Grace

Dealing With Sin

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel. And David said unto God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech Thee, do away the iniquity of Thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.” (vv. 7-8)

King David had sinned against the LORD in ordering a census, a counting of the numbers of people in his kingdom. It must have been a bit of pride, wondering just how many people he was shepherding. Anyway he had sinned against the LORD in  doing what he did.

Gad the prophet to David came with a message from God, and told him “God is displeased with this thing, and struck Israel with a plague. He goes to God in prayer, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing, I beseech You, do away with the iniquity of Your servant: for I have done foolishly.”

The king admits, confesses his sins. That is what every individual must do when we sin against God. No confession, no repentance, no deliverance.

And David said unto Gad, “I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are His mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.” (v. 13)

Now, take a look at verse 13 above. David has been given a choice of three things by which he will pay the price for his sins. His answer was, “Let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for great are His mercies.” He would rather depend of the mercy of God than on the wrath of man for three months, or the affects of a plague. The mercy of the LORD is great. In the book of Lamentations, by Jeremiah the prophet, we are told that “His mercies are new every morning.” King David knew that.

God’s mercy means that God is not pouring out His wrath on those who deserve wrath; and my friend, that is all of us on planet earth. We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all deserve His wrath, but He in His great love and mercy has provided for us through a perfect sacrifice to pay sin’s debt, and that is Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. And David said unto God, “Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? Even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? Let Thine hand, I pray Thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on Thy people, that they should be plagued.”
1 Chronicles 21:7-8, 13, 16-17

The angel of the LORD was ready to destroy Jerusalem, and God in His mercy stopped the angel of the LORD from doing that. David is very repentant, and the elders have witnessed the wrath that God was pouring out. He cries out to God, “I am the one who has done this sin, but these sheep, what have they done?” In calling his people sheep was humbling himself before the LORD God as a lowly shepherd.

The  king is told by the LORD to build an altar, and offer a sacrifice to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan. David goes to Ornan, and ask to purchase the land from him. Ornan sells the threshing floor to David, a he makes a sacrifice. It was many years before when Abraham had seen this mountain “afar off” as he was going with his son Isaac, the promised son; and was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, and God provided a Ram caught in a bush by his horns, in the stead of his son.

This threshing floor would become the place where the temple of Solomon would stand.

That Ram provided by God to Abraham is a picture of the promised Messiah, that would come, and give His life in our stead.

Do you desire to deal with your sin that has so long kept you enslaved to it? Would you like to be at peace with God? Would you like to know that your sins are forgiven? You can have those things by turning away from your sins, and turning to the Lord Jesus Christ; God’s perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Son of God who became sin for us, on the cross, taking the wrath of God on Himself, dying; and He was buried, and then He arose from that tomb. Through Him and Him alone can we become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is God’s grace. God is giving us something which we do not deserve; that is deliverance from sin.

 

The Presence Of GOD

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, “None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto Him for ever.”
1 Chronicles 15:1-2
“…For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought Him not after the due order.”
verse 13

Does the LORD God show Himself to people in today’s world? If so how can we be in the presence of God?

I believe God is present with me every moment of every day. I know He is present when I get out of bed each morning, He gives me every beat of my heart, and every breath I breathe. I look out our patio door, and see wildlife, and say and think, “Look what God has wrought.” So yes, God’s presence is shown to people in today’s world.

Since I believe God is with me (us), then, can we be in the presence of God? Yes! How? I will get to the answer in a moment.

In the above Scripture King David had previously attempted to move the ark of the covenant in the wrong way. They had attempted the move by placing the ark on a cart (1 Chronicles 13:7-10), and a man died as a result of that wrong attempt.

The ark of the covenant represented the very presence of God. In the fourth chapter of First Samuel they had gotten to the point of thinking something like this, “We can live how we please, and God will still be with us, because He is in the ark.” They soon found out that GOD was not contained in that box, when they lost a battle against the Philistines, the sons of Eli died in the battle, the ark was taken, Eli fell off of a tree and died, the wife of Phineas died in child birth, and before she died named the child Ichabod which means, “The glory is departed.” Please do not name your child Ichabod.

