Rejoice In the Lord Always

Psalm 20:5 states, "We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions."

I think about that day when Mary Magdalene & Mary went to the tomb. An earthquake had shaken Jerusalem; but I imagine in their hearts, the women still trembled from witnessing Jesus' crucifixion. When they arrived at the tomb, they chanced upon the angel of the Lord. Scripture says that "his countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow" (Matt. 28:3a). The angel told the dumbstruck women, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Matt. 28:5-6)

What a day that must've been!

And if you're born again and saved, what a day it must've been to you! I know it was for me!

Think about this: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" (Colossians 1:12-14)

Now, that's good! Christ plucked us from hell's bluff and put us in his Holy Kingdom. In Texas, we say Ooo wee! Thank You, Jesus!

What a day that'll be when my Jesus I shall see. And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me through the Promised Land. What a day, glorious day that will be! O, happy day that'll be!

What about you, dear Reader? It's still not too late if you're not saved. Here's how:

1. Admit you are a sinner. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)
   "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
   "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)
   
2. Be willing to turn from sin (repent). Jesus said: "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
   "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)
   
3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
   "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
   "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
   
4. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
   "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
5. Then pray: Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sins. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour and Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Friend, drop a line on this blog if you prayed this prayer and I'll put you on my prayer list. And, if you need to find a place of worship where the Word of God is studied and preached seriously, I'll do my best to locate a church near you. Congratulations and rejoice in the Lord always, because His mercies are new every day!

Wake Up and Stand Up! [Part 2]

Wake Up and Stand Up!

I Samuel 3:11-13

"And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."

While it's clear that this Scriptural passage refers to Israel - the nation of Hebrews - there's an application for us, as a nation, as well. There's a spiritual danger for those who walk with Christ that I feel compelled to write about: apostasy. Eli was the high priest who knew God's word and served him. Yet he walked away from God and his sons followed in his footsteps. And it all began with one step. Make no mistake, friend. One step towards the world is one step away from God.

Apostasy.

You see, we're in it. When an abomination (in God's eyes & according to His word in I Cor. 6:9-10; Lev. 18:22; I Tim. 1:10) is made into a norm and legislated as "legitimate" then we've crossed over into spiritual darkness. I'm referring to homosexual marriage. It's clear from God's word that homosexuality is wrong. And, as Christians, we are to hate the sin and love the sinner. After all, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)

Today's Seattle-Times article  talks about how, "a proposal to legalize gay marriage in Washington state made it out of a final committee and faces its last major obstacle, a crucial vote Wednesday in the state Senate..."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017386542_apusxgrwashingtongaymarriage5thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

When we see this abomination out in the open and there's no fear of God, then, as a nation, we are showing how lost we truly are.

Apostasy.

As Christians, we have to be aware of how apostasy works. The starting point is in our Bible reading and obedience to God's word. This is where we must be vigilant and guard what comes into our heart (Prov. 4:23). The 1st step that draws us away from God is subtle: We continue reading God's word but fail to obey it. Pretty soon, we stop believing what we're reading, so we put our Bible down. Finally, we simply walk away from our faith in Jesus Christ and believe whatever doctrine or whim blows down our path. As a nation, this is the state we find ourselves in. Godless. Hopeless. Helpless. And, lost.

Apostasy.

Consider this thought: "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."         C.S. Lewis

I realize people have opinions about homosexual marriage as well as about other topics. But, as Christians, the final authority is God's holy Word. Is it any wonder many want His Word out of the public life?

Finally, the ultimate authority on God's Word is Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)

It doesn't get any clearer than that. So, where do you stand?

Practicing Multiculturalism

I Kings 16:30-33

In a more culturally confident age, the British in India were faced with the practice of suttee - the tradition of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Gen. Sir Charles Napier was impeccably multicultural:

"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: When men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks, and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."

There's nothing like inclusiveness to get the multi-cultural crowd into a lather. These people are the type to advocate for 2+2=5 and 2+2=3 to get as much attention and respect as 2+2=4 does.

In short, they have traded the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25).

However, this idea of inclusivity is not novel or original. King Ahab perfected it. In the Old Testament, he - along with his pagan wife Jezebel (rhymes with hell), who was the daughter of Ethbaal of Tyre, the priest of Astarte (also known as Eastre) - built an altar to the pagan god Baal in Samaria.  Because of this apostasy, judgment was poured out on Ahab and Jezebel ( II Kings 10:18-31):

"And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him."

Thus, does this sad tale end like any tale should end when apostasy takes hold of a person's heart: "And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke, saying, "And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." (1Kings 21:23)

The prophet Micaiah foretold Ahab's death at Ramoth-Gilead. Ahab disguised himself, and went to a battle at Ramoth, but was killed by an errant arrow (1Kings 22:30-37). As his chariot was being washed, dogs came and licked up his blood.

What does all this have to do with multi-culturalism? When taken to the extreme and there is a demand to include the lies along with the truth then the danger is that the truth will be crowded out by the clamor of the lie. Those who don't believe in God's inerrant word are then subject to fall for the lie of the devil himself.

Romans 1:21-22 reads, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

Don't be a fool. Trust in Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth and life (John 14:6). Accept no other.

Choose Your Bible Wisely!

The Valley of Trouble

Joshua 7

Oh, what trouble we bring upon ourselves when we don't obey God's warnings! Joshua and his crew were told by the Lord not to take anything that was accursed from the town they were about to level. They were also instructed that the gold, silver, brass and iron belong to God; they are consecrated as treasury unto the Lord (Josh 6:18-19). The Lord told them that they would make themselves accursed if they took the accursed thing and the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it.

