“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.” [1]
The Cornerstone of Christianity is Christ who died, was buried, and was resurrected from the dead. Praise God for the Twelve and five hundred who met the risen Savior. Praise God for Paul who also met Jesus and did not remain silent about it! What does the resurrection of Christ mean for us? It means that we too can resurrect from the dead and be with God thanks to Jesus!
“But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?’ Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” [2]
The bodies that we have now cannot compare with the bodies that we will have after the resurrection. Our heavenly bodies are to our earthly bodies, what a flower is to the seed from which it came. Thanks to Jesus we will bear the image of Christ.
“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” [3]
In lieu of our Lord’s resurrection, we have the guarantee of eternal victory. So, come what may, we should remain steadfast. We should work for the Lord. Our efforts in Christ will end well.
[1] 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
[2] 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-44, 49
[3] 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
Bearing witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus!
Monday, August 29, 2016
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Overcoming Trials
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” [1]
During a season of severe trial (poverty, loneliness, and illness resulting in mental, physical, and emotional anguish), the Lord compelled Job to pray for his friends. As Job turned from concerns about self to concerns about others, the Lord blessed him and restored his fortunes double.
My friend, if you are in the midst of trial, empathize with friends who need the Lord’s help. Pray for them. Instead of asking, “Why?” ask “What?” “What shall I do for God and others in spite of my own troubles?”
God speaks to us through His servant James, and says, “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” [2]
[1] Job 42:10
[2] James 5:10-11
During a season of severe trial (poverty, loneliness, and illness resulting in mental, physical, and emotional anguish), the Lord compelled Job to pray for his friends. As Job turned from concerns about self to concerns about others, the Lord blessed him and restored his fortunes double.
My friend, if you are in the midst of trial, empathize with friends who need the Lord’s help. Pray for them. Instead of asking, “Why?” ask “What?” “What shall I do for God and others in spite of my own troubles?”
God speaks to us through His servant James, and says, “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” [2]
[1] Job 42:10
[2] James 5:10-11
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Prayers For Holding to God's Word
“Turn MY HEART toward Your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; PRESERVE my life according to Your Word. Fulfill Your PROMISE to Your servant so that You may be feared.” [1]
The opposite of a heart for God’s Word is a heart for selfish gain. Let us ask the Lord to turn our eyes FROM empty pursuits, and TOWARDS life in God’s Word. Let us ask the Lord to ensure His promises will be fulfilled in our lives with the goal that our listeners will fear the Lord.
“I will walk about in FREEDOM for I have sought out Your precepts.” [2]
God’s Word gives us victory over the devil’s enslaving and oppressive ways. “Thank You Heavenly Father for helping to walk in freedom.” Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” [3]
“I DELIGHT in Your commands because I love them. Remember Your Word to Your servant for You have given me HOPE. My COMFORT in my suffering is this: Your PROMISE preserves my life.” [4]
Let us tell the Lord of our delight and love for His commandments. His Word gives us hope. His Word comforts us when we are suffering and preserves us.
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I OBEY Your Word.” [5]
Praise God for allowing afflictions that correct us from straying from God to obeying Him.
“You are GOOD, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees. Your hands made and formed me; give me UNDERSTANDING to learn Your commands. Your Word is a LAMP for my feet, a LIGHT on my path. My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end. You are my REFUGE and my SHIELD; I have put my HOPE in Your Word. SUSTAIN me, my God, according to Your promise and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.” [6]
Let us ask God to teach us His decrees because He is good. Let us ask God to give us understanding so that we can learn His decrees because He is the One who formed us. Let us pray for Him to be ever present with us because His Word is light to our path. Let us pray a heart that is fixed on obeying Him until the very end of our lives. God is a protector and sustainer. He is the One who is able to keep our hope from being dashed.
“I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all Your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as You always do to those who love Your Name. Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me. REDEEM ME from human oppression that I may OBEY YOUR PRECEPTS.” [7]
Let us pray for deliverance from oppressors. They come against us for obeying God. Let us ask the Lord to ensure our well-being amid the arrogant behavior of our oppressors. Let us ask the Lord to help us not to compromise with the arrogant in their love for money. They love wrong paths, but we want the Lord to help us hate wrong paths. We don’t want sin to reign over us. We want to be redeemed from human oppression so that we can obey God’s precepts. “Amen, in Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”
[1] Psalm 119:36-38
[2] Psalm 119:45
[3] John 8:32
[4] Psalm 119:47-50
[5] Psalm 119:67
[6] Psalm 119:68, 73, 105, 112, 114, 116
[7] Psalm 119:121-122, 127-128, 132-134
The opposite of a heart for God’s Word is a heart for selfish gain. Let us ask the Lord to turn our eyes FROM empty pursuits, and TOWARDS life in God’s Word. Let us ask the Lord to ensure His promises will be fulfilled in our lives with the goal that our listeners will fear the Lord.
