Salvation

In The Press

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And Moses said unto the people, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
And the LORD said unto Moses, “Wherefore criest thou unto Me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: but lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.  And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get Me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten Me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.
Exodus 14:13-18

The Israelite people had been freed from bondage in Egypt,  They had made it to the Red Sea, when they looked and saw their former captors on the chase after them, and it was not for recapture.  The Egyptians had a heart for killing them all.

The people of Israel, many of them, when they saw the Egypt’s army hot on their trail, they were frightened.  Moses tells them “Do not fear, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD.

Please note what God says to Moses, it sounds something like this, “What are you doing standing here?  Tell the people to move forward, stretch out your staff over the sea, and it will divide, and the people will go over on dry ground.”

The King of Egypt, the Pharaoh was not an honest, trust worthy man. He could not be trusted. He thought he was god, and was worshiped by the Egyptian people.  The LORD God Almighty had proven that he was not god, but only a man.

The people of Israel had found themselves in a press, or it you will, a stressful situation.  When they saw the large army coming after them they saw no way out.  The LORD provided a way where there seemed to be no way.

God is the Righteous, Holy and Just Lord of creation.  He cannot tolerate sin, and He will not even look upon it.  How then, can we please Him?  We cannot, but One did.  Humanity is in a press concerning our relationship with God.  God sent His Son to  live a life without sin, an obedient Son who had a strong relationship with God His Father.

The press of sin can defeated now by one calling on the name of the One who died on the cross for our sins, having become sin for us, that we would become the Righteousness of God.

Is the press of sin weighing on you today.  Today is the day to move toward Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. He is the way, and there is no other.

While The Earth Remains

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I started reading through the DAY BY DAY CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLE reading three days each reading to read it through before the end of this year.  It is the Christian Standard Bible.  I will be using the KJV on The Fire and Hammer.

And God spake unto Noah, saying, “Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.  Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.”  And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him: every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.  And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, “I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Genesis 8:15-22

The greatest, most drastic disaster, that has ever taken place on earth was the flood, and we have this covenant from God that He will never destroy the earth with a flood.

There are  lot of doomsday prognosticators who have been telling us that we have a thing called global warming; now climate change, and trying to scare people into submission to  governments, and science (falsely so called). Is there climate change? If you lived in southwest Missouri, you know there is. It changes every day. It has changed every day of my life.

The climate has changed every day since the flood, from which God delivered only eight  people and many, many animals.  If the climate is changing it is in the hands of the Almighty God. There is a time coming when there will be cataclysmic earth events, which are  God’s judgment upon the earth lovers, rather than lovers of God (Revelation 7  –  20).  God made this world and everything in it; including you and me; all of humanity since Adam and Eve.  He is sovereign over all that there is. He is the All Powerful, All Knowing, All Present God, who never changes, and His word  never changes.

Do not fear the doomsday reports that humans are destroying the earth.  We do not have the ability to destroy it. We have God’s promise in the verses above, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”  God created this earth to go on for a very long time until He gives us a new earth and a new  heaven.  He also created humanity to  live forever.

Adam lost that in the garden when he ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Since that time there has been death, destruction, decay. Through Christ Jesus the Second Adam there is eternal life. The Second Adam lived a sinless  life which qualified Him to be the sacrifice for all who would believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).

The first man, Adam brought sin and death into this world. The Second Man, Christ Jesus brought peace, and life eternal into the world for those who will come to Him.  He died the cross for you and me.  He was buried. He rose up from the grave, and is alive forever more. Confess to Him that you are a sinner, confess Him as Lord, and believe in His resurrection, and you shall be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

The Revelation of the Mystery

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Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Romans 16:25-27

These verses are a doxology to the Lord. Words of a hymn or praise to Him. What about the mystery? There is the revelation of the mystery, and that revelation is how the Gentiles can be saved by God, only partly, and mostly the whole counsel of God.

There is much in the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is revealed to us through the knowing of Christ such as the Incarnation of God – God became flesh and dwelt among us, The Trinity – the Holy Triune God. God becoming Man that He might die for His enemies, then to be buried, then to prove it all He is raised from the grave, which proves that all that He said, and taught is truth (Romans 1:4). It also proves all the words of Moses, the prophets, and the wisdom books of the Old Testament.