The word accursed means a thing not devoted to God and intended for destruction, such as an idol, because it is evil in the sight of the Lord.

Yet, Achan disobeyed God's clear command and it impacted not only him, but his family and the nation of Israel. You see, your sin affects other people; it is not isolated even if no one knows what you've done in secret, because God knows. Psalm 44:20-21 says this:

"If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart."

When you put your focus, desires and attention on other things instead of God, you've just made a god for your own personal worship. Achan did just that. And for what? Precious metals that belonged to God and a Babylonian rag. How tragic.

You don't have to end up like Achan, who was judged by God. If you believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins; that He is the Son of God; that He rose from the dead on the third day; and call Him Lord and Savior, you shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-13). However, if you reject Jesus Christ then you are already condemned; you lack of belief condemns you (John 3:16-18). And, those not found written in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire.

Consider the hymn, What A Friend We Have In Jesus

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Friend, you don't have to end up condemned to the everlasting fire. Ask Jesus into your life today. Don't wait. Tomorrow might be too late.

The Greatest Love of All

 John 3:16

"Is it love ... or guilt? No matter why shoppers head out to buy Valentine's Day gifts each February, the fact is that they do buy them. And while chocolatiers, jewelers, and florists get a sizable chunk of that business, there is plenty of spending to go around. In fact, consumers will ring up a staggering $17.02 billion in Valentine's Day sales this year, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF)." source, AllBusiness.com

On big reason was left out: Lust. You see, Valentine's Day focuses on the physical and the sensual. It's hardly about a mind set towards faithfulness and commitment. It's more about the senses.  Lust, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, means, "Strong (esp. uncontrollable) sexual appetite or desire."

Jesus Christ stated: "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matt. 5:28)

James 1:14-15 states the consequences of lust as such: "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. "

Love, in its purest form, is selfless; it is a decision to put the interest of the other ahead of your own interest. Christ not only lived this life out, but he lived it completely to its logical conclusion: He died for it. John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Indeed, Christ said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Please see His sacrificial love on the Cross as an invitation to a relationship with the One who loves you: Jesus Christ. There is no greater love than His. He says in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." C'mon! What are you waiting for? Tomorrow's not promised. After all, you're worth more than $17.02 billion. To Christ, you are priceless. No one else truly sees your worth that way. Except Jesus.

The Parable of the Deleted File

Luke 15:8-10

There once was a man who had lost all of his files when a virus wiped everything from his computer system. Suddenly he realized that an important file – a rare picture he had scanned - had been lost. This precious file preserved an old, fading and cracked black-and-white picture of his family. There was no other copy or negative. The original had decomposed beyond recognition. So, it was with urgency and desperation that he checked the various files, data-bases, directories, hard drive and discs for the lost file. When he failed to find the file, he sent an email to his family members to see if anyone had a copy of the photo. No one had a duplicate. In a final attempt to recover the lost file, he spent hundreds of dollars to purchase an expensive recovery software program to search the hard drive for the lost file. He downloaded and installed the program on the computer and watched the blank screen with his fingers crossed. The cursor blinked for what seemed an eternity and then the file popped onto the screen. With a shout of joy, the man saved the file in multiple discs and afterwards called his family to share the good news.

This parable mirrors much of the sentiment of the woman who lost her silver coin, seeking diligently for it until she found it (Luke 15:8-10). This effort represents the various means and methods God uses to bring lost souls home and the Savior's joy on their return to Him. The parable reveals to us the pains which God takes in His search. The light is brought in. Things are moved. All other work is ceased. The house is swept until the piece is found. And so, it is His love that seeks and doesn’t quit until what is lost is found.

Further on in the same chapter, Jesus recounts the parable of the prodigal son who traded in his inheritance for riotous living. The nearer the repentant son drew to his father’s house, the heavier his heart became at the thought of seeing his father again. I imagine that the son thought about what he would say to his father, and how he would say it. The son might have wondered about his father’s reaction. How angry would his father's anger be? Would he receive him or reject him? How would the son respond? A dread might have burdened his heart about being forsaken by his father. But the father anticipates his coming, and moves towards him, not based on his son's actions, but according to his own heart as a father. He is on his son's neck even before the son can open his mouth, even before the son has had time to say, "Make me as one of thy hired servants." This is the measure of God’s joy towards us when we come to Him in repentance.

Where there is repentance, there is a turning away from sin. Why? When God’s grace attracts us, one moves towards God and away from sin (John 8:3-11).

Indeed, Lamentations 1:20 states, " ‘See, O Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious.’ ”

And Psalm 31:10 says, “My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.”

And so, in our misery, we are received by God’s love and we are clothed with Christ’s blood to enter the house. We do not bring the robe; God supplies us with it. This is heaven's best robe. It is an entirely new thing. And the angels know this because they share in God’s joy. This is heaven’s attitude: Rejoicing. The word rejoice comes from the Hebrew word, suncairw, which is an old and common verb for mutual joy, which demands fellowship. In other words, it is an uncontainable joy that overflows so much so that others can’t help but share in the overwhelming gladness.

What an expression of God’s love! How painfully and wonderfully clear does Jesus make it known to us by His work at the Cross!

The recovery of even one such outcast is watched with interest in heaven and hailed with joy. The great Shepherd is going after His lost sheep. The Owner is searching diligently for the lost silver coin. The Restorer is extricating the family picture from the clutches of oblivion. The lost one is being brought back home with a joy whose cup overruns with all that heaven will allow. Won’t you come to Christ and join His family? He hasn’t given up the search for you. Won’t you come home now?