“I will walk about in FREEDOM for I have sought out Your precepts.” [2]
God’s Word gives us victory over the devil’s enslaving and oppressive ways. “Thank You Heavenly Father for helping to walk in freedom.” Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” [3]
“I DELIGHT in Your commands because I love them. Remember Your Word to Your servant for You have given me HOPE. My COMFORT in my suffering is this: Your PROMISE preserves my life.” [4]
Let us tell the Lord of our delight and love for His commandments. His Word gives us hope. His Word comforts us when we are suffering and preserves us.
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I OBEY Your Word.” [5]
Praise God for allowing afflictions that correct us from straying from God to obeying Him.
“You are GOOD, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees. Your hands made and formed me; give me UNDERSTANDING to learn Your commands. Your Word is a LAMP for my feet, a LIGHT on my path. My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end. You are my REFUGE and my SHIELD; I have put my HOPE in Your Word. SUSTAIN me, my God, according to Your promise and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.” [6]
Let us ask God to teach us His decrees because He is good. Let us ask God to give us understanding so that we can learn His decrees because He is the One who formed us. Let us pray for Him to be ever present with us because His Word is light to our path. Let us pray a heart that is fixed on obeying Him until the very end of our lives. God is a protector and sustainer. He is the One who is able to keep our hope from being dashed.
“I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure Your servant’s well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me. I love Your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all Your precepts right, I hate every wrong path. Turn to me and have mercy on me, as You always do to those who love Your Name. Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me. REDEEM ME from human oppression that I may OBEY YOUR PRECEPTS.” [7]
Let us pray for deliverance from oppressors. They come against us for obeying God. Let us ask the Lord to ensure our well-being amid the arrogant behavior of our oppressors. Let us ask the Lord to help us not to compromise with the arrogant in their love for money. They love wrong paths, but we want the Lord to help us hate wrong paths. We don’t want sin to reign over us. We want to be redeemed from human oppression so that we can obey God’s precepts. “Amen, in Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.”
[1] Psalm 119:36-38
[2] Psalm 119:45
[3] John 8:32
[4] Psalm 119:47-50
[5] Psalm 119:67
[6] Psalm 119:68, 73, 105, 112, 114, 116
[7] Psalm 119:121-122, 127-128, 132-134
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
He Delivers My Soul From Death
“Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Your Name be the glory because of Your mercy, because of Your truth.” [1]
“I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplications. I call upon Him as long as I live because He has inclined His ear unto me.” [2]
“Thank You for listening my voice. Thank you for turning Your ear towards me not turning it away from me.”
“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” [3]
“Thank You Lord God for Your grace and mercy to us. We need Your help.”
“The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He helped me. Return unto your rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. You have delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” [4]
Yes, we are simple and as result often brought low. I am so glad the Lord helps us. “Thank You Heavenly Father for delivering our souls from death.” Otherwise, there would be no hope for our soul. “Thank You delivering us from crying eyes and falling feet. That is me without You.”
“O praise the Lord, all you nations: praise Him, all you people for His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” [5]
“Yes, all nations, please join with us in praising the Lord for His merciful kindness is GREAT, and His truth doesn’t change. His truth is reliable.
[1] Psalm 115:1
[2] Psalm 116:1-2
[3] Psalm 116:5
[4] Psalm 116:6-8
[5] Psalm 117:1-2
“I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplications. I call upon Him as long as I live because He has inclined His ear unto me.” [2]
“Thank You for listening my voice. Thank you for turning Your ear towards me not turning it away from me.”
“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” [3]
“Thank You Lord God for Your grace and mercy to us. We need Your help.”
“The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He helped me. Return unto your rest, O my soul; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. You have delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.” [4]
Yes, we are simple and as result often brought low. I am so glad the Lord helps us. “Thank You Heavenly Father for delivering our souls from death.” Otherwise, there would be no hope for our soul. “Thank You delivering us from crying eyes and falling feet. That is me without You.”
“O praise the Lord, all you nations: praise Him, all you people for His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” [5]
“Yes, all nations, please join with us in praising the Lord for His merciful kindness is GREAT, and His truth doesn’t change. His truth is reliable.
[1] Psalm 115:1
[2] Psalm 116:1-2
[3] Psalm 116:5
[4] Psalm 116:6-8
[5] Psalm 117:1-2
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Noah Found Favor in God’s Eyes
“The sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the Lord said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’” [1]
They married women according to their outward beauty rather than for their inward hearts for God and for raising godly children.
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.” [2]
Were the Nephilim evil spirits that clothed themselves in the form of beautiful women to seduce the sons of God away from God?
Balaam was unable to curse the people God had blessed, so he advised their enemy to send women into their camp to seduce them into sexual sin. [3] Many sons of God were conquered by the seduction.
Today, many are falling to fleshly to seduction of sensual pleasures. It is called Hedonism. Hedonism is literally the love of pleasure.
Movie heroes are popular these days. Humanism is the exaltation of human-like figures with special powers to do signs and wonders. But man was created for God’s glory not his own.
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’” [4]
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” [5]
The Lord noticed Noah doing what was right. He walked with God.
“God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark…’” [6]
The ark is a type of Christ. People are not gods unto themselves. We need a Savior. We need One who protects us from the world's temptations. Christ is the One God has appointed.