I am thankful that He has revealed Himself to me through His Spirit, by the Old and New Testaments.

If you will call on the name of Jesus through faith, believing that He died for your sins, was buried, and He rose from the dead you will be saved (Romans10:9-10).

Preaching Jesus To The Scriptural Illiterate

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Paul the apostle to the Gentiles is in Athens, Greece at the time of this message. He is standing and walking through an area where there were many altars to the gods that they worshiped there. When the people asked him what this new doctrine (teaching) he shared Jesus with them without the Scriptures, and spoke to them through the altar they had to “The Unknown God.”

“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead.”  And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, “We will hear thee again of this matter.”
So Paul departed from among them.  Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Acts 17:29-34

Paul’s sermon begins at verse 22, and continues through verse 31; a very short, yet powerful testimony of the good news of Jesus Christ. He uses their worship to the Unknown God, to point to the name of the One true God, whose Son Jesus Christ showing that through Him only will come judgment on the whole world. This was a different culture, and they were not knowing of the Jewish and Christian God, but they heard of it from Paul.

God calls for all people to repent of their sins. The time of God’s overlooking sins of the Gentiles is over. He tells then that God has given assurance to all that He has raised His Son from the dead. When Paul mentioned the resurrection of the dead we are told that some mocked, and others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” There were also some who believed and went with him when he departed.

Maybe we a Christians need use the knowledge God has given us about Himself, and of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the times we live in, to point people to  Jesus. We must know the Scriptures. We must know Jesus most of all. There is no room for Biblical or Scriptural ignorance, or illiteracy.

Many of us are ignorant of a lot of things, some of which we do not need to be knowledgeable of. The Bible is one we need to be knowledgeable  of. You will never know the Scriptures if you never read it, and you cannot know God and His Son Jesus except through the word of God; the Scriptures.

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.

The Baptizers Testimony of Who Jesus Is

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John the Baptizer was the messenger who introduced the Lamb of God, and prepared the way for the Messiah ‘s coming.  The Jews and some of John’s disciples were asking John about purification, and then asking him about Jesus also baptizing people as if to cause a rift between John and Jesus.  John’s response was who God says He is.

He must increase, but I must decrease.  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is above all.  And what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony.  He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.  For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:30-36

Notice, that John is not envious about Jesus baptizing others.  “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Then he says that Jesus has given testimony of what He has seen and heard, and no one receives His testimony, and that those who do receive Him seals the proof that God is true.

Jesus speaks the word of because He cannot do otherwise, because He Himself is Truth.

John testifies that Jesus is the Son of God, that the Father loves the Son, and has put all things in His hand. “All things were made by Him, and without Him was not everything made that is made.” John 1:3.

John gives us the testimony also that; the ones who believe on the Son has everlasting life, and that those who do not believe on the Son shall not see life. Those who do not believe on the Son have the wrath of God abiding on them.

When we believe the Father, we believe the Son; when we believe the Son we believe the Father (1 John 2:23-24). Jesus Himself tells us, “I and My Father are One” John 10:30.

Who do you say Jesus Christ is ? Your answer matters for where you will spend eternity.

Those Who Sit Down In The Kingdom of God

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And He said unto them,
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open unto us;’ and He shall answer and say unto you, ‘I know you not whence ye are:’ then shall ye begin to say, ‘We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets,’ but He shall say, ‘I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity.  There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.  And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Luke 13:24-30

There are many who are seeking to enter the kingdom of God, however they are wanting to enter in their own way, by their merit, by their own works, goodness, kindness or mercy; and God has given us only one way into His kingdom.

That one way is God’s way. If your sin debt is not paid there is but one thing you need to do, and it is not doing good deeds. We cannot earn a spot in the kingdom of God it is a gift of God. Your sin debt was paid for by the Perfect Lamb of God who is Jesus Christ, so He is the only way to God and into the kingdom.

People from all over the world – from the east, the west, north and south will come and sit down in the kingdom of God. Will you be one of them?

