Life

Humble Yourself Before the King of Heaven

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For the most part chapter four of Daniel is the writing of Nebuchadnezzar, sharing his personal testimony of a tragic, yet humbling, and redeeming time of his life and reign as king of Babylon. He had grown proud and arrogant (4:28-30), and the King of heaven brought him down.

The following are the final words of Nebuchadnezzar in the testimony he shares:

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37 (KJV)

Pride is one of the abominations which God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19); called “a proud look”, and the king of Babylon had it. It is a dangerous thing to try and exalt oneself above the word, and words of God. The LORD had given Nebuchadnezzar warning through a dream of a tree being cut down; but he did not listen to it; he did not fear the word of the LORD.

How about you today? Is there a arrogant, proud mind, and heart where you are saying to yourself; “I am a self-made man. I do not need God.” That is the height of arrogance and pride. Every man and woman needs God, His mercy and His grace. He is offering it to you today through the cross of Jesus Christ His holy Son. Believe Him today. Humble yourself before God, and He will lift you up (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 1 Peter 5:5-7).

Humble yourself before God; and He will not need to abase you. Honor the King of Heaven with your life.

Egypt and You

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The nation of Egypt was at one time a world ruler. In the days before the captivity of Israel in Egypt, and during their captivity there the nation was a world ruler; even believed to have been the ruler of the known world at that time.

What is God’s purpose for Egypt? The answer to that is found in the final portion of our verses for today:

“Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered: and I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 29:13-16 (KJV)

“But they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.” Yes! This phrase is one of the most prominent throughout the prophecy of Ezekiel; at least 63 times. It is said of other nations; including Israel. It is said of individuals. The LORD God wants you to know that He is the LORD. One day you will. I only pray that it will not be too late for salvation.

God’s word to Egypt was that they too would go into captivity, that they would one day return to their land, but they would never be a world ruling power again. They went from a world ruling nation; basically to a world ruled nation. God still has great plans for Egypt.

No matter how far you have fallen; there is still hope for you. No matter how much evil may be in your life; Jesus Christ died for you; took your sins, your evil upon Himself, and bled and died so that you might be saved from your sin, guilt, condemnation and death. Know that He is the LORD today.

The Flaming Flame

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No! This is not dealing with the devastating, and catastrophic wildfires out West. This is not dealing with any fires of our day. The fire of the forests of our text have to do with God’s judgment upon Judah; and I do believe this nation called the United States of America needs to wake up to the very real possibility that God’s judgment is upon us.

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; and say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?” Ezekiel 20:45-49 (KJV)

People do not want to listen to the word of God. You can note the final verse of chapter 20 ends with, “Doth he not speak parables?” That is the elders way of rejecting God’s word, saying that it is not understandable.

That fire that was to come was from Babylon coming from the north, and they would burn the dry tree and the green tree. It is said that there were many trees and forest in Palestine before these things came to pass.

Will we hear the word of the LORD? Will we just pass it off as a thousands of year old book that no longer has any meaning, and does not fit our culture, society or our time? That is up to you and me. I, for one, accept it as the word of God. What God has spoken, has been spoken, and it is true; and will come to pass.

His word tells us that He loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Believe that and live. Reject it and die.

Why Do You Die, O Sinner?

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I hear people ask, “Why would a loving God send people to hell?” My answer has been, “He does not”. Some who hear my answer and ask then, “Do you not preach that sinners go to hell?” or something along that order of thought. Of course I do believe in hell. I believe in hell that was made for the devil and demons. It was not made for mankind.

However, hell is the destination of all who refuse God’s gracious gift of salvation. You are dying. You are a condemned person. Because of the fall of Adam; because of Adam’s sin we are all doomed to death, and hell. God does not send us there. That is our destination apart from God’s gift of grace. Hear the words of the prophet Ezekiel:

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:30-32 (KJV)

Yes, the LORD is speaking to Israel. Yes it has application for all people. Hear the words of Jesus in John 3…

“He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

The question you need to be asking is not “Why would a loving God send people to hell?” the question should be; “Why do I reject the offer, the gift of grace, through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ God’s Son?” Why do you? You are already condemned, dying, going to hell. God has freely given you His Son dying on a cross to redeem you.

