his milk cows.  There is nothing wrong with the building of barns.

Before the above verses Jesus has been asked by a brother of another to talk the other one to divide their inheritance.  Jesus uses the opportunity to teach us of covetousness.  Covetousness is wanting more and more of a thing, and when in receipt if one item desires another, then another; never content, neither do they thank God for the blessing.

The farmer in Jesus’s parable was so caught up in his wealth he had not considered that God was the giver of life, and he takes life.  He was laying up treasure  for his retirement years, thinking that he could have a life of comfort and ease without God.

We cannot continue living without God, and His Son Jesus Christ.  Do you not realize that every breath we breathe, every beat of your heart, and every step we are able to take comes from the Lord.

You can trust God with your when you surrender to do His will and follow Him.  Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again the third day so that we might come to God.  Trust Him and call on His name.  He will hear you, and give you eternal life, cleansing you  of every sin.

Having Faith In God

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And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:22-26

It is a horrid thing for one to harbor a grudge against someone, especially if you profess to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We might for a while feel angry, but soon there will be a realization of having received forgiveness from the One who forgives our sins, and paid our sin debt.

Telling a mountain to move into the sea would be a remarkable thing.  It would, in fact be a miracle of God.  Asking God for the things we desire, and receiving them, are things that are from God’s desires (Psalm 37:3-4).

If we are asking for God to do these things, then we need to be sure there  is no lack of forgiveness, toward anyone.   Any lack of forgiveness toward others is a  mockery of our heavenly Father, and we have a greater sin that needs God’s forgiveness.

Dear Lord Jesus, if there is any one with whom I have a grudge  and unforgiveness then reveal this to my heart and mind.  That I might have genuine faith in You.  Amen.

Rejection and Unbelief

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And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence.  And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, “Whence hath this Man this wisdom, and these mighty works?  Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?”  And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them,
“A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”
And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 13:53-58

For more on this event in the life of Jesus you might want to read the  account according to the Gospel of Luke the physician and Historian (Luke 4:16-30).

At this point in the ministry of Jesus His home town where He grew up rejected Him as being the Messiah, due to their unbelief.  I have a thought that Jesus is offended by the unbelief of His home town people,  however He does not let that stop His word or works.

The reason for many of our failures to receive answer to prayers is due to our rejection of the Lord’s ministry, and  that is due to our unbelief. Because of that He does not do many  mighty works.

Lord Jesus I pray that You help my faith, and increase my faith, so that Your mighty works might continue in me.  Amen.

The Hope We Are Waiting For

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For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:18-25

There are several things for us to consider in these verses of Scripture.  The first thing to think about is comparing any suffering we have had for our serving the Lord Jesus to the glory, the joy, we will have when we see Jesus when He comes for us.

Another thing is that it seems quite clear, that since the fall of Adam, the creation – the earth and the heavens, and everything therein has also suffered, and will rejoice in the sons of God getting their redeemed bodies.  There will be no more earthquakes, raging storms, tsunamis, and no more wars.  All of creation will quit its groaning.  All because the God of glory, the Creator of all that is, has by His love, mercy, and grace redeemed those who come to Him and believe.

This hope we have is not supported by wishful thinking.  It is supported by the promise of God.  As we continue in hope based on faith, we continue with the rest of creation to groan, yet rejoice in the waiting, by continuing to follow the Lord.

Judgment For the Believer

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Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:  (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:6-10

The Christian, the believer, the follower of Jesus Christ is confident knowing that while are alive in this body flesh we are absent from the Lord.  Yet we desire to be absent from this body of flesh and to be present with the Lord.

For that reason we work for His glory that we might be accepted of Him, not for salvation,  but our sanctification.

One day every born again child of God will stand before the Judgment seat of Christ and we will each and every one of us give an accounting of what we did with what He has given us.  This not a judgment that determines our eternal destination – Heaven or Hell – it rather a place of celebration some what like when an Olympic champion receives a medal before the crowd.  There will be none of us grandstanding, saying “Look at my crown(s).”  There will be an accounting of what we did or did  not do that produced fruit that is eternal, or that perishes.

Would you like to become a Believer and follower of Jesus Christ  today?  Believe this.  Jesus Christ came into this world to save lost sinners which is all of humanity.  He saves all who believe on Him, and none who do not believe.  Jesus died on that old cross, He was buried and He rose again.  If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

Obey The Truth

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O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? If it be yet in vain.  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Galatians 3:1-6

False teachers, men who were adding to the gospel, teaching that keeping of the law was a necessity for salvation.  Paul is adamant with them concerning the truth of by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is polluted every time there is an addition to the word of the gospel.  The addition of Jewish Law such as circumcision, keeping the annual Feast days such as the Passover  and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the rest.  If we add baptism as a necessity for salvation, then the gospel is tainted with the stench of dead flesh.  The believing thief on the cross might have something to say about that.