Put your trust and your life into the hands of the Christ who gave His life a sacrifice for our sins, dying on a cross, then being buried, and was raised up from the grave. Because He lives we live to receiving eternal life with Him in His glory.

 

A Man With A Promise

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The man had been promised by the Spirit of God that he would see the Messiah of God before he would die. When Jesus came into the temple, carried by His mother, at the age of 8 days; and for His naming, and circumcision; the Holy Spirit revealed to him that the Messiah was in the temple. Simeon was the man who had waited for many years, believing God’s promise to him that he would not die until he would see Him come.

Simeon, then spoke these words –

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Luke 2:29-32

It was about four hundred years since God had spoken, as far as can be told. God had come visiting. Now how would the people respond?

The promises of God are for real. Simeon had received one, and God did not fail to come true.

We have received promise from God as well through His Son, whom Simeon waited for; and it this same Jesus for whom we also waiting to come back, and take us home with Him. Just as the promise was kept by the Lord GOD for His first coming, so will He keep the promise, His promise, “I will come again, and I will receive you unto Myself…”(John 14:3). We must hang on to that promise, and live for Him as if  He was coming today.

Let those of us who are in Christ Jesus, and He in us live in the promise, trusting His word. His word is good. You can stand on it.

By trusting the promise of eternal  life for all who will call on the name of Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again, just as He said; one day He will come and receive us into His glory.

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..

Going Up To Jerusalem

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I have heard froAnd Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19
m Bible scholars, and teachers, many of whom have been to Jerusalem; that no matter from which we you are coming to Jerusalem, you are always going up to Jerusalem.

The Lord Jesus had His eyes set on the one day that He would go to the city one final time, and He would give His life that the world might be saved.

Hear what Jesus says,

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again.”
Matthew 20:17-19

Though, it is not written as the words of Jesus chapter 16:21 tells us that Jesus told them that He was going to Jerusalem, suffer and die, and that He would rise again. It never seemed to sink into their understanding. Then He tells them once again in chapter 17:22-23 and they still do not get it. They believed that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-19).

The twelve disciples were blinded by their own understanding of what the Messiah was supposed to do. They were possibly come to understand, and believe that the Messiah was only a Savior for the Jew, and not the Gentile. They did not understand the meanings of the prophecies of His first coming, they were thinking the Christ was coming to conquer Rome and deliver Israel and set up His kingdom on earth. They were wrong, and soon found that out.

Every prophecy concerning the Messiah was fulfilled in the coming of Christ as a suffering Servant, and He was faithful, even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).

As we are getting near the end of the Gospel according to Matthew, we know that what Jesus spoke was true, and is still true; Christ Jesus died for our sins. It is not the best way of salvation; it is the only way of salvation. No one will be saved by keeping the law, or by living by the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection is the only way.

The Holy One in the midst…

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“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, My repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of Mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.  They shall walk after the LORD: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.  They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses,” saith the LORD.
Hosea 11:8-11

I try to be a promoter of God’s amazing love, mercy, and grace. The above verses tell us just how loving, merciful and gracious He is.

While the LORD has spoken through Hosea of His anger, because of the iniquities of Ephraim; which is also called Samaria, and Israel – the Northern kingdom; God now reveals that He cannot, and will not destroy her. He will instead will be fully merciful, and gracious. He will not pour out all His wrath on Ephraim, but will continue to discipline her, and draw her to Himself. “They shall walk aft the LORD” is the evidence of that. God knows that one day all those taken captive will return to their “Glorious Land,” (Daniel 11:16, 41), and they will walk after Him.

The LORD God says through the prophet Ezekiel, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” (18:23), and in verse 32 of that chapter, God says, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” The more I learn about God my conviction of His great love grows stronger, and it is the testimony of my life too. He has never forsaken me, and I know He never will.

God is offended by our sins and iniquities. The cross where the Son of God died for our sins was the answer for Adam kind, and our redemption. Jesus Christ took our place, becoming our sin, and taking the wrath of Holy God on Himself, so that we might be with Him eternally. In the death of Christ, His burial, and resurrection He redeemed all of Israel as well; and when they look upon the One whom they pierced, believing Him they too shall live with Him eternally.