Now to answer the question, “How can we be in the presence of God?” First of all, you must come to God His way, not your own way. If you have the idea that  you believe in God, so that is good enough, and you practice sin without guilt, remorse, or shame, then you do not really believe in God. God is holy, righteous, and just and cannot look upon iniquity. In the New Testament the Epistle of James tells us, “You say you believe in God, you do well; the demons also believe and tremble.” If demons fear God and tremble you certainly need to fear Him.

How can we be in His presence? There is only one way, and that is through the cross of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. When you come to Him by grace, through faith, turning from sin to Christ Jesus, confessing Him as Lord, and believing in your heart that He is risen from the dead, then you will be saved, and will forever be in the presence of the LORD.

When you come to God His way, He will always be with you, because He gives His Holy Spirit to all who come to Him through Christ. The Person and presence of God is in you, guiding you, correcting, comforting you, loving you, moving you to be more Christ like every day.

Call on Him today.

O Altar, Altar

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.  And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, “O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; ‘Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.’ And he gave a sign the same day, saying, ‘This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; ‘Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.’ ”
1 Kings 13:1-3

This introduces us to an unnamed prophet who has gone from Judah to Bethel with a word from the LORD, to Jereboam. Jereboam his sinned grievously by setting up two golden calves; one in Dan, and the other in Bethel.

Jereboam is there offering sacrifice, and this prophet comes with the word of the LORD, which includes a prophecy of the birth of Josiah, a much later king of Judah. As a sign that this word from the LORD was the truth he says, “Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

In the verses that follow we see that is exactly what happened. God still proves His word to be true. As is said by Jesus many times, “He that has ears to hear; let him hear.” The problem with many who do not believe in God is they have no desire for Him. They love the life they have, and think all is well; but they are perishing in their self deceiving minds. They do not want God to tell them how to live their lives. So they do not want to hear.

I really imagine the Jereboam did not want to hear the word of the LORD from this Judean prophet. But he heard it whether he like it or not, and there was no change except in his rebellious hand, as he ordered the prophet to be arrested.

The word of the LORD from this prophet was to Jereboam, reminding him there was the LORD God who was in control, and had given him a promise to have a kingdom as long as he obeyed the commandments of the LORD, and having a heart for Him. He did not obey, and his family was destroyed (read 1 Kings 15).

Our message for today is that the word of the LORD is trust worthy, faithful, and true from the smallest letter to the largest. When God says  it; it will be done. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away but My word shall never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). In Psalm 119 and verse 89 the psalmist wrote, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven,” and it does not do harm to the word of God if we do not believe it; it is still the truth of God and stands sure.

The word of God is all about Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but has everlasting life” (John 3:16).

You are a sinner condemned to an eternity of torment. We were all born in a sinful  body, condemned to hell, and without some work of God, we would certainly go there. But God who is rich in mercy for His great love which He gave us in His Son Jesus will give light, and life eternal to all who will believe Him. In Him alone is the only way of eternal salvation.

Will you believe today? Will you call on His name? He is waiting.

The High Cost Of Sin

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
2 Samuel 18:33

King David has seen the price of his sins concerning the wife of Uriah, and his murder of Uriah the Hitite.  There is a son (Amnon) who raped his sister Tamar, the sister of Absalom. When Absalom hears about he is angry, and sometime later Absalom kills his brother Amnon for the rape.

The sword of death was in David’s house.  Some one has written, and said, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go; sin will leave you longer than you want to stay; and sin will cost you far more than you can ever pay.” David was finding this out.

These tragic events were foretold by Nathan the prophet when he confronted the king about the sin he had committed, and said, “…The sword shall never depart from your house…” (2 Samuel 12:10).