Why do you choose to condemn yourself to an eternity without God, and to be in the flames of hell for all eternity?

God has no pleasure in your death. He is pleased when people come to Him. Just call on His name, and He will hear your cry for help.

Covenant Keeping GOD

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“Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant. And I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 16:60-63 (KJV)

The covenant God had given to Israel was through Abraham. Though the nation had been judged, was being judged, and would be judged some more God would not forget His covenant with Abraham.

The following is quoted from the Jeremiah Study Bible notes for the above verses:

As fierce and catastrophic as the coming judgment would be, God reiterates His commitment to Jerusalem to one day restore her, give her a new heart that would follow after God, and bring her once more to regional pre-eminence. We see here both God’s commitment to keep the covenant He had made with Abraham to give his descendants the Promised Land forever, and also His lavish grace in restoring Sodom and Samaria to Jerusalem as daughters, not sisters. God would provide atonement for Israel’s sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son.

May all Christians rest in the peace of knowing that God is a Covenant keeping God. What He has said will not fail to come to pass. Not one word will return to Him void. Jesus Christ is coming again. Not to die, but to reign on the earth.

Promise for Life and Life Eternal

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There are not too many promises in life that any of us can be truly assured of. We buy insurance for our cars, our homes, our health; even our lives so that our families can have a means of living better in the event of our deaths. Even with those insurances there can really be no true assurances from the tragedies of life. There is assurance only when God gives a promise, through the word He speaks. One instance…

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid. For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in Me, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 39:15-18 (KJV)

The prophet Jeremiah had been thrown into a miry pit, and practically left to die by the king Zedekiah; at the word of some of the nobility, priests and prophets of the land; because they wanted Jeremiah dead, gone, accusing him of treason (chapter 38).

The promise is given to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, because he showed kindness to the prophet; and that probably because he believed the word of God through the prophet. He cared for the prophet. He went to the king to ask the king to give aid to him (38:7-13); and he gives it; raising him out of the pit, cleaning him up, and feeding him.

The word of God to Ebedmelech was that the city would be destroyed, but your life will be given you. You shall not perish by the sword, because you have placed your trust in Me.

Will you believe the word of God today, concerning the plight of mankind without God’s love, forgiveness and grace? Mankind is doomed to eternal torment without, and apart from the cross of Jesus Christ. Believe in Him, His death, burial and resurrection and you will be saved from the events to come. That is God’s word for you today.

“Curved in” on Self

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This blog is appropriate for all ages, male and female.

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girl looking in mirror

I am “curved in” on myself.” My curved-inward self lives “as if God did not matter and as if I mattered most” (LSB, p. 292). “The tug of our flesh is always and ever toward self-justification,” writes Rev. John T. Pless. “Self-centeredness is not just socially inappropriate; it is a matter of idolatry. It is the way of the flesh to fear, love and trust in the self above all things.”

Will things improve if I just forgive myself? No! This is “not only a cruel impossibility” writes Pless, “but blasphemy. Only God can forgive sin, and the self is not God! It is one thing to say that one must learn how to live by the promise that sin is forgiven. That’s faith. It is quite another thing to say, ‘You must forgive yourself.’ That’s idolatry because it makes the self the savior.”

In a world that celebrates…

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Tongues of Hatred

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“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.” Proverbs 26:28 (KJV)

There is much said about “Hate speech” in today’s culture here in the United States of America. “Hate speech” seems to be a code term used to try and convince people that if you do not agree with someone then you are accused of using “hate speech” as a way of silencing you.

This proverb is the truth. I wrote yesterday of the worth of truth, and today of a lying tongue. The individual; the man, the woman, the boy or girl who speaks continual lies is a hater; using hate speech to further their own ends.

The lying tongue hates those whom they are lying to. They especially hate those who are brave, bold, courageous, and loving enough to confront them about their lies.

On the matter of the “Flattering mouth” we have probably all been guilty of flattery of some kind. Flattery is sometimes used to be kind. It is often used to try and obtain from another something we want.