Have you called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believing Him? Will you do so now?

The LORDS Name Is Wonderful

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“And I gave them My statutes, and shewed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.  Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness: they walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, ‘I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.’  But I wrought for My name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.  Yet also I lifted up My hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; because they despised My judgments, and walked not in My statutes, but polluted My Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.  Nevertheless Mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.”
Ezekiel 20:10-17

The LORDS name is wonderful for many reasons. Be sure to read the verses, and the chapter it is in; as well as the chapter before and after (chapters 19 and21.

Let us see what the LORD says;

  1.  He is speaking of His deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage; reminding the captives where they came from – it was by the LORDS hand;
  2.  He had given them judgments, statutes, and Sabbaths to do which made them a chosen, and different kind of people;
  3.  If they were to do them, they needed too live by those judgments, statutes, and remember the Sabbaths;
  4.  Israel rebelled against the LORD, and He could have destroyed them;
  5.  But He did not because of His name.

The Lord GOD’S name is a wonderful, marvelous, glorious name. He is trust worthy, and worthy of praise. That is why His name should never be used vainly or in anger.

GOD desires that the whole world know that He is the LORD. Egypt found that out when each of the plagues showed the powerlessness of the Egyptian gods. The LORD is telling us here that He did not destroy Israel, because it would look as if God failed to really deliver Israel from bondage.  He did that for His name’s sake, not for Israel’s sake, but for His own name. His name is holy, righteous, just, also loving, merciful, and gracious.

The most awesome and glorious of His name; if any of His names are better than another; that name is Jesus who is the Christ who is the Incarnation of God who came to earth.

God’s name means so much to Him that you and I can trust that whatever He has said will happen, it will happen. The Old Testament tells us many times about One who would come as their Messiah, even telling that He would die cruelly, horridly, a very ugly death. Read Isaiah 52 – 53. Jesus is that One. God also tells that He would rise from the dead, and be an Everlasting King reigning the world from Jerusalem,

His name is wonderful, His name is wonderful, His name is Jesus. I pray that you the reader of this is already a follower of Jesus Christ, that you are growing day by day in prayer and in the reading and study of the word of God, The Holy Bible.

The LORD will never allow anything He has spoken fail. His salvation is forever, and is found only through Jesus Christ. Call out to Jesus, and He will hear you, and save you.

HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL.

The LORD God’s Judgment Has Purpose

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For thus saith the Lord GOD; “How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.  And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it,” saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:21-23

How can I say that? That is basically what the word of God says above. He does withhold judgment from His people. In Hebrews 12:8 it is written, “But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakes, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”

The LORD always has a purpose for all that He does, and all that He allows. It is only because of His love and grace that the human race; Adam’s race has not been destroyed. It is also by His mercy and grace that evil has been kept somewhat at a level of sanity for most of us.

What was God’s purpose for judging Israel and Judah, sending them back into captivity? Are you ready for the answer? It does not take too many words to say it. For a multitude of years God continued to love them, protect, enrich them; and they reached a level of self awareness, desiring to be god themselves, making their own way, doing their own thing. God sent prophets morning and evening to the spiritual leaders warning them to turn back to God, and they would not obey. Therefore they were destroyed by sword, famine, noisome beasts, and pestilence. He delivered those who obeyed. God saved their lives.

The greatest love, mercy, and grace God has shown to all of us is when He sent His Son to die in our place. You see, none of us can obey Gods commandments without help. We all want to go our own way, but that leads to death. God provided the way through the propitiation of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. If Jesus Christ had not taken my place and your place on the cross we would have died and burned in Hell. Christ becoming sin for us bore all the wrath of God for all our sin, died, was buried carrying our sins away, the then He rose again. Now when we come to God through Christ Jesus we have eternal life now. Call on the name of Jesus and be saved to 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.

The High and Lofty One

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For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.  For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.  For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid Me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.  I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
Isaiah 57:15-18

The LORD God Almighty is giving Isaiah these words. Let me show you what we can know and learn about God, who calls Himself the High and Lofty One.