Do not add to or diminish anything of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He came into the word to save lost  sinners of whom I am the worst.  Yet He loved me and saved me from my sins, from death, and from Hell.  I believe Him.  How about you?

Great Faith

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When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  And Jesus said unto the centurion, “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Matthew 8:10-13

Do we recognize authority when we see it?  This Gentile Roman centurion knew authority.  He was the leader of one hundred men, and if he gave a soldier an order it was followed by the action of the order.  If he told the trooper to go, he went.  If he told him to stay, he stayed.

The centurion has a servant who is near dying from some sickness.  Because he has heard that Jesus was healing many, the centurion has recognized  Jesus as One having authority.

Jesus us amazed by this man’s faith that He speak to the Jews about theirs’.  He tells the people who are there that there will be many from around the world who are not Jews who will be in His kingdom, and many of them who call themselves the children of God will have no part of His kingdom.  It is because they have not believed the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, and they refuse to hear Him unto obedience.

Because of his faith the centurion’s servant is healed, at the same hour Jesus spoke the word (Read Luke 7).  A Roman centurion exposing his faith in the One who has authority and gives with authority.

We do not need to see Jesus to believe in Him or to believe Him.  We believe we will see Him someday, but we do not know when we will see Him.  We keep hanging on to His promise that He will come again (John 14:1-3).

The “We” in the last paragraph is those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ, and we have received Him as our authority for salvation, sanctification, and glorification.  If you have not believed on Him and believed His words; why not?

People Need The LORD

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“Therefore also now,” saith the LORD, “turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.  Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.  Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, ‘Spare Thy people, O LORD, and give not Thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?’ ”
Joel 2:12-17

Our own nation (United States of America) needs the LORD now just as much as any other time.  Why?  Because even here lines are hard to see and confusing.  Even professing Christians are turning their backs on the LORD, not their face.  When you turn your backs on God’s word, no longer believing it is the holy, inspired of God, and infallible word of God; they have turned their backs on God.

When you have more confidence in science of men, or more confidence in your own abilities, than in God then You have shunned the LORD.

It is time for the LORD to work a work like Adam’s race has never seen.  We must be ready. Return to the LORD.

I need the LORD to continue to work in me.  You need the LORD as well.  All the people on earth need the LORD.

Come to the One who died on that old rugged cross, judged by His Father for our sins.  He was buried.  He rose up again, from the grave in which  He had been laid.  His return is imminent,  Are you ready.

Unseen Warriors

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And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?”  And he answered, “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:15-17

This is an event in the life of Elisha, a disciple of Elijah,  and he even witnessed the fiery chariot which carried him away.

To recap what has happened prior to this we see the king of Syria planning an attack on Elisha.. Elisha knew just about every  move the king of Syria made so the king of Israel knew of any attack coming against them.  So the Syrian kings answer was to get Elisha out of the way.

Elisha’s servant had risen from sleeping through the night to go out at early light and saw the Syrian troops on the hills around them.  He runs and tells Elisha, and Elisha sees an even great army than that of Syria.  Then Elisha prays to the LORD to open the eyes of the servant.  The LORD hears his prayer and opens the servants eyes so he can see the massive Unseen Warriors of the LORD of hosts.  They are otherwise known as angels of the LORD.  Angels are here to serve us, and that is exactly what they are doing for Elisha.

I have at least one angel watching over me.  NO!  I do not know his name; and in fact I may have more than one.  One thing for which I am certain is that God watches over me and you.

“Open his eyes that he might see” was his prayer to the LORD, and God heard and the servants eyes were opened to see the Unseen Warriors – seeing the unseen.