Absalom rebels against he father, and tries to take the kingdom away. David loves Absalom, and flees Jerusalem, and Absalom and his followers give pursuit. Absalom has it in his heart to kill David. David has no such thoughts of killing his son.

Our text for today above shows a father’s heart for his son said, “If only I had died in your place.” The king have given orders to the three generals to not harm Absalom. However, Joab, one of the generals had other ideas. When he saw Absalom caught by his hair hanging in a tree, he ordered him to be killed. Now David is mourning the death of his rebellious son.

It is with great love that we did have someone die for us. Jesus Christ the Son of God , became flesh and blood, from a babe in a manger to the Man He is, that He might die for the sins of the world. The Bible also tells us that “Whosoever believes in in Him shall not perish, but will have eternal life” (John 3:16).

On the cross Jesus became sin for us, and was judged by the Father in our stead. He died there. He was buried, and in three days He rose from the grave, and He lives forever more.

Sin against God has a very high price to it. Sin takes your life away. Sin is all over the world. There is only one who never sinned, and that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He paid our sin debt. The wages of sin is death. The only escape from eternal death, is by calling on the name of Jesus in repentant faith, turning from your sin to Jesus Christ.

Do you believe today that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead? If you do then, you shall be saved.

Sin Against God Affects Us All

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And David said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said unto David, “The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:13-15

There are many people whom I have heard say something like this after they have been confronted about some sin they have committed; “I am hurting nobody, but maybe myself. I am not hurting anyone else.” O, what a lie is that.

King David had committed adultery with one of his faithful soldiers wife. Uziah’s wife became pregnant by David, and David tried to cover up the possible scandal that would occur. He ends up sending Uziah back to the battlefield, and to certain death, thus by his order murdering his soldier. There he has killed a man, after he has adulterated his wife. There is two others affected by one man’s sin. Joab, David’s General over the battle is also affected by David’s scheme to cover his sin.  Then, the baby dies as a result of David’s sin.

For all practical purposes David deserved to die. David confesses his sin, and Nathan the bold prophet who confronted the king about his sin, gives him God’s message, “The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Nathan has told him already what his sin will do in his family, and against him in verses 11 through 12, of this same chapter. In the verses above the sin of David, the LORD said would give cause for his enemies to blaspheme God.

My sin, and your sin always affects others. The next time you think you are getting away with something that you did wrong. You had ought to think again, because it does affect others, and maybe those closest to you. When your sin is exposed, and it is known, then it will cause many others to take a dim view of God, and will blaspheme the name of God.

Even things done in the privacy of a bedroom with the wrong person with or without the opposite sex. Your sin will find you out, and you will give an accounting to GOD for it.

The good news is, that there is forgiveness for all who fall on their face before the LORD in repentance, for one who is already a follower of Christ (1 John1:9). For the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ He will forgive your sins, and cleanse you, and give you eternal life with Himself. Repent – turn away from your sin – and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ believing He died on a cross for your sins, He was buried, and He rose again. Will you call on His name today? He is waiting.

They Lifted Up Their Voice, and Wept

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Do people weep anymore? Do people cry over their own vile and wicked ways? Does anyone even care?

And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, “I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers;” and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed My voice: why have ye done this?” Wherefore I also said, “I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.
Judges 2:1-5

The children of Israel had failed to do all that the LORD had told them to do. They were commanded to drive out the inhabitants of the land they took possession of; they did not do that in many cases. Reading chapter one we read that the enemy “Had chariots of iron,” so they could not drive them out. Some kept the enemy captives, and as servants/slaves, and this was disobedience to the LORD.