First of all He is higher than His creation. He inhabits eternity, and that means eternity of our past, present, and future. Also note that He has a certain kind of people who dwell with Him;

Second, God dwells in a high and holy place with them that is of a contrite and humble spirit. They are His for the purpose of reviving the spirit of those who are humble and reviving the heart of the contrite ones (broken, crushed).

Third, God says, “I will not contend forever.” Since Israel had been contentious toward the LORD many times God had a controversy with them. These words have both a negative and positive lesson for us to see, and know;

  1. Negatively – it could be  that God is warning His people that I am through with you;
  2. Positively – it is saying My discipline, My judgment is complete, and I will now give you a new life in Me.

Fourth, God is telling Isaiah that He will not be full of wrath always because He knows that too much will break their spirit, and weaken them spiritually. The spirit of the nation and individuals is what pulls us along, and when the spirit of a man or nation is crushed they need a healer, and though God has shown wrath against our evil; He also displays, and gives us mercy and grace.

Fifth, God says, “I have seen his ways” and yet God shows mercy, and says, “I will heal him.” Who will He heal? Those with a humble spirit, and those with a contrite (broken or crushed) heart.

God wants you today if you have a broken heart, you feel that no one cares for you, you feel beat down; then, call on the name of Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God, God the Son. He came to dwell among us, gave His life on the cross for us was buried: carrying away our sin and shame; and He rose from the grave in which His body was laid.

Call on Him today.

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.

 

Respect To The Holy One Of Israel

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At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.

Isaiah 17:7-8

This morning for my daily reading of the Scriptures I read Isaiah 13 through 20. These chapters are God’s word to surrounding nations of Israel who have been cruel to the people of God, His word to His people as well.

The verses I share today is fitting for any time, and any where.

“At that day…” A phrase used quite frequently in Isaiah’s prophecy is speaking of a day appointed by God Himself. It is a time, a day, which He knows, and the prophet has an knowledge that it could be soon. It is a day that will surly come. Every thing that God says; and every thing that He does has purpose.

“…A man shall look to his Maker…” This is a great thing to think that the LORD is giving this nation, along with Israel a chance, a choice of blessing or judgment. Before one can look to his Maker he must realize that he has a Maker, and that Maker is GOD; and GOD can do things in a person’s life to get him or her to recognize his Maker. What good does it do to recognize your Maker?

“…His eyes shall have respect for the Holy One of Israel…” In the Proverbs God tells us much about the “fear of the LORD,”  and that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” and that  “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” I do not know how many hunters, rifle men and women read this but here is an illustration I use to illustrate for the fear of the LORD:

I have a twelve gauge single shot, breech load, shotgun. I am not fearful of it as long as I am on the right end of that gun; but if someone else is holding it on me, pointed at me, then I am going to be fearful of what I might get. As long as I am on the right end, I am respectful of what that gun can do, and realize the danger of abuse or misuse of that shot gun.

If I am on the right side with God, I revere Him, and I am in awe of Him, because I know that He loves me, and I love Him. However, if I  get on the wrong side of God, then I am going to be very afraid of what lies down the road of my future. So by the grace of God I am trusting Him for His great salvation, and His power to keep me in His hands.

“…The work of his hands…” The man who recognizes the Holy One of Israel will no longer brag about what he has done; what he has built with his own hands. He will trust in the LORD, and be in awe of Him with great reverence, because of who He is.

Who is this Holy One of Israel? He is the Messiah. He is the Christ of God. He is Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins, was buried carrying our sins away, casting them as far away as the east is from the west; and to prove that all He said, and that the work of salvation was done, He rose from the tomb, and lives forever more.

 

Praising The Holy One Of Israel

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Isaiah reminding the people, in his hearing, of the power of God in their deliverance from Egypt hundreds of years prior to this day of which he is speaking.

The song is still good for the Christian and one that needs to be expressed and remembered continually. God is still Holy, Righteous, and Just. He is worthy of our worship and praise.

And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, “Praise the LORD,” call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted.
Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 12:1-6

Do we as Christians remember from where we came? Do we remember the way we were before we called on the name of Jesus, and was born again?