LORD God Almighty always keep me alert spiritually to the work You do around me.  Sometimes I know I am blind to many things in Your word.  So I ask You Lord, today, to open my eyes that I might see.  I know that You are with me.  Help me O LORD to glorify Your most holy name.  Amen.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

Not Only Forgiven, We Are Also Justified

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And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.  And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.’ ”  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:42-48

On the Acts 13 and verses 38 through 52 “Through the Bible Day by Day,” by F. B. Meyer, Meyer has written…

The doctrine of justification by faith, so closely associated with the work of Paul, is here stated for the first time. In Jesus there is forgiveness. For those who trust in Him past sins are absolutely put away, never to be named again, never to be brought up at any future judgment day. Our record is as clear as the sand which has been swept smooth by the ocean waves. We are not only forgiven, but justified. We are treated as though we had never sinned, and are justified from all things. It is a present fact. You may not feel justified or forgiven, but if you are trusting in Jesus, you are at this moment as certainly and as fully justified as have been the saints in heaven.
Pride, as well as jealousy of the Gentiles who were crowding into the fold, stirred the Jews to antagonism, but they could not eradicate the seed which had been so profusely scattered. Large numbers believed, and as they experienced salvation in Christ, they discovered that they were in line with an eternal purpose. This is the meaning of ordained in Act_13:48. If with such slight opportunities, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Act_13:52, should we not possess the same experience?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was first to be taken to the Jewish people, but we can see that many rejected. Then the Gospel was given to the Gentiles. All people in any nation on earth can call on the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven and Justified.

Not only is there forgiveness of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who believe are Justified, declared righteous by God Himself.

The Power Of The Confession of Faith

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Confession of faith in Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, “Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, “Understandest thou what thou readest?”  And he said, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the Scripture which he read was this,

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened He not his mouth:  In His humiliation His judgment was taken away: and who shall declare His generation? for His life is taken from the earth.”

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” And Philip said, “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 8:29-38

The place where the eunuch was reading was Isaiah 53 and verse 7. He was probably reading the whole book, but at that moment chapter 53.

The man in the chariot was struggling with understanding what he was reading. Philip shows up, and the man asks him to join him in the chariot. Philip does and begins explaining that those Scriptures dealing with Jesus Christ. Most everything written in the Old Testament is about Jesus the Messiah who was going to come. Now He has come, and something happened that no one expected; He died on a cross for our sins. He was buried, and He rose up out of that grave alive forever more.

The eunuch sees a pool of water, and asks Philip, “What is there keeping me from being baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart yo may.” He very quickly responded with, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” That is a powerful confession of faith in Christ Jesus, and Philip and the eunuch got out of the chariot, and both of then went into the water. Philip baptized the man.

In order for a soul, and individual to be delivered from sin and iniquity, and become a child of God, that must be one’s confession; Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  Peter’s confession in Matthew 16 and verse 16 was “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Is that your confession today?

This Book and Eternal Life

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And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.
John 20:30-31

John loved  the Lord Jesus. He believed the words Jesus spoke, the life He lived, and he believed in the death of Jesus, His burial, and in His resurrection. After the empty tomb was discovered by Mary Magdalene and the others that were with her, Peter and John raced to the tomb, where John beat Peter to the empty grave John stopped, and Peter went on in, finding the head covering wrapped in a place alone, but the linen burial clothes were like the body of Jesus disappeared within them.

John notes that many other signs and miracles were done by Jesus before His death, but they are not all written in this book. This book is written so that in the reading of it that the reader would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. All four of the Gospel accounts -Matthew, Mark, Luke,  and John – show His Deity, but none so clearly and powerfully as John.

This is the first one of the Gospels I suggest that a new believer read, study and hear. Do not begin in the Old Testament you will get bogged down, and lose interest. Read John’s Gospel account, and then read First, Second, and Third John. Then you can read the other three Gospel accounts, and the other New  Testament book of Acts, all the other Letters [Epistles], and the Revelation. Just a suggestion,  but whatever you do if you are new to the faith of Christ Jesus, read the word so you will be empowered and led by the Spirit of God. After this you can read the Old Testament,  and be greatly blessed reading Genesis through Malachi.

These words of John were written so that those who believe will have eternal life. Life in and through the Lord Jesus begins the moment you believe Him. Believe Him, and you will live forever with Him.

Fig Trees and Mountains

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Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, ‘Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;’ it shall be done.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
Matthew 21:21-22

These words of Jesus are spoken by Jesus as they leave Bethany, He has seen a fig tree from a distance, it has leaves, but when Jesus gets there it has no figs. He was wanting a fig to eat. The tree was advertising that it had something it did not have. Jesus said the the fig tree, “Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever,” and the fig tree wilted.

This caught the disciples attention, and they were amazed I am sure. Then Jesus tells us that not only can He do that if we have faith without doubting then we can say to a mountain “Be cast into the sea;’ and it shall be done.” Now this seems almost unbelievable, but so does many things that Jesus did. He did it with faith, believing that He is the Son of God, the Son of Man. Here stood the Incarnation of the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and all things submitted to His authority. His words cause me to rejoice that that authority is given to me, but I feel that I doubt too much as well.