Flattering mouths work ruin; first for the individual speaking it; then, also the one to whom they are speaking it.

We must remember the tongue is a powerful instrument. It holds the power of life and death.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21

We would all be better to love one another; speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), than to lie. We may offend some with the truth, but we cannot truly be accused of hate speech speaking the truth. Truth gives life. Life comes to us from God the Father sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for us sins, His burial, and His bodily resurrection.

Believe Him. He is the truth.

Participate in Righteousness – Inherit the Earth

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“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.” Psalm 37:8-10 (KJV)

Many times when I see an evil deed done, my first thought is; “Death to the evil one”. If you have any righteous thought in you at all then when you see evil done you will have the thoughts too.

Defining evil in our day has gotten a bit complicated to many though. What used to be evil is now good; and what used to be good is now evil. The complication has come in due to evil itself.

Evil through the lies of Satan has been confused by what is deemed as love, which is actually tolerance mixed up with hatred. If someone is genuinely loved those who love them will correct them when they are in error; and endeavor to aid them, and direct them the right direction. The new idea of “love” is just let them be who they are; and they continue on in their self lies and affliction, misery and sin. What would you think of a doctor who discovers a cancer in your body, but does not tell you of the cancer because he “loves” you and is willing to let you continue as you are?

The Psalmist says to us. “Relax! Don’t React!” at least not with anger. We ought always be angry with evil, and the outcome of it; but let us also realize that in the end days evil will be judged, and those who practice it will be judged, and it shall be done away.

To “Wait upon the LORD” is not sitting idly by, but to keep on believing, trusting, doing those things we know we are to do. Be busy about the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot change evil, but evil will be judged. They that wait upon the LORD shall inherit the earth, they shall also “renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Those who “Wait upon the LORD” are the meek who inherit the earth (v. 11; Matthew 5:5), as well.

Part of living a righteous life through Jesus Christ is living a life that confronts evil with the power of the word of God, and the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the strength against evil in our world. The Psalmist believed evil would lose in the end. So do we.

Put an end to the evil in your life by trusting Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, His burial and resurrection. He removes the evil, and gives you His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Redeemer Who Lives

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“For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-27 (KJV)

Job had been falsely charged by his friends. He also felt neglected, despised even by God; but Job still trusted the love, grace and mercy of God.

Are you beaten, battered, bruised, sick or diseased? Do you feel you have been forsaken by God, your family, your friends? Do you believe that no one cares? God does care. God does love you.

Even the righteous (those declared so by God Himself) suffer. Job is a great example of that; yet, Job’s faith went on trusting and believing in God.

Job believed that he was probably going to perish; was going to die; that his body would decay, and be eaten by the “skin worms”. Yet, he believed that his Redeemer lived, and that he would see Him stand upon the earth.

That Redeemer is none other than the One who died for the sins of mankind upon a cruel, old rugged cross, was buried, and arose bodily from the grave. He (Jesus Christ) will one day return to rule and reign as King of the earth from Jerusalem.

My Redeemer Lives….

Bone of Life

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“And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.” 2 Kings 13:20-21 (KJV)

Elisha’s death was not a good thing for Israel. It spoke of their death, their future captivity. Just as Elijah was honored after his departure, and during his departure (2 Kings 2:11); so too was Elisha honored following his death.

In Elisha’s life and ministry there had been resurrections (2 Kings 4:31-37), and other great miracles (chapter 5 Naaman is healed of leprosy).

Here is a man being buried by his family possibly. The Moabite invaders are coming suddenly, and in haste they put the body of the man in an already prepared tomb; which is the tomb of Elisha. They get more than they expect, and as the body of the dead man touches the bones of Elisha; showing all that there is life after death; the man is resurrected.

This power shows us that Elisha is still living. It shows us that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:26-27).

Jesus the living Son of God, and God the Son came out alive after 3 days in the tomb. He Himself is the giver of life. Believe Him to be delivered from death; and to live eternally with Him.