If you will notice three things in the text above:

1. The LORD reminds the people that He brought them up out of the land of Egypt delivering them from hundreds of years of slavery there. That is to remind them, and future generations; even believers/followers of Jesus Christ, that we have been given an even greater deliverance from sin;

2. The LORD reminds them that He will never break His covenant with us; and He does not ever do so. However, that covenant has a clause that says they are to believe Him, trust Him, through obedience in love for Him, so if the child of God gets out of the way and will of God, some discipline, chastisement takes place. So we must take notice of the danger for the follower of Jesus Christ. He does not break His covenant with us, and He will chastise us when we do not love Him enough to obey His word;

3. The LORD’S word to Israel was that the LORD would drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, as long as they were obedient to the commandments of the LORD and not take captives, but to destroy their altars, their idols – their worship of demons; because that is what it is to worship any so called god, made by the hands of men. Now the LORD says, “I will not drive them out from before you, they shall be thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.” The LORD wants to bless His people; however, He cannot look upon iniquity.

Jeremiah the prophet told the people of his day “”Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that My fear is not in thee,” saith the Lord GOD of hosts (Jeremiah 2:19). We do need to realize that our sin offends God. When the child of God realizes sin is an offense to the LORD, that should cause us to weep until we draw near to Him (James 4:8).

One must first come to God through His Son Jesus Christ who became sin for us on the cross, receiving God’s wrath for us. He died in our place, was buried, and He rose again, and when we trust Him alone for salvation, He gives us His righteousness, and a place in eternity with Him.

What About These Stones?

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.  And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, “When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What mean these stones?’ Then ye shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.’ ”
Joshua 4:19-24

The people of Israel have miraculously crossed the overflowing Jordan on the east side of Jericho. The city of Jericho is locked up tight with the people very frightened by Israel’s presence very near.

During the preparation of the crossing of Jordan God had commanded that twelve men, one from each tribe of Israel, pick up a stone from the midst of the river bed, and carry them to the spot they would camp. Then Joshua gives us the reason for these stones.

They are to be a reminder of the goodness, graciousness, loving kindness, holiness, righteousness, justness, and power of the Almighty God who had brought them to this place. These stones would be testimony of the greatness of God, for their children and grandchildren for years to come.

I am not much on monuments, but if God says set up these stones to remember Me; then I will do so. My monument that reminds me of the greatness, goodness, and grace of God is His word. His word also reminds me of God’s holiness, righteousness, and His justness, and we should never lose an opportunity to brag about how great God is.

How good and great is God? He is so great that even though He is holy, righteous, and just He is also loving, merciful, and full of grace. He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who was perfect, without blemish, or sin, to die on a cross, and become sin for us, and take the wrath of His Father for our sins. Because He died for us, when we come to Him by faith we receive His righteousness. Will you call on Him today? Call on Him confessing you have sinned. Thank Him for dying for you on the cross, and for His burial, and resurrection. Turn from sin to Christ Jesus. Your sins are all forgiven. You are clean and right with the Creator of all that is.

It Is Not A Vain Thing

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.  And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel: and he said unto them, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.  For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.”
Deuteronomy 32:44-47

For some the reading, and study of the Scriptures (our Holy Bible) is a worthless, senseless waste of time. Some may feel; even though they profess to be a Christian; that they do not need to read and study God’s word. That seems kind of odd to me since the Bible is the largest selling book in the world.

What has this got to do with what Moses has written, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, with the Christian of today?

First of all we need to know that Moses gave these words shortly before his death. Even though he had led the people of Israel for forty years through the wilderness, with great signs and wonders; he was not allowed to enter the land of  Promise, because of his actions at the waters from the rock of Meribah (Deuteronomy 32:51).

Secondly, Moses knew the people needed the words of the LORD in order to be faithful. They needed to know, and be reminded of the blessings of obedience, and the curses of disobedience.

So does the Christian need to know the word of God. So it is never a waste of time. It is never a vain thing. It is never a useless, worthless or empty thing to read, study, and know the word of God.