I have faith that what  He says is true. Everything He does is true. I trust Him. We need to know that faith is a gift from God, so our faith, must be in Him alone. We do not have faith in faith, that is idolatry. We are to have faith in God, and His Son, and the Holy Spirit. Faith in the Trinity of God means that we will not selfishly pray for stuff we do not need, nor things that might be harmful to us; but for things according to His name.

When things are prayed for according to His will, or that is, in His name, then we will see wilted fig trees and moving mountains.

These things are not possible without knowing Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord of your life. Believe that He died on the cross for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose and came out of the grave alive forever more. Call on His name turning away from Your sin to Him..

Asking The LORD God Questions

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A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.
“O LORD, I have heard Thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive Thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.  And His brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of His hand: and there was the hiding of His power. Before Him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at His feet.
Habakkuk 3:1-5

Most of the prophecy of Habakkuk is the prophet asking questions about why He is using an evil people like Babylon to judge or chastise His own people! “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil; and You cannot look on iniquity” 1:13

We all have questions we ask God about, and if we are not careful we can begin to question God. It is one thing to ask Him a honest question, as Habakkuk has done, but when you begin questioning Him that comes from doubt and leads to unbelief.

In the prophet’s prayer, which all of chapter 3 of Habakkuk is; the prophet has heard God, and believed Him. He came to the end of his prayer, and gives a praise to the LORD, and a strong word  of faith. It is similar to Job’s expression of faith when he said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). In the beginning of the prophet’s prayer he says, “In wrath remember mercy,” and God does show mercy through His longsuffering  – His patience. He showed no mercy when He smote His own Son cursed by hanging on that tree; so that He could be merciful and gracious to us.

That kind of faith comes from a heart devoted to God, and trusting His word. We can have that kind of faith only through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God,  the Lord Jesus Christ.

Call on Him today. You may not have tomorrow.

At The Mercy Of Lions

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Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, “Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee.”  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”  Then said Daniel unto the king, “O king, live for ever. My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Daniel 6:16-23

Daniel had found himself in a pit of trouble. It was big furry, with big teeth and a big roar. How did he get here? It was not because he wanted to be in this pit full of hungry growling beasts of the field. It was because he had prayed, and he had continued to pray to God, even after a King Darius had written and sealed an edict that forbade any one under his rule to pray to anyone except him for thirty days.

King Darius loved Daniel. He had been deceived by some advisers who actually were jealous and envious of Daniel, even hating him so much they wanted him dead. They must have kept an eye on him, because they caught him in his daily time of prayer, praying despite the king’s edict.

The king had Daniel put in the pit with these hungry lions, and even says to him, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” The king could not go back and remove the edict, so he spent the night fasting, and no sleep. He yearned for Daniel to be alive as he hurried to to the den of lions. I would not be surprised to know; if it could be known; that Daniel slept all night in peace.

What did the king find when he arrived at the den? He found Daniel alive and well, without a single scratch or injury of any kind.

Lions show no mercy. There are many times in Scripture that “lions”is used referring to mighty, and wicked rulers of nations, but not here. These lions were the big, furry beast that roar loudly, and have big claws in their feet. The only reason these hungry beast did not kill and eat Daniel is that God had mercy, closed the mouths  of these lions, and thusly was merciful to him.

What can we learn from Daniel’s time with the lions? First of all, we can learn to be faithful; even though he knew of the edict, he continued praying to the One God whom he faithfully served. Secondly, we can learn that God is the Sovereign of the universe, He is creator, and in control of all things, even the mouths of hungry lions.

Just as his three friends – Hanniah, Mishsael, and Azariah had been delivered from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace, so also is Daniel delivered. Only God can do such.

I pray that when I am faced with making such decisions in tough situations I will have the strength, and the faith to stand for the Lord, as did his three friends, and Daniel.

The thing that must be known is that these stories are more than just stories, they are not just historical record, they are God’s truth, and He shows us how we ought to live. The first thing we need to do is to believe God, and His word. If we believe His word, we will believe the words of His Son Jesus Christ. The following are the words of Jesus, believe Him,

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.  He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:16-20

Believe Him, and all your sins are forgiven, and you receive eternal life.

 

New Every Morning

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It is a wonderful thing to know that the LORD God’s mercies are new every morning. That is when you know that He is your portion, the One who is the major part of your life.