Safeguard with the King

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“And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD’S priests. And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father’s house. Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.” 1 Samuel 22:20-23 (KJV)

It would be very helpful to your understanding to read at least chapters 21 -22 of this reading.

King Saul had become very jealous of David. He was one of those who desired credit even if he did not do it, because he was the leader; he was the king.

Saul had ordered the death of the LORD’S priest, about 85 of them, because they had aided David with bread and a sword. One of the priests escapes and goes to David. Abiathar, and David provides him safety.

David is basically not running from the king because he fears him. David does not desire to kill king Saul. He is the Lord’s anointed king for the time. God will handle that problem in His own timing.

With David being protected by the Divine power of God, there is no safer place to be than with David and his men.

There is a place of safety for you today. That place is in the hands, and the heart and mind of the Son of David. The soon coming; soon to reign King Jesus.

The Living Look

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“And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” Numbers 21:6-9 (KJV)

The people were complaining, murmuring about the bread that came from heaven, which they had called “Manna” which means “what is it?”. It seems to me that people of today, even professing Christians have grown tired of the Bread from heaven. He is Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Due to the murmuring of the people of Israel God sent fiery serpents into the camp; and these serpents bit them, and many of these murmurers died. Their deaths were due to their conspiracy with sin to overthrow God’s very means of their sustenance. Murmuring, ungratefulness, says to others and to God, “I know what is best for my life, and this is not it”.

When I first began studying the Bible I came to this verse, and I knew that it was a type, a picture of the sinner looking to Jesus on the cross, and being delivered from sin. My question was, “How does a serpent represent my Saviour?” The study continued until I discovered 2 Corinthians 5:21, then I had the answer. God made Jesus to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, became on the cross the very thing that His Father hated and despised; and took the holy judgment and wrath that only myself, and the whole human race was responsible for. If I would have died for my own sin; if you were to die for your own sin, then there would not be eternal life; but eternal death, and dying torment.

By looking to Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection we can look unto Him and live eternally in the presence of God, and in His glory.

Hear the words of Jesus Himself,

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:14-15

Loving the LORD

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“I love the LORD, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2 (KJV)

Why do you love the LORD?  Why do I love the LORD?  It has been said that if you can state why you love then, you will love more deeply, more passionately.  To me the ultimate reason is what John the apostle stated,

“We love Him, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

We love Him, because He sent His Son Jesus to die for us.  We love Him because He hears us when we pray.  We love Him because we know that when we call on Him He will hear us.

He will not hear us because we are without sin, or because we are some special person; He hears us because of His Son.

Speed Deliverance

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“Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.” Psalm 70:1 (KJV)

Like the Psalmist most of us often feel the pressures of this life; work, home, family, friends, even society and culture; pushing us, crowding us, holding us, even destroying us.  At least that is how we feel at times.

It  is in these times we plead for help.  Many who know not God through His Son Jesus will seek out solace, and comfort from sources which will only lead to more problems, and addictions.

For the Christian, born again by the Spirit of God, it is always the right time to plead for God’s deliverance, His help, His strength, His comfort.

If you are an non believer, no follower of Christ Jesus, and you find yourself in a quandary; you realize you cannot solve the problem of life, you realize you are a condemned, dying, person; then is the right time for you to cry out to the Living God for deliverance.  He will with all speed come to your deliverance.

Christian brother and sister; never fear God makes haste to come to you aid.  You may call out to Him from what ever situation you may find yourself.  He hears, He comes, He delivers, and gives you peace.

Preserve My Life

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“Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.” Psalm 64:1 (KJV)

We have here another of David’s prayers.  David was a unique man and king.  He often called on God in prayer, and it was a normal thing for Him, because he had a heart for God.  Of David C. H. Spurgeon has written,

It is our duty to note how constantly David turns to prayer; it is his battleaxe and weapon of war he uses it under every pressure, whether of inward sin or outward wrath, foreign invasion or domestic rebellion. We shall act wisely if we make prayer to God our first and best trusted resource in every hour of need.
from THE TREASURY OF DAVID

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he has written,

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…” Ephesians 6:17-18 (KJV)

We note that for the Christian, in particular the Spirit filled Christian the Word of God is an weapon of offense, and I believe defense as well; and then there is the matter of prayer.  It is a weapon as well.  When we are in touch with God, and He is in communication with us then He is the Champion of our battles.

