Faith in the Miracle-Performing God

“Abba Father, please forgive us for doubting You. Please help us and our leaders to believe Your Word to us. Help us to simply receive from You. In the Name of Your Son Jesus, I pray. Amen.”

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. He “was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.” The Lord blessed Naaman’s wife with a servant girl from Israel. She informed her mistress that a prophet in Samaria could heal her husband. This girl had faith in God and faith in God’s servant. Her expressed confidence in God, yielded a deal proposal from the King of Syria to the King of Israel: $250,000 worth of silver, $2,978,640 worth of gold (in today’s US currency), along with ten expensive clothing outfits, about 5.5 million dollars in exchange for Naaman’s healing! [1]

This deal almost failed due to Israel’s king’s lack of faith in God. He tore his clothes in anguish. He assumed that the King of Syria was saying to either heal Naaman or prepare for war. A miracle was in the making but Israel’s king lacked discernment because he did not know the Lord. Thankfully, God intervened. He let Elisha know what was happening. Elisha said to Israel’s King, “Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” [2]

The king of Israel complied. Naaman arrived.

Elisha gave to Naaman the instruction that he himself had received from the Lord. At first, Naaman was not willing to comply with the Lord’s instructions. The Lord wanted Naaman to humble himself. To wash seven times in the Jordan River! Naaman needed to hear God’s Word, trust God’s Word and obey God’s Word if he wanted the Lord to heal him of an incurable disease. Naaman had imagined God working in a different way. He wanted God to do the work for him without him having to believe God’s Word. Thankfully, Naaman servants urged him, saying, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’? So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” [3]

Naaman declared, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” [4]

God’s servant Elisha discipled “sons of the prophets” in a similar fashion to the way Jesus discipled His twelve apostles. There were “sons of prophets” in Bethel and Jericho. In the Old Testament, “sons of prophets” refer to a group of disciples or a school of prophets, not necessarily physical sons.

They were with Elisha: “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.’ So, he answered, ‘Go.’” But they wanted Elisha to go with them just as the disciples of Jesus wanted Jesus to remain with them. So, he consented to do so. While constructing the larger school, one of the laborers lost an axe’s head in a body water. He informed Elisha. Elisha relied on God to resurface the axe from the water, and God did it. Elisha mentored his disciples to believe God for miracles. [5]

Oh that we would all believe God’s Word! Elisha, by the grace of God, was able to inform his king in advance of where and when an enemy army would attack his country. Twice! He didn’t need a futuristic satellite or radar system. God was his eyes. [6]

Later, God helped Elisha to capture an entire army of enemy soldiers. He relied on God to do it. God blinded the soldiers momentarily until Elisha led them to his king in defeat. Thankfully, God’s servant Elisha had faith that one man with God is a majority. By the way, God also used divinely imposed blindness in Genesis 19:11, Acts 9:8 and Acts 13:11 to redirect people. [7]

Sadly, after God did these miracles, Israel’s king was prepared to behead Elisha. His kingdom was under siege by an enemy army. Some women had ate a child to survive. The king blamed God’s faithful servant for his nation’s plight not his lack of faith in God. [8]

Oh that we all would believe God’s Word! His Word is more powerful than any two-edged sword. “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.” [9]

The Word of the Lord came to Elisha. Who is the Word of the Lord? Jesus is! Jesus spoke to Elisha, not in bodily form, but by His Spirit. Elisha told the king that by tomorrow the price of food would drop. There would be food in abundance. And it happened! God scared the enemy army off. They fled in such panic that they left their supplies behind. [10]

Let us pray for faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ in these last of the last days!

“And He [Jesus] spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge says. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?’” [11]

[1] 2 Kings 5:1-6
[2] 2 Kings 5:7-8
[3] 2 Kings 5:9-14
[4] 2 Kings 5:15
[5] 2 Kings 2:3,5, 6:1-6
[6] 2 Kings 6:8-12
[7] 2 Kinga 6:14-23
[8] 2 Kinga 6:24-33
[9] Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4
[10] 2 Kings 7:1-20
[11] Luke 18:1-8

Jesus is the Reason I Love God’s Word

“O, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” [1]

His mercy endures forever! In whom does the human race find mercy? In Christ, God the Father’s Son! The goodness of God is revealed to people via Christ. And His mercy is not fleeting, here today and gone tomorrow! No, it is everlasting. Praise the Lord!

“I called on the Lord in distress; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.” [2]

I only asked for relief from distress, but He gave me much more than I asked for and much more than I imagined. He set me in a broad place. The broad place includes the vastness of His knowledge, wisdom, discernment, power and understanding. The broad place includes the righteousness of Christ accredited to my account. The broad place includes His indwelling and abiding Holy Spirit. The broad place includes the Kingdom of God! All eternity in heaven with God!

“The Lord is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me?” [3]

The broad place includes the Lord’s protection and provision. One of the Lord’s angels can take out 185,000 enemy soldiers in a moment. The Lord can provide food via ravens, and by making small portions into large portions. God plus one equals a majority.