Hear the word of the LORD.

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. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.  The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.  It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

Lamentations 3:22-27

Just a short read for today. God bless you and may you have a godly day, and always remember that God showed His love for us through the death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, His burial, and resurrection. Receive Him and believe Him.

Have We Not…?

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Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?  It is He that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: that bringeth the princes to nothing; He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
Isaiah 40:21-23

While other nations were making themselves gods to their own liking, the prophet Isaiah was calling of Israel to get back to the worship of Jehovah, the Living and only God who made all things.

Four questions are asked: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? and Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Have you not known? It is He who sits on the circle of the earth. This One is sovereign over all the earth,  He sends the rain, and the drought. He sends the winds of the earth. He sets up kings and kingdoms, and he pulls them down.

There is much vanity in making your own god. It is really the worship of self, and the worship of demons.

Have you not heard? It is He who sees the people of earth are as small as a grasshopper, and He can end your life with a whisper. It is He also that loves the people of the planet He populated with billions of us. He loved us so much, even in our fallen estate, that He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place.

There is no hope for you or all of Adam’s race except through God’s Son Jesus Christ.

Has it not been told you from the beginning? It is He who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. He is the One who created the heavens, and the earth and all that is in it; and He started with nothing, but His word.

The LORD God is still working for our good and His glory. He made us in His image, and we disobeyed Him, and lost that being “made in His image.” That “image” is restored through the cross of Jesus and His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Some of you who are reading this have probably heard the story of Jesus since you were small children, and yet you do not believe Him. Why not do so today?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who laid the foundations of the earth. It is He who knows the end from the beginning. It is He who holds this creation together, and keeps it from flying to pieces. It is He who says, “I am the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelation 1:8; 21:6; 22;13).

It is He and He alone in whom you need to trust. Call on His name, and He will hear. His name is Jesus, and He is Christ.

 

The Fountain of Life

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In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:26-27

To fear the LORD is the act of great reverence, respect, and love for our God and Savior. In the fear of the LORD there is great confidence in Him. The Apostle John in his first epistle mentions confidence three times.

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  1 John 3:21

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us  1 John 5:14

It is a marvelous thing to have confidence in the word, work, and Person of God through His Son, who is the only begotten Son of God. In the LORD is our place of refuge – our place of safety.

The fear of the LORD is also a fountain of life. Jesus Himself  told the Samaritan woman at the well, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, ‘Give me to drink;’ thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.”  John 4:10. The conversation goes on and Jesus said, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. “  John 4:13-14.

It is a wonderful thing to have confidence in God, and to know that He is the fountain of Life. God says through the Apostle John that we have confidence that he will answer our prayers when we pray according to His will.  We will have confidence in God when we might condemn ourselves. We will also have confidence that He is coming again, and we will not be ashamed when we abide in Him.

Exalting The Holy, Righteous, and Just GOD

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I leave no comments only to say, the following is a song of worshiping the One who created all things so He is worthy of our worship, honor, and praise.

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.
A fire goeth before Him, and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory. Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship Him, all ye gods.
Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O LORD. For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.
Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth 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, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

Psalm 97:1-12

The Covenant

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The following verses from Psalm 89 gives us the reminder of God’s covenant with David. Will his kingdom be eternal?

If his children forsake My law, and walk not in My judgments; If they break My statutes, and keep not My commandments;  Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless My lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer My faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.
Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

Psalm 89:30-37

God says in the Psalm “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.” So God is always faithful to fulfill His word. David will always have an heir on the throne of Israel.

That Heir on the eternal throne is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He came the first time to die for the sins of His people in all nations of the world. He died on an old rugged cross, He was buried, and three days later came out of that grave alive.

That same Jesus is returning some day, and will set up His kingdom over the whole world. That’s right. He will rule the whole world in holiness, righteousness, truth and justice. There will be peace on earth for a thousand years.

I call Him, Lord. I call Him, Savior. I also call Him, King, because He is the King of kings; and He is also Lord of lords, and He will put away sin and evil forever and forever.

His will is for you to call on His name today, and be saved to eternal life.

The LORD’S Presence – His Glory

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Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.  And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 72:18-19

This Psalm is a Psalm written for Solomon by David while he was the king of Israel. The Psalm is one which is called a Messianic Psalm, which means that is prophetic of the coming Messiah of Israel.

I want to spend a few moments thinking on what verses 18 and 19 are speaking of; the LORD God, the God of Israel. “Blessed be His glorious name,” and “Let the whole earth be filled with His glory.