The way we often speak evil words, and sow evil thoughts, and treat other people it seems that we have. If we are honestly seeking to glorify the LORD with our lives let us make our lives a song of praise and worship. Being filled continually with the Holy Spirit we will sing songs, and make melody in our hearts to the Lord, submitting to Him in all things. Husbands will love their wives as Christ loved the Church and give Himself for her; and wife will submit to her husband. Children will be obedient to their parents. Fathers will not provoke their children to wrath. Employees will do their work as unto the Lord. Employers will pay their employees well, and bless them (Ephesians 5:18-6:24). These are evidences of one filled with the Spirit.

Words of praise and worship to the Lord, singing them to the Lord, with a heart for Him comes from the Spirit of God the Holy Spirit. Everyone who has been born again has the Holy Spirit living within them, but we are not always filled with the Spirit, and that is mostly because we have let sin enter our lives. Keeping short accounts with God is a necessity when it comes to our sin against Him.

God the LORD of hosts is the Holy One of Israel is calling you to trust in Him, by believing in His only Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross, He was buried carrying our sins away. and He arose and came out alive forever more.

 

The Wisdom Of Truth

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Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.  For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.  Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Proverbs 22:17-21

This book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We also hear of the truth, and it is the truth. Pilate asked Jesus the question, “What is the truth?” (John 18:38). Jesus Christ told His disciples, “I am the…truth…and no one can come to the Father except by Me” (John 14:6).

Jesus also said in His prayer on the night of Passover, and the day He was to be crucified, “Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is the truth” (John 17:17). Jesus is the living Word of God.

When it comes to speaking the truth that is something all God’s people, all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, ought to love doing. When we speak of Jesus according to the Scripture, we are speaking the truth.

When it comes to telling the truth in a conversation with others, we need to be wise to being truthful. It is wise to tell the truth to those who deserve the truth. For instance, if you tell the truth you never have to remember what you said. If you tell a lie, then you always need to keep track of what you said before, if you do not want to be found to be a liar.

The greatest wisdom, knowledge, and understanding comes from the LORD who is the Truth, and there is no lie in Him. The LORD never lies, neither does He deceive anyone. It is not in His character to do so.

Through Jesus Christ we have the means to answer others who ask us about our faith; the Bible says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6). The wisest words ever spoken by any man were these, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and  you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Be wise, and hear the truth, Jesus died on a cross for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.

The Pleasure Of The LORD

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He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.  The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy.

Psalms 147:10-11

There is no animal as beautiful in its running, and in its strength than a good horse. I have always enjoyed watching horses run across an open field, and a few years ago I got to stand by the race track at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Kentucky, and watched two year old horses race. Believe it or not I do not bet and besides that the day we were there was in June of the year, and there was no betting going on; as far as I know.

Even though the horse is beautiful and graceful in running, God does not have delight in the strength of the horse; whether it be a battle horse, or a race horse.

There are also men, and women who have great strength in their legs. Some are fast at running marathons, and others at sprints. In the days David wrote this Psalm he was probably thinking of the strength of the soldiers legs; and there is probably much that could be said of those men.

The strength of man is weak compared to the LORD’S strength. The LORD has no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him. He takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy.

In the psalmist day their hope in His mercy was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. They were looking forward to the coming of Jesus who is the Messiah.

Now, in our day He has come and did all that was prophesied for Him to do in His first coming. He told His disciples, when He was here, “I will come again, and receive  you unto Myself…” (John 14:3). So He is returning, and maybe sooner than we might think.

We who know Him are resting in His mercy, looking for Him to come at any moment to take us away to be with Him forever.

God’s judgment is certain. Is your hope in Him and His mercy. He gives us mercy everyday of our lives. With every breath you breathe, that came from Him. Every beat of  your heart that too, came from Him. The next step you take comes from Him. He is merciful.

By His grace, through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ you can give God great pleasure by trusting in Him, turning from your sins to the perfect sacrifice of God for sin. Jesus Christ died on a cross for all our sins, that all who believe might give God  pleasure.

Being Thankful

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I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.  All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.  Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine own hands.

Psalm 138:1-8

I will point out three different things here in this Psalm

First, notice how the Psalmist, who is David, is saying that he will praise the LORD even in the midst of kings, and their supposed gods (verses 1-5).