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.” [4]

Millions and billions are spent on campaigns to elect people to rule, but the Lord is the ruler over all people. He comes to us in the person of His Son freely. He turns tides that people cannot turn. He changes the night into day.

“All nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord, I will destroy them. You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me.” [5]

The Lord is no pushover and neither are those who trust in Him.

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” [6]

Whereas I used to sing silly songs that were meaningless and irrelevant, singing to the Lord has become a source of strength and salvation for me. He inhabits my praises as I worship Him in Spirit and truth and gives me faith to do great exploits for Him.

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. God is the Lord, and He has given us light; bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You.” [7]

It doesn’t matter which authority figure or how many people reject Jesus as Messiah because God has appointed Him to be the cornerstone on which people last forever. This will never change no matter how the world changes. The day that we rejoice in is the day that God’s Son came to Jerusalem to give His life as a ransom for us all. The One we bless, the Name we name is Jesus Christ! He is the light of the world. We praise and exalt Him!

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” [8]

Psalm 119 exalts the blessing of God’s Law. It follows Psalm 118 which prophesies of Messiah. Only after we receive Jesus do we begin to hunger and thirst for God’s Word so greatly.

Jesus is the reason that we are undefiled in the way. Jesus is the reason we walk comfortably and gladly in the Law of the Lord. Yes, blessed are we who share His testimonies with others. Blessed are our hearts when we are loving Him! Praise the Lord!

[1] Psalm 118:1
[2] Psalm 118:5
[3] Psalm 118:6
[4] Psalm 118:8-9
[5] Psalm 118:10, 13
[6] Psalm 118:14
[7] Psalm 118:22-28
[8] Psalm 119:1-2

Is It Because

The Lord chose Israel to be the nation through whom He would reveal Himself to the world. He gave us the Scriptures and Messiah via Israel. But sadly, Israel often provoked God to anger by turning from Him to serve idols. Such was the case, with King Ahaziah.

Ahaziah fell from an upper room. Rather than turning to the Lord, he sent messengers to inquire of a foreign god. God gave Elijah a word for his king. [1]

Elijah stopped the kings messengers from reaching the foreign nation. He told them the Lord’s message for the king. “Go, return to the king who sent you, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore, you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’” [2]

The king was angry at Elijah. He sent a captain with 50 men to arrest him, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The king sent another captain and 50 men, and they too were consumed by fire from heaven. The king sent a third group of soldiers, but this time, their captain fell on his knees and pleaded with Elijah to let his life and the life of his men be precious in his sight. So, the Lord sent Elijah with them to the king. [3]

Elijah said to the king, “Thus says the Lord: because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His Word? Therefore, you shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.” “ So Ahaziah died according to the Word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken...” [4]

God is gracious and longsuffering, but ultimately judges His betrayers who lead others astray from Him. Ahaziah was such a leader.

The Psalmist wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, declaring a truth: “Ël אֵל GOD shall hear, and afflict them, even He that abides of old. Selà סֶלָה. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not Élöhîm אֱלֹהִים GOD.” [5] If God does not take drastic measures at times, people will not change.

The Psalmist prayed, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to Your Name give glory, because of Your mercy, because of Your truth. Why should the Gentiles say, ‘So where is their God?’ But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.” [6]

God created us for His glory. That is a good thing! He made us well. Properly functioning, in a relationship with Him, this happens. We should not frustrate the grace of God by leaning on objects or people who are not God. Turn to Him! Call upon Him! Love God! He does amazing things as we love Him and seek to bring Him glory!

The Psalmist testified of the Lord’s faithfulness, saying, “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” [7]

The Lord could have delivered Ahaziah from death if he had turned to Him. He could have had a wonderful testimony about the Lord to share with others. The Lord is good at making messages out of messes.

The Lord blesses us! Let us bless Him!

“He [God] will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great. May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” “We will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” [8]

[1] 2 Kings 1:1-4
[2] 2 Kings 1:5-6
[3] 2 Kings 1:7-15
[4] 2 Kings 1:16-17
[5] Psalm 55:19
[6] Psalm 115:1-8
[7] Psalm 116:5-9
[8] Psalm 115:13-15, 18

Such Were Some of You

The good news of Jesus shows up in verses throughout the Bible, and sometimes during the least expected moments. For example, when Paul is writing about unrighteous people not inheriting the Kingdom of God, he speaks of fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners. But then, surprise, he adds, and such were some of you. [1]

Such WERE some of you. Praise God! Meaning that God no longer views them that way. Why? Paul continues, “But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” [2]

The past labels that previously defined them were no more. They no longer live under those shadows. When they believed in Jesus and professed Him as their Lord and Savior, God forgave their sin and redefined them as His children. Their sins are washed away. They are sanctified. Set apart for God. They are RIGHT before God because they believe in His Son and His Spirit lives in them. The Holy Spirit replaced servanthood to sinful flesh with servanthood to the Most High God! Praise the Lord!

“He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” [3] Now, we work in co-operation with God. The Holy Spirit helps us to co-operate with Christ and bring honor to our Heavenly Father. We no longer serve sin. We have privilege and power to help others and to glorify God!

“Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” [4]

The “bought with the price” refers to the redeeming work of Christ our Savior on the cross. The perfectly sinless Son of God paid a great price to wipe out our sin and to make way for the Holy Spirit to live in us. Now, we glorify God as His Spirit leads, guides and empowers us.

This is vitally important because we live in a sinful world. Some of the same evil behaviors of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel are happening today. Leaders need people who are filled with the Holy Spirit to come alongside of them and redirect them in the way of the Lord.

That person could be you. It could be me. What does God’s Word say about Elijah? He was a man of like passions with us. God worked through him because he prayed.

“Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” [5]

King Ahab wanted a neighbor’s property and offered to give him a better property or to pay him for it. The neighbor did not want to sell. When Queen Jezebel heard about it, she organized assassins to kill the neighbor and afterwards presented his property to her husband. [6]

“Then the Word of the Lord came to Elijah.”

Who is the Word of the Lord? Jesus Christ is called God’s Word. [7] Now, Jesus did not come to Elijah in the flesh. He was not yet embodied in human flesh, but He came to Elijah by His Spirit. The Lord told Elijah what to say to King Ahab. When Elijah spoke to Ahab, he did not speak for himself. He spoke for the Lord. Elijah told his king, “Thus says the Lord.” Elijah told King Ahab his sin by the Spirit of the Lord.

“Ahab had sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the Lord, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.” [8]

King Ahab lived in an ivory palace yet murdered and stole his neighbor’s property. He and his wife multiplied the number of false prophets in the land. False prophets spread fake news. They demanded faith in lies, and doubt of truth. [9]

The prophet Micaiah had both a vision and a word for Ahab. He said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.” Ahab rewarded Micaiah by having him thrown in prison and by giving him only water and bread to drink and eat. [10]

Rulers who practice propaganda, palace building, and perversion devalue their subjects. They defile a person. They ruin a person. Then, move onto their next victim. They are slaves to sin. They need to be set free. They need to hear the truth. They need someone sent to them by the Lord who will not be intimidated by their threats or punishments.

Who is better to approach an ungodly ruler than someone who was once enslaved to sin, but who is now washed clean by the blood of Jesus and filled with the Spirit of God. God used such people in the past. The Pharoah of Egypt noted that Joseph had the Spirit of the Lord. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon noted the Spirit of the Lord in Daniel. The Apostle Paul spoke to King Agrippa by the Spirit of the Lord. [11]

May God help us, the-such-were-some-of-you, to trust God that He can come alongside rulers through us and redirect them to take the path of the Good Shepherd.

[1] 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
[2] 1 Corinthians 6:11
[3] 1 Corinthians 6:17
[4] 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
[5] James 5:17-18
[6] 1 Kings 21:8-10
[7] John 1:1, 14
[8] 1 Kings 21:17-26
[9] 1 Kings 21:15; 22:6, 39
[10] 1 Kings 22:17, 27, 39
[11] Genesis 41:38; Daniel 4:9, 18; 5:11, 14; Acts 26:27-29

Keep Yourself From Idols

LSD Law defines artistic license as a term used to describe the freedom that artists have to change or exaggerate facts or details in their work for creative purposes. It is a type of license that allows artists to take liberties with reality in order to create something that is more interesting or expressive.

The Bible has more than 100 verses that urge us not to take “artistic license” with it.

Some of the last words of the Bible are, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.” [1]

The whole curse on creation and humanity began with the devil taking “artistic license” with what God told Adam and Eve. He convinced them to believe a lie about God: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” [2]

Recently, Angel Studios has produced a number of so-called Christian movies. But truth blended with lies is like a drop of poison in a plate full of food. It is deadly. Angel Studios was founded by Mormon brothers. It is based in Utah. The Mormons base a portion of their beliefs on added and contradictory words to the Bible. In 1823, Joseph Smith said he was visited by an angel who directed him to a buried book of golden plates. These plates inspired him to take “artistic license” with the Bible.

Some Christians and Christian organizations collaborate with Mormons. This is a violation of God’s Word: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” [3]

The devil mixes in lies with truth to make it harder for the listener to discern between the two. He transforms himself into an angel to deceive people. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” [4]

Jesus told Pilate, “The reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” [5]

Jesus stuck steadfastly with what God His Father told Him to speak, “I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. And I know that His command leads to eternal life.” [6]

A good shepherd does not alter the Word of God because his flock’s eternity depends on hearing and believing and professing truth. The truth sets people free.

When someone told the prophet Micaiah to alter his prophesy to agree with what others were saying, he responded, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” [7]

The Lord warns us, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” [8]

Do the words or scenes line up the Bible? Can you find what they said in the Bible? Did they quote the verse accurately or alter it?

“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” [9]

Jesus warned of false prophets before He returned. The news media spreads false reports. Politicians lie. There are cult members going door to door attempting to persuade people to follow their leaders. Scam emails! Scam text messages! Scam phone calls! Con-artist sales people! False advertising!

The Lord Jesus and His apostles laid down their lives for their followers. Jesus taught His disciples to be servants. Only the Holy Spirit of God changes self-serving sinners into cross-bearing lovers who lay down their lives for God and others.