How will we, how can we stand before others, and tell others what makes a difference in our lives when they ask, if we do not know His word? How can we stand in a court of people, kings, and nations to defend our faith, and stand in the face of persecution? If we do not know the Lord’s words. Jesus said, “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you”  Matthew 10:18-20. How does that happen without the presence of the word of God being already in our hearts, and coming to our minds – the Holy Spirit, of course, in what we have already put within.

So never feel like the reading and study of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, are a waste of your time. It is a necessity for life, faith, and increasing your fruitfulness.

We will hide His word in our hearts that we might not sin against God (Psalm 119:11).

If you want to know the One true God, there is only one way, and that is through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you call on His name today?

The Prophet

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, “Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;” thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Deuteronomy 13:1-5

The people of God are given a method, a command, to recognize the true prophet of God from a wonder worker using magician tricks to deceive their listeners.

  1. First of all if that prophet tells them his dreams, and does wonders, and says, “It is okay to believe in other gods. Let us serve them.” He or she is a false prophet.
  2.  Second, if what he does in wonders and signs is used to lead God’s people away from the LORD, he is a false prophet.

Why does the Christian of today need to know this and practice what is taught here?

1. The Christian is commanded to love the LORD with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength. If we listen to and follow false teaching, then we are not keeping that commandment.

2. The Christian is taught to listen only to the word of God for Christian life and living, and not to follow a human being; because we fall too.

Are there false prophets in the world today? Yes, and there are plenty of them. They who teach that there are many ways to God, other than Christ Jesus – that is a false teaching, because Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6). Therefore they deny the very words of Jesus and do not believe Him, thus leading people away from the Truth.

In teaching that, also, they are saying that the cross of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection is useless, and unnecessary. Any that teach praying to saints, or praying to anyone but God, or Jesus Christ is also a false teacher or prophet. Also anyone teaching that we are to love the people who are living a perverse lifestyle, same sex marriage, transgenderism, etc.., and tells us that loving them means accepting their perversity is a false prophet. That denies the holiness and righteousness, and justness of Holy God.

There are many false prophets in the world today, in the United States of America and the rest of the world. We heard one on the day of the Presidential Inauguration, when the president sat in a church and was very rudely, and with great disrespect to the office, chided  the president for his proposed policies on the so called LGBTQ people.

These are people who need to hear the truth about their life, and how they are living. God is not pleased. He cannot look upon iniquity, and anyone teaching such garbage is a liar, and does not know the truth.

GOD is holy. His people are to be holy. Do not let anyone lead you away from the truth of God’s word.

The way to life eternal, and living a holy life is in the righteousness of Jesus Christ who took our sins away by dying on the cross, and He was buried, and He rose from the dead. He became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).  He died for all who come to Him in repentance and faith in His finished work on the cross.

A Chosen People

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the LORD loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hateth Him, He will repay him to his face.  Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deuteronomy 7-11

They are called an “holy people” and a people who have been chosen to be a “special people unto Himself, above all people on the face of the earth.” What makes these people a special people? It is not because they are good, or holy, or righteous, or because they are worthy. It is because God says He loves them. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The people are not holy because they are good, but because they have been made so by God Himself. They are a people who that the LORD is their God. That He is the faithful God, and that He keeps His promises, and is merciful, and He loves all who keep His commandments. Who are these people?

They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They are not special by their own works; they are special because the LORD keeps His promises, and He declares them a special people. God does not love them because they are worthy of His love; He loves them because He keeps His word.

Where does the Bride of Jesus Christ fit into this? We are part of the Body of Christ because we have been born again through faith in Christ Jesus, and His death on the cross of Calvary, His burial, and His resurrection. Jesus Christ is a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and through Him we are a special people, a holy people, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

We were not chosen because we were good, righteous, or holy. We were dying, condemned transgressors of the law of God, yet He loved us, and called unto Himself (Romans 5:8). We also keep His commandments, because we love Him; Jesus said, “If you love Me keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

There is a reason to fear what the end may be for one’s life. It is certain that you will die. It is just as sure and certain, that we will all, one day stand before the Lord, and will be judged by what we did with Jesus Christ. If you refuse Him you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe Him, trusting in Him and loving Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and all your strength, then you will spend eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

Trust Him today, believe His word, His promises, and call on Him in repentance of sin.