To conclude this study I will include some of the words from Matthew Henry:

He earnestly begs of God to preserve him (Psa_64:1, Psa_64:2): Hear my voice, O God! in my prayer; that is, grant me the thing I pray for, and this is it, Lord, preserve my life from fear of the enemy, that is, fro the enemy that I am in fear of. He makes request for his life, which is, in a particular manner, dear to him, because he knows it is designed to be very serviceable to God and his generation. When his life is struck at it cannot be thought he should altogether hold his peace, Est_7:2, Est_7:4. And, if he plead his fear of the enemy, it is no disparagement to his courage; his father Jacob, that prince with God, did so before him. Gen_32:11, Deliver me from the hand of Esau, for I fear him. Preserve my life from fear, not only from the thing itself which I fear, but from the disquieting fear of it; this is, in effect, the preservation of the life, for fear has torment, particularly the fear of death, by reason of which some are all their life-time subject to bondage.
from Matthew Henry Commentary

Let us, however, not just use prayer for our help; but also for praising Him  who alone is worthy of our worship, praise, honor and glory.  That is Christ Jesus.

The Beginning of Life and Death

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“And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” Genesis 50:24-26 (KJV)

The book of Genesis, the book of beginnings finds a great divide.  A divide between life and death.  Everyone likes to talk about life.  Not many will even deal with the topic of death.  In the end we must realize that death, though inevitable for us all is merely the absence of life.

God never created death.  God created life.  Disobedience to God brought death; Adam’s and Eve’s sin in the garden produced death from the life God had given.  The choice they had between the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a choice of life and death.  Their choice was death, thus this is the journey of mankind through the end of Genesis, and through our own day as well.

Joseph was sold into Egypt fulfilling God’s plan to make a great nation through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  God gives life for all those who believe Him and trust Him.  Joseph died in Egypt with the promise of God and hope that one day Israel would return to the land of Promise – the land of Canaan.

Because of the sin in the garden death came to mankind, and every man, and woman since that time has gone the way of death; with the exception of two men – Enoch (Genesis 5:21-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:1-15).  Then there was Jesus the Christ, Son of God who died and was bodily raised conquering the power of death for all who would trust in Him.

One day those who believe and follow Jesus will look upon His face.  We will see Joseph, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the prophets, David, friends, family, and many people we never expected to find there.  All are there through the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross, His burial and bodily resurrection.  Death is conquered by the resurrected power of life through Christ Jesus.

That coffin in Egypt which held Joseph will be empty.  Those coffins which have held the bodies of your loved ones who loved Jesus will be empty when Jesus comes for His own.  Contrary to what some believe there is a “First resurrection” (Revelation 20:5), and there is a “second death” (Revelation 20:6, 14).  Which will you have part in?  The second death is the eternal absence of meaningful life and God.

GOD loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Believe Him and live forever. Reject Him and die forever.

Keeping the Tongue

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“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” Psalm 39:1 (KJV)

We have a powerful little thing in our mouths that can heal and/or kill.  It is called a “tongue”.  James the half brother of Jesus says, “No man can tame” (James 3:8).

We do not often think of the power we wield with our tongue, and as in writing a blog or writing in an email, on facebook, or any form or writing.  We often do not think of these things as being the “Tongue”; however, they are spoken words, and carry either hope and light or death and darkness.

The Psalmist David said, “I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue…”  We too, as people, and especially those who are Christian, need to weigh our words, or thoughts, before we speak them.  One measure to have is, Do these words give life; or do they give death?  If they give life, then speak.  If they give death, then maybe we need to keep our mouths shut.

God forgive me for the times I have spoken death; and also forgive me for the times I kept my mouth shut when I could have given life.