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true by being in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” [10]

[1] Revelation 22:18-19
[2] 1 John 2:9-11
[3] Genesis 3:1, 4-5
[4] 2 Corinthians 11:14, Galatians 1:8
[5] John 18:37
[6] John 12:49-50
[7] 1 Kings 22:14
[8] 1 Corinthians 5:6
[9] Acts 17:11
[10] 1 John 5:20-21

The Wind in My Sails Who does Not Fail

The Word of the Lord came to Elijah. Who is the Word of the Lord? Jesus! But He came to Elijah by His Spirit. He gave Elijah guidance as He is prone to do. He guided Elijah to safety and to provision. The Lord provided a river for Elijah to drink from and ravens to bring him meat and bread twice per day. [1]

After that, the Word of the Lord came to Elijah again. He directed Elijah to a town in Sidon to meet a widow. The Lord had commanded that widow to provide for him. She was on her last handful of flour and her last jar of cooking oil, but never mind, the Lord gave Elijah faith to tell her to use them and that they would last until more food became available. She “did according to the Word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the Word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.” [2]

After that, the widow’s son died, but the Lord answered the prayer of Elijah and resurrected her son from the dead. Elijah told her, “See, your son lives!” She responded, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.” [3]

During the drought, Queen Jezebel massacred the Lord’s prophets, that is except for Elijah and except for 100 prophets that the king’s household manager (Obadiah) hid in caves. The king had sent people to every “nation and kingdom” to hunt for Elijah but the Lord always kept Elijah a step ahead of the king’s assassins and they failed to kill him. After this, the Word of the Lord told Elijah to present himself to the king, which he did. [4]

The Lord was with Elijah. Rather than the king seizing control of him, he commanded the king to

“gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” And the king did it. [5]

Elijah exhorted the crowd that gathered, saying, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him.” He declared to them, “The God who answers by fire, He is God.” And the people responded, “It is well spoken.” [6]

Elijah repaired the “repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. He called upon the Lord, saying to Him, “Let it be known that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your Word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” “The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.” “The people saw it, fell on their faces; and said, ‘The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!’” [7]

Mission accomplished! Elijah obeyed God’s Word and people acknowledged and professed that the Lord is God. Professions of faith in God is the goal of every messenger of God.

When the Lord saved Israel out of the hand of those who hated them, it was that they would “believe His Words and “sing His praise.” [8]

The Lord “satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” [9]

The Lord “breaks the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron in two.” [10]

The Lord “sent His Word, healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” [11]

The Lord rescues those who “are at their wits’ end” when “they cry out to Him in their trouble. He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. He guides them to their desired haven.” [12]

What do those who call upon the Lord have to say about Him? Just this, “Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.” [13]

The Lord is the wind in my sails who does not fail. I testify that the Lord has guided me by His Word to safety and provision numerous times. He has healed me. He has filled me with love, joy and peace. He has often helped me to take on challenges greater than myself and to prevail. “Praise the Lord!”

[1] 1 Kings 17:2-7
[2] 1 Kings 17:8-15
[3] 1 Kings 17:20-24
[4] 1 Kings 18:1-10
[5] 1 Kings 18:19-20
[6] 1 Kings 18:21-20, 29
[7] 1 Kings 18:30, 36-39
[8] Psalm 106:8-12
[9] Psalm 107:9
[10] Psalm 107:16
[11] Psalm 107:20
[12] Psalm 107:25-30
[13] Psalm 108:13

Blessing is Better than Boasting

King David set forth a good example for us to follow, saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name!” [1]

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” [2]

Let our hearts, our minds, our voices and our strength be unto the Lord! Bless His Name!

What has the Lord done for us? Let us not forget all His benefits!

He forgives all our iniquities. He heals all our diseases. He redeems our life from destruction. He crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies. He satisfies our mouth with good things. He renews our youth like the eagle’s. He replaces oppression with righteousness. He makes known His ways to us. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy toward us. He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, the Lord pities us.” [3]

Let us be like those of whom the Lord said in His Word, he “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” His “heart was loyal to the Lord all his days.” [4]

To bless the Lord is better than boasting in self or in people. Paul urged the Corinthian Christians to shun the carnal thought-life. He wrote, “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” [5] God increases – bless His Name!

The surest foundation to build on is the profession of Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, for that is who He is. All glory to Christ!

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” [6]

“Therefore let no one boast in men.” “You are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” [7] Bless His holy Name!

[1] Psalm 103:1
[2] 1 Corinthians 3:21, 23
[3] Psalm 103:3-13
[4] 1 Kings 15:11, 14
[5] 1 Corinthians 3:3-7
[6] 1 Corinthians 3:11
[7] 1 Corinthians 3:21, 23

Following the Lord Involves Receptivity

Following the Lord involves receptivity. The Lord’s ways are perfect, so how can we say, “We follow the Lord” when we live in a hap-hazard lackadaisical way? Haphazard lackadaisical actions are disorganized, unplanned, and characterized by a lack of enthusiasm or care. “Lackadaisical” describes someone who puts forth minimal effort. [1]

God looks at the heart. [2]

The Psalmist describes the paths of the Lord to follow:

“I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure. My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” [3]

He follows the Lord with the ponderances of his heart and with his eyes. He follows the Lord in the kinds of influencers he embraces and shuns. He follows the Lord in the kinds of speech he accepts and rejects. (By the way, lies and deceit often flow from TV programs.) He humbly and meekly chooses the Lord’s perfect way, though it denies his flesh the sinful food it craves.