In His Anger He Struck The Rock

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
“Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.”
And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, “Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron,
“Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.”
Numbers 20:7-12

What did Moses do wrong? The people of the congregation of Israel came to Moses and Aaron complaining again of having no water to drink, for themselves or their animals. Of course water is a necessary element for living of anything on this earth that breathes air.

The people had already witnessed one other time when God provided water from the rock, and Moses was told by God to “Strike the rock,” and Moses did and water came from the stricken rock (Exodus 17:6). This time, however, God had said, “Speak to the rock,” and instead of speaking to the rock, Moses struck it twice; evidently in anger by the phrase He uses, “Hear now, you rebels…” I have a sneaking suspicion that Moses at that moment, in anger, had tunnel vision, and did not fully hear what God said, and remembering the last time he struck the rock, he did so again.

Anger can keep one from hearing God. Moses’s anger may have been justified, but was not good when he did not obey what God said.

I know what being angry and having tunnel vision is like. When I was a teenager we were at a cousins house, and the oldest boy in that family did something to me, while we were outside playing, that made me very angry. It was summer time, and in my anger all I could see while I was chasing him, was him; there was nothing else around me only my cousin in front of me. There was a pickup truck with a hay elevator laying over the tail gate of that pickup, sticking out six to eight feet out, and my cousin ran under that elevator. Well, with my eyes only on him I did not see the elevator, and I did not make the journey under the hay elevator. The elevator stopped at the bridge of my nose, and I went down. Today, I am very thankful for that elevator being there. My anger was not good. Neither is tunnel vision. To this very day I do not remember another time I have lost sight of what is around me.

Paul the apostle says that this rock is Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). First the Rock was struck showing us that the Messiah who is Jesus Christ would be smitten. In the second event speaking to the rock was what GOD had told Moses to do, but he struck it not once, but twice, and Christ was to struck only  once, and then He can be spoken to.

Because of this event of anger the LORD tells Moses and Aaron that they will neither one enter the Promised Land. God tells them “Because you did not believe Me.” It is very important for the child of God to believe God, and believe His word. God’s word concerning Jesus Christ in the Old and the New Testaments is true. He tells us clearly that Jesus is His only begotten Son, whom He sent into the world to redeem all who would come to Him, and give them eternal life.

Jesus, the Rock, was stricken one time, dying on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again. Jesus told us, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself…” (John 14:1-3). Are you ready? If not call on His name in repentance, and ask Him. He will hear, and He will deliver you from sin and death.

By Day, and By Night

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
Numbers 9:15-16

The “Tent of the testimony” was completed, the priesthood, was consecrated  to the LORD. All had been done just as the LORD had commanded Moses. At the raising of the “Tent of the testimony” a powerful show of approval from God is seen by all the people.

The LORD God gives His approval by showing up in a cloud over the tent of testimony by day, and a fire by night. Both of these things rested on the tent showing the people of God’s powerful presence.

The cloud by day, and fire by night had been present when they were  fleeing from Egypt. Now the people can see that God is dwelling in their midst. They could know and say, “GOD is with us.” When the cloud or the fire would move from the tent, then the people knew it was time to move on. When the cloud and the fire stayed, even for a week, a month or a year, they would stay.

Today, the follower of Jesus Christ can know that “GOD is with us,” because we trust in the Son of God who is Jesus Christ, who is also Immanuel which means, “God with us.” When we called on the name of the Lord for our eternal salvation He gave us the Holy Spirit who is our earnest payment (2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14) for assurance of God’s presence in us, on us, and around us. He always leads us to continue in fellowship with Christ.