What is the “Glory of the LORD?” In short it is His presence. This is seen by the events of First Samuel 4 when the ark of the covenant is taken from the Israelites by the Philistines. The warriors of Israel thought that if the ark was with them God was with them, and they found out something else. Phineas’s wife had a son, and as she was dying she named her son Ichabod which means, “the glory is departed.” The ark was gone from Israel, but the Philistines decided after the glory of the LORD was with them awhile that they did not want it any longer.

The glory of the LORD, is His presence. How do we know the presence of God? He is always present with His people, but sometimes not believed to be by that same people. Why would that be? Because sometimes His people have unconfessed, unrepented of sin.

There are many who are turning their backs on God, because they do not see Him, His presence is not real to them. Sin, hanging on to sin, will cause blindness to His presence.

You can see the presence, God’s glory in that storm that came through the night when I was just a boy. You can see the LORD’S glory in that bolt of lightening that may have struck a tree, and killed a family member. You can experience the glory of God by looking down into the vast and beautiful  Grand Canyon; or looking up at the height and majesty of the Rocky Mountains. You can see His glory by standing on a beach in Florida or a beach on the west coast in California, and know that it was He who keeps the oceans of the world from proceeding any further than those beaches.

If you have not experienced the presence of the LORD it is because you do not know Him. There is only one way to know Him, and have His presence with you daily; and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ, His burial, and resurrection. Turn from your life of sin and rebellion against God and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Song of Praise and Worship

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Today I leave you with the following song. For surly and truly, our GOD the Most High is worthy of worship and praise.

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; Selah. That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Psalm 67:1-7

Upheld By The LORD’S Hand

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The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

“The steps of a good man…;” we must understand what a good man is. It is the man or woman who walks in the steps of the LORD. It is not a matter of good works, it is a matter of the law of God being written in the heart. That happens in only one way, and that is by the cross of Jesus. For David and all Old Testament believers they were followers of Jesus Christ by grace through faith on credit, awaiting the coming of the Lord as the sacrifice for sin.

For the follower of Jesus today the payment for sin has been credited to our account, and we have received the righteousness of Christ, because He died for our sins.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” which since the righteous through Jesus Christ do walk in His steps we can also know that the LORD is delighted to see it is done in  us.

The thing about being a “good man” is that he can fall, but because he is the LORD’S the LORD picks us up, and He uphold us with His own hand.

This falling is not a physical falling, but rather a spiritual falling which can lead to a physical iniquity. The spiritual fall happens before the transgression. No one can fall so far away from God that God cannot pick you up. God loves His people, and He loves us too much to allow us to sin successfully.

 

…That will I seek after…

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One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4-5

The Psalmist, David had a heart for God, for seeking Him, to know Him better, and to trust Him.

We are told in other places in Scripture that there is none who seek God (Psalm 14:1-2; Romans 3:10-11), and that is true unless God gives you the desire to seek Him. God says in Hebrews 11:6, ” But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” So there are many seekers for God and His salvation, and most of them will most likely receive eternal life by coming to God by the only way which God and His Son Jesus has made for us.

That only way is by grace through faith in the death of Christ on the cross, His burial, and resurrection on the third day. He finished the work He came  to do.

If you, like David  are seeking to dwell in the house of the LORD all your life, to behold all the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple then you will believe in –  trust in David’s Savior and Messiah, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Job’s Regeneration

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Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that Thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.  ‘Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: ‘I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.’
“I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:1-6

From chapter 38 through most of chapter 41 the Almighty God has been speaking to Job. Job was wanting to have a discussion with Him, but as you will notice in the reading when God shows up, Job has but a few words, and they are words of repentance.

Job presented many challenges to God. He had many questions to ask the LORD, but when he sees Him for himself he is filled with wonder, and has no questions to ask, or to challenge Him with.

I have noticed that myself. In a time when God has been silent, and I was dealing with anger toward God, and I go to Him in prayer with my question or challenge, He comes, I see Him, hear Him, and my questions or challenge goes awry. and I am comforted and encouraged, and strengthened in my faith.

If you have a problem, a question for God. Do not fear to go to Him. When He reveals Himself to you the answer or challenge or whatever may not matter any longer. You will know that the LORD is God Almighty. All things are in His hands.

God has come into the world in the Person of His Son Jesus to make it possible for us to know God. That is only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Admit that you are a condemned and dying sinner. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, confessing Jesus as Lord, and you will be saved and have access to the very throne of God.