“The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” [4]

There are numerous examples of people who followed the Lord in the Bible. The Lord honored them by including them in His story.

The prophet Ahijah had a word from the Lord for King Jeroboam. He declared, “My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes; but you have done more evil than all who were before you...” “Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.” [5]

David followed the Lord, Jeroboam did not. God spoke of Jeroboam as trash to be taken out. God trashes those who trash Him. Hell is an incinerator, except that the soul does not die, so it suffers forever in that place. [6]

The Lord sets forth the apostle Paul as a good example for us to follow. Paul kept his eyes on Jesus and relied on the power of the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus.

“I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” [7]

Paul experienced many trials as he walked with the Lord but knew by the Spirit of God that dwelt within Him that the Lord would richly reward Him for trusting in Him. He wrote...

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” [8]

Why was Paul so sure of the Lord’s blessings?

“God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” [9]

Following the Lord involves receiving from the Lord. The Holy Spirit gave Samson strength. The Holy Spirit gave Gideon courage. The Holy Spirit gave prophets and apostles God's Word. Even Jesus spoke of being anointed by the Spirit to do the works that He did.

“The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” [10]

Paul pointed his followers to the Holy Spirit for training and discernment.

“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” [11]

Lately, I’ve been praying at the on-start of my prayer time, “Holy Spirit be the wind in my sails. Help me to pray.” He does. The Lord is the best leader and the best supplier of what we need to follow Him. May the Holy Spirit help us to follow the Lord when the herd around us is going in the opposite direction, but also help us to bring the herd with us, if possible, by the power of the Holy Spirit working via the Word of God in Christ Jesus.

[1] vocabulary.com
[2] 1 Samuel 16:7, Proverbs 21:2, Jeremiah 17:10, Luke 16:15
[3] Psalm 101:2-7
[4] Proverbs 15:33
[5] 1 Kings 14:8-13
[6] Matthew 8:12, 13:42, 50, 25:46; Luke 16:24; Revelation 14:11
[7] 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
[8] 1 Corinthians 2:9
[9] 1 Corinthians 2:10, 12
[10] Galatians 6:17; Matthew 26:41
[11] 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

Eager for His Appearance

“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” “He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity.” [1]

How have the people of the earth seen the salvation of our God? Via His Gospel! Now, our Lord’s return is imminent. His return ends sin and the pain it causes. Praise the Lord!

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His Name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them.” “You answered them, O Lord our God; You were to them God-Who-Forgives, though You took vengeance on their deeds.” [2]

“Thank You Father for correcting us. Thank You Father for forgiving us.”

“A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.” “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” [3]

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for being a true witness to us. Thank You for promising to us victory over death. Please help us to be messengers of eternal life to others. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” [4]

“Yes, praise You Father God for Your grace. Thank You for enriching us with utterance (giving us a voice), with knowledge (of Your kingdom), with a firm faith in the testimony of Your Son Jesus Christ including gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for keeping us in fellowship with Your Son and for placing within us an eager anticipation of the day of Your Son’s return.”

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” “We preach Christ crucified.” [5]

“Yes, Father, let us be cross-eyed. Always knowing Your Son is the Lamb without blemish, the perfect sacrifice, atoning for our sins, and redeeming us from our failures.”

“You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’” [6]

“I’m so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, for I'm part of the family, the family of God.” [7] “We glory in You Lord!”

I look forward to being with God and with all the people in the Bible who have been like family to me throughout at my life, to help me to know and walk with the Shepherd of my soul.

[1] Psalm 98:3, 9
[2] Psalm 99:2, 8
[3] Proverbs 14:25, 27
[4] 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
[5] 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23
[6] 1 Corinthians 1:30-31
[7] Words and music by Bill and Gloria Gaither

The Law of Love

The Lord asked King Jehoiakim a very profound question before he was taken away into captivity. The Lord spoke to him through His servant Jeremiah. “Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this knowing Me? says the Lord. Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness, for shedding innocent blood, and practicing oppression and violence.” [1]

King Josiah was Jehoiakim’s father. Josiah had purged the land of false prophets and priests. He reinstituted the observance of Passover which had fallen by the way side due to the previous kings who worshipped idols. He stood up for the poor and needy against those who were taking advantage of them, and the Lord stood up for him.

Jehoiakim raised taxes. He built himself a beautiful palace and did not pay the workers. He put to death innocent people. When he died, he was buried with the burial of a donkey. No one mourned the loss of him. [2]

King Solomon wrote by the Spirit of the Lord, “There is one who makes himself rich yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor yet has great riches.” [3]

Love for God and for others is great riches! Egotistical goals achieved do not satisfy.