How do we stay in fellowship with Christ? First we must have the Holy Spirit, and be attentive to Him. He is present in the reading, study, and doing of the word of God. He is the One who guides us into all truth (John 16:13). We must have a heart and an ear for hearing the Spirit,  and following His lead. That comes by communicating with Christ Jesus through prayer, and hearing Him through His word; His commandments, statutes, His law, His judgments, His precepts, His total, and trustworthy word. God will do what He says He will do. Not one word will fail.

Are you in fellowship with God. I can tell you with full assurance that if you do not know Jesus Christ for who He is – the Christ, Son of the Living God – believing He died on the cross for you, was buried, and arose from the dead. That you are not in fellowship with God.

Call on the name of the Lord, believing Him, and He will hear you and deliver you from all your sins. Will you do that today?

Aid To The Brethren

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.  Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.  Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.
Leviticus 25:35-38

The above verses were spoken by GOD to Moses concerning the time they would enter the Promised Land, and they were being blessed by the LORD. Of course it was somewhat applicable while they are wandering in the wilderness, but there they were all about in equal standing economically speaking.

It seems to me that this is good for the Body of Christ, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Who is the LORD speaking of here? Those who are without economic blessing, and are poor money wise. There are may who we could honestly say are poor and have a hard time buying food they need for nourishment, and sustenance for life and living. The LORD is speaking to Moses of brethren who are of one of the tribes of Israel.

So in essence the first obligation we have in the Christian faith is not to food banks for the needy, but to our own brethren within the Church. We are responsible to help those within the Body of Christ who have  come on hard times.

In Jesus Christ, and being part of His royal family we are to take care of one another. To love one another, and help bear other’s heavy burdens, and to support the weak.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all.
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

Let us be a witness to the world that they may know that we love the Lord, by our love for one another, and that would include showing our love to brothers and sisters in Christ.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:35

 

Biblical Sexual Morality

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Ye shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:  (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) that the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.  For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
Leviticus 18:26-29

All of Leviticus 18 deals with sexual morality. Most of the first part is dealing with family members, such as the wife of your father, the sister of your father or mother, etc..

We get a bit of a glimpse into why the LORD is blessing Israel with the land of Canaan; that it is because of hundreds of years – over four hundred – of gross immorality. Such as offering children to their gods, like Molech, Baal, and so forth. Apparently, they were also committing adultery with their neighbors, practicing homosexual behavior, and beastiality.

God calls His people to be holy, as He is holy; and they are to keep His commandments, and His statutes. He says, I am the LORD your God.

The people in the land of Canaan, the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, needed cleansing, and God was going to cleanse it with blood. God warns His people that if they turn away from Him, and commit these sinful, atrocities, against Him, then, they also will be driven from the land, that it might be cleansed.

God’s people, Christians today, need to practice the call to be pure, and clean sexually before the Lord, and the world.

We are to be different, live differently, and we too are called in God’s word to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16).

The way to holiness is by way of the faith of Jesus Christ. He died for us, becoming sin for us, and receiving the wrath of God; that was what I myself and you deserved; and died in our stead. He was buried, and He rose again. When we put our faith, and trust in Him He makes us righteous and holy before Him.

We are to hate evil in every form.  We first look inside of self, and hate our own to start with. As we draw nearer and nearer to God we begin to see our sin, and deal with that, and let God deal with other’s evil.

Do you know Jesus Christ? If not call out to Him in repentance, and faith, and He will hear you and give you eternal life.

Glory On The House

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: but if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
Exodus 40:34-38

Moses had led the people of Israel at this point for about one year. Life in the wilderness was tough, rough, dry, and a learning experience for Moses and the people.

They had received the LORD’S Ten Commandments, and Moses had broken the stone tablets which the LORD had cut out and written with His own hand; and Moses had gone back to the top of Sinai, and cut the stone out at the LORD’S instruction, and then he was instructed to cut out the Ten Commandments, as the LORD gave them.

They had spent time, given offerings of gold, silver, brass, precious stones, blue, purple, and scarlet and linen, and other things for the building of a portable tabernacle in the wilderness.