Words for Christian Living – Our Treasure

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

In January I posted a short article on this same topic.  I awoke this morning with this topic on my mind; and it has been just about everyday I live.  The topic of “Treasure”; in particular: what is my treasure.  It is something for which I am ashamed to mention.  First let us look at what Jesus said;

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

Jesus knew we would have treasure; however those treasures are not to be earthly treasure; and that is the first thing we think of when we think “Treasure”.  Gold, silver, precious jewelry, houses, lands, boats, cars, and sometimes spouses and children.  Jesus does not tell us these things are bad.  They are, in fact, good to have; remembering from whom they have come.

My shame lays in the thought that I see in myself more affinity for speaking of things like a good movie, book, car, a football game; than I do of speaking of Christ Jesus.  That tells me that Jesus Christ is not my Treasure.  Why is it when the subject of those other things come up I can speak without fear; yet when the subject of God comes up I can get really quiet?

I have no excuse.  Jesus is the greatest treasure.  I am endeavoring today, by the power of the Holy Spirit to make Jesus Christ my Treasure.

GOD Builds a People

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GOD Builds a People

Exodus 1:1-22

1.  GOD”S Sovereign Providing Hand Fro His People (vv. 1-7).

A.  This history begins with the word “Now…”

 

2.  GOD builds His People in the Midst of Affliction (vv. 8-14).

A.  “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered”  Heb. 5:8.

B.  By this we can see and understand that suffering is not just the plight of the wicked.

 

3.  GOD Honors Life and Blesses the Lives of Those Who Honor and Respect Life (vv. 15-20).

A.  The end result of saving lives of babies can be a deliverer, a Saviour.

B.  The end result is not often see by the one who has respect for life.

 

4.  GOD Blesses His People for Their Faithfulness (vv. 21-22).

A.  The blessed people are all who “Fear God”.

B.  Fearing God begins by receiving the Gift of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Thus saith the LORD…

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“And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, ‘Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast unto Me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.'”  Exodus 5:1-2

The House that will Endure the Trials, Tremors, and Troubles of Life

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“And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”  ~Jesus (Luke 6:46-49)

I Will Not Let Thee Go

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I Will Not Let Thee Go…

Genesis 32:24-32

1.  Jacob was born grasping the heel of his brother Esau (25:25-26).
2.  Jacob’s name means “supplanter” which is a deceiver, schemer plotting and planning his own course in life (27:36)
3.  Jacob runs to Padanaram to escape from possible death by Esau’s hand (27:41- 28:2).
4.  Jacob meets God for the first time at Luz; he names the place Bethel [House of God] (28:10-22).
5.  He gets to Laban’s home, meets Rachel, is in a fight with Laban for twenty years for what is his.
6.  God calls Jacob to return to Canaan (31:11-13).
7.  Jacob fears meeting Esau; spends night wrestling with a man; earnestly contended for blessing; received blessing.

 

I.  THE BATTLE WE FACE AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES (Eph. 6:10-12).

II.  THERE ARE FEARS THAT WILL BE FACED IN THIS LIFE (Psalm 56:3, 11).

III. WE WILL BE CALLED ON TO CONFRONT WHO WE ARE; JUST AS JACOB DID (vv. 27-28).

IV.  WHEN WE HAVE A HOLD ON GOD DO NOT LET HIM GOD WITHOUT HIS BLESSING.

V.  KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD (vv. 29-30).

VI.  THERE WILL BE EVIDENCE OF YOUR BREAKING BEFORE GOD (vv. 31-32).

 

Application
i.  Face the battle of everyday life with faith that God will bring you through it.
ii.  Recognize your fears, confess them, forsake them, and trust the One who fights your battle for you.
iii.  Remember that God knows the ending as well as the beginning.
iv.  Rejoice that God in His grace has brought us before His face.
v.  Take the time each day to really spend time with God [wrestling] in prayer and His Word.

-Tim A. Blankenship

This is sermon points from a sermon preached January 2011

Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father, and Keeping His Commandments

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“If ye love me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.  He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” ~Jesus (John 14:15-21)

Jesus is The Going, The Knowing, and The Living

/ Tim A. / 1 Comment

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.  If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.”  ~Jesus  (John 14:5-7)