The Apostle James wrote by the Spirit of the Lord, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” [4]

Let love flow! It will flow to the lowest places where people need and appreciate it the most.

The Lord says not to be partial to the rich over the poor. Don’t be judges with evil thoughts. God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him. He says that mercy triumphs over judgment. He mentions Rahab the former harlot who, given the opportunity, believed in Him, as an example of a person whose faith did His work. [5]

King Solomon wrote by the Spirit of the Lord, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” [6]

The Apostle Paul wrote by the Spirit of the Lord, “Now I urge you, brethren, to note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” [7]

So, it is best to be filled with love for God and love for people, and not to be drawn away by the bling of the proud. The Lord says, “The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” [8] In other words, the taunts of those who are serving themselves and persecuting the Lord’s servants will soon end, and the Lord’s servants will survive thanks to God’s grace.

King David wrote by the Spirit of the Lord, “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, that You may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance. But judgment will return to righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it.” [9]

When the Lord returns, the wrongs will be gone, and the rights will be forever. Blessed are the instructed of the Lord and blessed are we as we hold to His promises and live according to His law of love.

[1] Jeremiah 22:15-17
[2] Jeremiah 22:9, 13, 18-19
[3] Proverbs 13:7
[4] James 1:27
[5] James 2:1-13, 23-26
[6] Proverbs 10:12
[7] Romans 16:17-18
[8] Romans 16:24
[9] Psalm 94:12-15

Proclaiming His Love Far and Wide

Solomon spread out his hands toward heaven and said: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.” [1]

The God of Israel is God alone. He keeps covenant. In today’s vernacular we say, “Promises made promises kept.”

Every person that has ever lived as needed His mercy. God has never needed ours. He will still be around long after this current heaven and earth have been replaced by the new ones.

Though Solomon was exceedingly rich, he knew that he needed the Lord to hear his prayers so he said to the Lord, “ Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today... when You hear, forgive.” [2]

Next, Solomon described future catastrophes that would come upon his nation, and asked God to hear the prayers and forgive the sins of those future generations when they turned back to Him, confessed His Name and made supplication to Him.

When defeated before enemies! When without rain! When famine! When foreigners come to Jerusalem to pray to Him! When soldiers cry out to Him amidst battles! When captives in foreign lands! [3]

He said with a loud voice to the assembled people of his nation, “Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.” [4]

A nation’s collective blessing or demise is contingent on a love relationship with the Lord. Solomon’s father David believed and professed this truth. He wrote, “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” [5]

God giving His angels to watch over us is His mercy. A mercy especially granted to those who take refuge in Him! To take refuge in Him is to be close to Him. To be in Him. To be in Christ by being filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My Name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” [6]

God desires a love relationship with you. In a love relationship with the Lord you reap the benefits of that relationship, such as honor from the Lord, help from the Lord, satisfaction from the Lord, and salvation by the Lord.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” [7]

Thanking, singing, proclaiming God’s goodness, His lovingkindness and His faithfulness! How? These are the overflows of a love relationship with the Lord.

The Apostle Paul expressed His love for God by preaching the Gospel of Christ’s redeeming love far and wide. “In mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation.” [8]

“Dear Heavenly Father, please help us Your people to serve and honor You with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength that peoples of every nation might know of how You sent Your Son to be the sacrifice to remove their sins before You and to open the way for Your Holy Spirit to dwell in them. May Your Word run very quickly throughout the earth, and may You bless us to be the ones who get to proclaim it far and wide. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!”

[1] 1 Kings 8:22-23
[2] 1 Kings 8:28, 30
[3] 1 Kings 8:33-53
[4] 1 Kings 8:61
[5] Psalm 91:9-11
[6] Psalm 91:14-16
[7] Psalm 92:1-2
[8] Romans 15:19-20

Blessings of Prayer and Praises

Talking with and hearing from God – what a wonderful gift! The Psalmist enjoyed calling upon the Lord, lifting his hands to the Lord. He prayed to the Lord in the morning.

“Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.” “But to You I have cried out, O Lord, and in the morning my prayer comes before You.” [1]

Singing of the Lord’s mercies – making known to others His faithfulness – what a joy!

“I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.” [2]

Joining with others who are experiencing the blessing of the joyful sounds the Lord gives to those who rejoice in and serve His Name – what a great place to be!

“Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your Name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness, they are exalted.” [3]

To know Christ and make Him known – He is the Holy One, the Mighty One, the exalted Chosen One, the Anointed One! God is His Father. He is the King of kings. His seed, that is, those who have been born anew in Him, endure forever

“Then You spoke in a vision to Your Holy One and said: ‘I have given help to One who is mighty; I have exalted One chosen from the people. I have found My Servant David; with My holy oil I have anointed Him. He shall cry to Me, You are My Father, My God, and the rock of My salvation. Also I will make Him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My mercy I will keep for Him forever, and My covenant shall stand firm with Him. His seed also I will make to endure forever, and His throne as the days of heaven.” [4]

He gives us heavenly manna that is better than earthly cuisine.