The above verses tell us what happened after the tabernacle was finished, and at God’s instruction set up.

Moses cannot even enter it because the glory of GOD is on the house. He is well pleased with it.

What does all of this mean for a Christian in today’s world? It is for our learning, even our sanctification, and strengthening of our faith assuring us that God will do what He says He will do.

Everything about the tabernacle in the wilderness is a shadow, a type, a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice of His own blood for the redemption of all who will come to Him.

There is a problem though, in that, the way into the presence of the LORD is guarded by a veil. The veil was between the table, and  the lampstand (the Menorah), incense altar and the Ark of the covenant, and mercy seat which set on top.

In many years there was a temple built which was destroyed in Jerusalem, and rebuilt, and in the time of Jesus when He died on the cross we are told that the veil of the temple was torn apart from top to bottom according to Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, and Luke 23:45. Thus telling us that Jesus is the way into the presence and glory of God, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

Jesus’s death fulfilled all the law concerning atonement, redemption, and sanctification. In His burial He carried all our sins away and when He rose from the dead He defeated sin, death, and Hell.

Now what will you do with Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, God the Living Son?

The Goodness, Mercy, and Grace of the LORD

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”  And He said, “Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
Exodus 33:19-20

Moses had just asked the LORD, “Show me Your glory, ” and ends by tell us that no man can behold the face of the LORD, and live.

We read in verse 11 that Moses talked with God face to face, as with a friend, and we are told in the last verse of the chapter, “…but My face shall not be seen.” Seems like a contradiction, and I am not sure I can grasp the full meaning of that, but say,  when Moses was speaking to God face to face it was in a cloud, a veil or sorts, and when GOD shows Himself (His glory) there is no veil, but only His hand that guards Moses from death, and that Moses saw only the LORD’S back.

This revelation of Moses getting to view the glory of the LORD shows us that God is truly good, merciful, and gracious. It especially shows us that God can be seen.

God was seen by men when Jesus was on earth as a Man; God veiled by human flesh. Jesus Himself said, “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father” (John 14:9).

The LORD God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy; and He will be gracious to whom He will be gracious. I pray He will be merciful and gracious to you so that you will come to Him through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. He also told us, “I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am there you may be also” (John 14:3).

Will you call on His name today?

God Sees the Wickedness of Mankind

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.  And the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.”
Genesis 6:5-7

The verse which follows the one’s above tells us that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” God in His loving kindness, mercy, and grace saved Noah and his family from the devastation of the flood.

God still sees the wickedness of human kind, and He has a way of escape. It is through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

You can begin the New Year 2025 with a new heart and mind by turning from your sinful life, and turning to Jesus Christ. Call on Him and He will hear you.

The Work Of Faith

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

The Mouth Of The LORD Has Spoken

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the LORD: “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword:” for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Isaiah 1:18-20

The Measure Of Faith

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Romans 12:3-8

The Justifier of The Unjust

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:21-26

The One sent by God to die for our sins, was buried, and He rose again. On the cross He became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), and took the wrath of God for our sins. In His burial He carried our sins away, and in His resurrection He justifies forever all who trust Him.

Revelation Of Who The Son Is

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in Spirit, and said,
“I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.  All things are delivered to Me of My Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal Him.”
Luke 10:21-22

The LORD is my God

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, and against the Man that is My Fellow,” saith the LORD of hosts: “Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones.  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land,” saith the LORD, “two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, ‘It is My people:’ and they shall say, ‘The LORD is my God.’ ”
Zechariah 13:7-9

Need For Repentance

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
Obadiah 1:17

For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying,
“Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?”
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not.
Jonah 3:6-10

Judgment Begins At The House Of God

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And to the others He said in mine hearing, “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.  And he said unto them, “Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth.” And they went forth, and slew in the city.
Ezekiel 9:5-7

Also read 1 Peter 4:17