That tells me that no matter where we are as followers of Jesus Christ we ought to praise the Lord God. “For great is the glory of the LORD.”

Second, we are told in verse 6 that, even though God is in His high position; that is Ruler and Sovereign over all things; He respects those who are lowly – humble, meek, brokenhearted, contrite, and poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

We can see also that those who are full of pride for themselves are only known from a distance, meaning they do not know God.

It is better to be of an humble, meek, contrite heart, than being full of pride and headed for a hard fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Third, though he walked in the midst of trouble; maybe the wars he fought, and the enemies he had; he trusted the LORD for giving him life, “You LORD will revive me. The LORD will give me strength, and victory over my enemies with His powerful hand, and He will save me.”

He has faith that God will perfect the things concerning himself. He praises the LORD for His enduring mercy, ask Him to not forsake the work of His hands; that is the LORD’S work on himself (verses 7-8).

In times of trouble when you have the world on your shoulders, and you feel as though no one seems to care; you can know for certain that the LORD God who created all that is (Most High God); He loves you.

He has demonstrated His love for us all by sending His own Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for the sins of the world. You may think, “Well I am not a sinner. Why would I need a savior?” All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, none of us are without sin. You need a savior, and the only Savior from sin is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Turn from your sin to Jesus Christ. That is repentance. By grace through faith.

Christian, lift up your head. Your redemption draws near. God’s word is magnified even above His name (v. 2). It shall come to pass. He does not allow His word to return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).

The Cornerstone.

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The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:22-24

I have learned through the study of Scripture, and other men of God who have studied the Scriptures that the cornerstone was the stone that determined the size and the shape of a building. The bigger the cornerstone the bigger the building; and if the stone was rectangular  then the building would be rectangular. That means the cornerstone is the most important part of beginning a building.

How important is the Psalms in prophecy, especially concerning the Messiah? Well to ease our minds about this question let’s see what Jesus said,

“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.”  Luke 24:44

So Jesus said that the Psalms, along with the books of the Law, and the prophets were prophetic and must be fulfilled.

Concerning the text for this study it is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10, and Luke 20:17. It is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:11, and the First Epistle of Peter in chapter 2 verse 7.

There is much to learn from the study of Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, and I believe that the most important thing to know is that He is only one who can save us from our sins. We cannot just lay Him aside and forget about Him. He presented Himself to His own people, and they rejected Him, thus He was convicted of the crime of blasphemy, and other false accusations, found guilty and crucified on a Roman cross,

Remember, if the cornerstone sets the size and the shape of the building, then Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone, determines the size, shape, and completion of the Church He is building.

There is coming a day when a final soul will call on the name of the Lord for salvation, they will be saved; and there will be no more. That day has not come – Thank You Lord. So today is the day of salvation. Your last chance for salvation might be today.

As the rejected cornerstone He was killed on a cruel Roman cross, He was buried, and He arose and came out of that tomb, alive forever more. When we put faith and trust in Him, turning from our sin, He saves us.

Fall on Him. Hear what Jesus said,

“What is this then that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?’  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’     Luke 20:17

 

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.

Abiding With GOD

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LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15:1-5

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel in writing this Psalm asked two questions; “LORD, who shall abide in Your tabernacle?” and  “Who shall dwell in Your holy hill?”, and is basically asking the same question. The presence of God was the ark in the tabernacle, and the “holy hill’ is Zion.

Both the tabernacle with the ark of the covenant, and the holy hill being the place of rule for the King of kings someday represent the presence of the LORD. Who shall dwell in the presence of the LORD?

The way to abide with the LORD is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ for He said, “I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). In order to dwell in the presence of GOD it must be through the Lord Jesus Christ, and then we will produce those fruits David is speaking of.

Jesus even went on to say, “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6).

For one who does not have faith in Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross of Calvary, there is no hope of bearing this fruit of good works mentioned in the Psalm by David. After telling us that we are saved by grace through faith, the Bible says in Ephesians two ten, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Who will be in the presence of God for all eternity, dwelling with Him? Those who have been given the righteousness of Christ Jesus.

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.