“The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.” [5]

“Thank You Lord for giving us Your Holy Spirit to place within us Your very righteousness, peace and joy so that we serve God acceptably. Thank You for guiding us in the ways that make for peace and mutual edification of one another’s eternal souls. Thank You for filling our mouths with prayers and with songs of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!”

[1] Psalm 88:9, 13
[2] Psalm 89:1
[3] Psalm 89:13-14
[4] Psalm 89:19-20, 26-29
[5] Romans 14:17-19

The Goodness and Love of the Lord

“Yes, the Lord will give what is good.” [1]

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.” “You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in mercy and truth.” [2]

“Both the singers and the players on instruments say, ‘All my springs are in you.’” [3]

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” [4]

“The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.” [5]

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” [6]

“The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” [7]

[1] Psalm 85:12
[2] Psalm 86:5, 15
[3] Psalm 87:7
[4] Proverbs 10:12
[5] Romans 13:9-10
[6] Romans 13:14
[7] Proverbs 10:22

A Pilgrim Pursuing God

“How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” [1]

Where does the Lord dwell? That’s the place to be! If one’s soul does not long for it, even faint for it, there’s something wrong with the soul. We were created to be one with God. Jesus came to restore that oneness.

Jesus prayed, “I pray... for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.” [2]

The prayer of Jesus reveals to us the heart of God to bring us back into oneness with God

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God.” [3]

Jesus said to His disciples, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” [4]

Sparrows are numerous, and yet God knows each one. The Psalmist compares himself to a sparrow nesting at the altar of God. He sees how common he is compared to the brilliance and power of Almighty God, and yet, God has provided a nesting place for him that is near to God. The altar is the place of sacrifice. It is through the precious atoning sacrifice of Christ that we have been brought near to God. “Thank You Jesus for Your blood that has redeemed us!”

“Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Selah” [5]

Praise fills the life of those who are near to God! As the words, “It is so cold” leap from the mouth of someone outside on a bitterly cold day, so “Praise the Lord!” leaps from the mouth of the one who is experiencing the presence of God.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from glory to glory; each one appears before God in Zion.” [6]

The one who is on a pilgrimage toward God is blessed. Even valleys become places of refreshment when one’s heart is pursuing God. No matter what happens, the pilgrim is appearing before God and experiencing His glory. As Peter wrote, “ If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” [7]

“O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” [8]

The Psalmist is most concerned about losing His closeness with God. So, he prays, saying to God in effect that I don’t need to be seated at the best place in Your court for a thousand days, just one day in Your court would be better than a thousand elsewhere. Just to be a doorkeeper for You would be better to me than to live in the rich places where wicked people dwell.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts blessed is the man who trusts in You!” [9]

On top of everything else, the Lord is a sun, light and warmth for me. He is shield about me. He gives me unmerited grace and joy with His glory. He is good to me. He empowers me to make right choices, to walk uprightly. I am able to do so, because He has given me faith in His faithfulness to never let me down, but the rather to always provide more than I could have asked for or imagined.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” [10]

[1] Psalm 84:1-2
[2] John 17:20-23
[3] Psalm 84:3
[4] Matthew 10:28-30
[5] Psalm 84:4
[6] Psalm 84:5-7
[7] 1 Peter 4:14
[8] Psalm 84:8-10
[9] Psalm 84:11-12
[10] Ephesians 3:20

He Did What Was Right in the Eyes of the Lord

Kings Jehoshaphat, Josiah and Uzziah each received this epitaph from the Lord, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” [1] “Lord, please help each of us to do likewise.”

The last words of King David glorified the Lord. He wrote, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’” [2]

David let the Holy Spirit speak through him. By relying on God’s Spirit he was able to do what was just. The Holy Spirit empowered him to do what was right in God’s eyes.

God caused David to shine when David’s king became jealous of him and began to hunt him like a hunter hunts an animal. At one point, David was hiding in a cave and God turned that cave into a blessing. David’s three most valiant warriors, Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah, joined with David while he was living in that cave. They helped David to win many battles. [3]

One of David’s strongpoints and a good strongpoint for any leader to have is the fear of the Lord. When David sinned, he admitted it, and asked the Lord to forgive him.

“David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So, David said to the Lord, ‘I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.’” [4]

He also wrote, “Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your Name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins, for Your Name’s sake!” [5]

He recognized that the only way up is down... down on one’s knees. Ask the Lord for mercy! Ask the Lord for salvation for God’s glory! He recognized his need of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice.

David did not try to manipulate the Lord’s kindness for personal gain. He told one man, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” [6]

David’s son, King Solomon, extolled God for the gift of wisdom. He wrote, “Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.” He wrote that by wisdom “kings reign, and rulers decree justice.” [7]

God’s wisdom proceeded “His works of old.” [8] First wisdom, then, wonderful works of God!

The Apostle Paul was not a king, but he advised King Agrippa with advice from God’s Word. [9]

Paul also wrote good advice for us when he wrote, “You stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” [10]

The people of Israel who rejected God’s Son, Messiah are the natural branches that were cut off. We, Gentile believers in Christ, are the unnatural branches that were grafted into the olive tree of God due to our acceptance of Jesus as God’s Son. Paul warns us not to turn from testifying for Jesus Christ lest, we too, become dry branches like unbelieving Israel, and are cut off.