Not all religions lead to God. God has appointed one Savior for the human race. He is Christ. Only Christ can take a human heart bent on self and turn it into a heart bent on loving God and neighbor.
Throughout His earthly ministry Christ always did what pleased God. As we abide in Christ, He does God’s work in and through us.
Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead. No other leader of religion did that. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. [7] All who believe in Him, even though they die, are raised to life with God for all eternity. Those who refuse to enter the ark of God (Christ) will perish with the world. Don’t wait! Don’t harden your heart towards Christ. Believe in Him! Receive Him today!
[1] Genesis 6:2-3
[2] Genesis 6:4
[3] Numbers 22-24; Numbers 31:16
[4] Genesis 6:5-6
[5] Genesis 6:8-9
[6] Genesis 6:11-14
[7] John 11:25
They married women according to their outward beauty rather than for their inward hearts for God and for raising godly children.
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.” [2]
Were the Nephilim evil spirits that clothed themselves in the form of beautiful women to seduce the sons of God away from God?
Balaam was unable to curse the people God had blessed, so he advised their enemy to send women into their camp to seduce them into sexual sin. [3] Many sons of God were conquered by the seduction.
Today, many are falling to fleshly to seduction of sensual pleasures. It is called Hedonism. Hedonism is literally the love of pleasure.
Movie heroes are popular these days. Humanism is the exaltation of human-like figures with special powers to do signs and wonders. But man was created for God’s glory not his own.
“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on the earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’” [4]
“But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” [5]
The Lord noticed Noah doing what was right. He walked with God.
“God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark…’” [6]
The ark is a type of Christ. People are not gods unto themselves. We need a Savior. We need One who protects us from the world's temptations. Christ is the One God has appointed.
Not all religions lead to God. God has appointed one Savior for the human race. He is Christ. Only Christ can take a human heart bent on self and turn it into a heart bent on loving God and neighbor.
Throughout His earthly ministry Christ always did what pleased God. As we abide in Christ, He does God’s work in and through us.
Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead. No other leader of religion did that. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. [7] All who believe in Him, even though they die, are raised to life with God for all eternity. Those who refuse to enter the ark of God (Christ) will perish with the world. Don’t wait! Don’t harden your heart towards Christ. Believe in Him! Receive Him today!
[1] Genesis 6:2-3
[2] Genesis 6:4
[3] Numbers 22-24; Numbers 31:16
[4] Genesis 6:5-6
[5] Genesis 6:8-9
[6] Genesis 6:11-14
[7] John 11:25
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Exalting the Goodness of the Lord
“Blessed is the one You discipline, Lord, the one You teach from Your law; You grant them relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” [1]
Discipline is good. Instructions are good. Being teachable is vital for mastering a skill. One aspect of learning is tenacity. The wicked one does not want a disciple of Jesus to grow in his or her likeness of the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord grants His disciples relief from days of trouble caused by the wicked one, and at the same time, the Lord prepares a pit for the wicked. During the Millenium, the devil is bound with a chain and cast into a pit for a thousand years while the saints enjoy reigning with Christ. [2] I like that!
“Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.” [3]
I am delivered from death. I did not fall because the Lord’s unfailing love kept me upright. The Lord sends me joy to console me. He delivers me from harmful anxieties.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.” [4]
The Lord is worthy to be exalted. He is worthy of our songs and shouts. We should sing to the Lord. We should shout out, “THANK YOU LORD!” He is our Savior!
“Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” [5]
Let us take the songs and praises of the Lord to the nations. “In our lives Lord, be glorified! May all nations hears of Your marvelous deeds.”
[1] Psalm 94:12-13
[2] Revelation 20:1-6
[3] Psalm 94:17-19
[4] Psalm 95:2-3
[5] Psalm 96:2-3
Discipline is good. Instructions are good. Being teachable is vital for mastering a skill. One aspect of learning is tenacity. The wicked one does not want a disciple of Jesus to grow in his or her likeness of the Lord. Thankfully, the Lord grants His disciples relief from days of trouble caused by the wicked one, and at the same time, the Lord prepares a pit for the wicked. During the Millenium, the devil is bound with a chain and cast into a pit for a thousand years while the saints enjoy reigning with Christ. [2] I like that!
“Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.” [3]
I am delivered from death. I did not fall because the Lord’s unfailing love kept me upright. The Lord sends me joy to console me. He delivers me from harmful anxieties.
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.” [4]
The Lord is worthy to be exalted. He is worthy of our songs and shouts. We should sing to the Lord. We should shout out, “THANK YOU LORD!” He is our Savior!
“Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” [5]
Let us take the songs and praises of the Lord to the nations. “In our lives Lord, be glorified! May all nations hears of Your marvelous deeds.”
[1] Psalm 94:12-13
[2] Revelation 20:1-6
[3] Psalm 94:17-19
[4] Psalm 95:2-3
[5] Psalm 96:2-3
Monday, August 1, 2016
God's Deliverance is a Gift
“Restore us, God Almighty; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” [1]
“The wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]
[1] Psalm 80:7
[2] Romans 6:23
“The wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [2]
[1] Psalm 80:7
[2] Romans 6:23
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