We must have the Lord to do what is right in His eyes. Israel had God’s book but God’s book did not have them. It is not enough to know of the Lord, we must know the Lord. Paul wrote, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” [11]

Dear friends, may our Heavenly Father grant you the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to do what is right in His sight by the power of the Holy Spirit so that at the end of your life God may say of you (and of me) he or she did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

[1] 1 Kings 22:2; 2 Kings 22:43; 2 Chronicles 26:4
[2] 2 Sammuel 23:2-3
[3] 2 Samuel 23:8-13
[4] 2 Samuel 24:10
[5] Psalm 79:8-9
[6] 2 Samuel 24:23-24
[7] Proverbs 8:11, 15
[8] Proverbs 8:29
[9] Acts 26:1-29
[10] Romans 11:20-22
[11] Romans 11:36

Remember

Remember? Wasn’t that great? That was amazing! I’m so glad for good memories.

“Remember the Lord your God” is a theme throughout the Scriptures. Don’t forget God.

“He divided the sea and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime also He led them with the cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink in abundance like the depths.” [1]

The miracles God did to set people free from slavery are to be remembered to maintain our faith in His mighty power to help us today. He can split in two solid barriers before us. He can light up our night. He turn our rocks into water fountains.

Israel’s confidence in everything but God angered Him. “His anger came up against Israel, because they did not believe in God, and did not trust in His salvation.” [2]

In fact, until God took drastic action against them, they did neither sought nor remembered Him.

“When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought earnestly for God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.” “Their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. They did not remember His power: the day when He redeemed them from the enemy.” [3]

Thank God for bringing us back into relationship with Him whenever other interests try to replace Him. “He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, by sending angels of destruction among them.” “He delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy’s hand.” [4] These strong disciplines keep us on the narrow path that leads to eternal salvation. A temporary crisis that keeps us from an eternal crisis is a blessing.

Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. He leads us to green pastures and still waters. Jesus is referred to as the Son of David especially in the Gospel of Matthew. Psalm 78 concludes on a happy note because God gave His servant David to shepherd His people. This conclusion is pointing us to Jesus Messiah, the Son of David. His kingdom has no end! His skillful pierced hands paid the price for our atonement so that we can be in fellowship with God forever.

“He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So He shepherded them according to the integrity of His heart and guided them by the skillfulness of His hands.” [5]

What did Paul write to the Romans about Jesus? He wrote, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” [6]

Zeal for God is of no value if it does not lead to a right standing with Him. In fact, misplaced zeal actually infuriates God. God wants us to be zealous for His Son Jesus Christ. Faith in Christ is God’s way of bestowing righteousness on us.

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” [7]

God made salvation simple. Don’t make it difficult! Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

The main thing is to keep our faith in God strong. How do we do that? By remembering the mighty deeds of God on our behalf. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.’ [8] Pray that you will thirst and hunger for God. Pray that He will fill that void with His Word.

The Lord says, “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me. But to Israel He says: all day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” [9]

We don’t want God to shake the dust off His sandals and leave us behind to find others who will embrace and appreciate Him do we?

“Lord, we remember You today! Thank You so much for the miracles that You have done for us. Thank You for sending Your Beloved Son Jesus into the world to save us. Please be glorified in us today.”

[1] Psalm 78:13-15
[2] Psalm 78:21-22
[3] Psalm 78:34-35, 41-42
[4] Psalm 78:49, 61
[5] Psalm 78:70-72
[6] Romans 10:1-4
[7] Romans 10:9-10
[8] Romans 10:17
[9] Romans 10:20-21

Compassion and Faith

Praise God for revealing the way of eternal salvation to us! There is a life after this one. I want to be with God when I die not with the devil.

Last night, I kept thinking of the Lord words to Israel: “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.” [1]

The Lord chose the children of Israel not when they were a world conquering empire but when they were slaves. God delights in showing compassion. He chose Israel because they were the least not because they were the greatest.

This has been my story. Not only does the Bible say this, but others have told me that it was because of someone else’s advocacy other than their own that they decided to help me when I could not help myself. God has saved me by grace in more ways than one. God has graciously reminded me throughout my life that my salvation is of Him.

“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.” [2] Amen!

The Apostle Paul grieved for his countrymen because although God adopted them, showed them His glory, gave them the covenants, gave them the fathers of the faith, the service, the promises and the Messiah, most failed to realize His compassion for them. [3]

The Lord says, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.” [4]

This passage is saying that the true Israel and the true descendants of Abraham are those who believe God’s promises. We who live by trust in what God our Father has said to His children.

Next, the Lord says that Jacob was chosen by God’s grace before he was born not because of any works that he did. Jacob’s brother Esau was a mighty hunter, but Jacob was saved because his mother intervened for him. In fact, when Jacob expressed concern to his mother that if his father, Isaac, discovered their deception, he might curse him instead of blessing him. His mother, Rebekah, assured him that she would take the blame for the potential curse, and that Jacob should proceed with her plan. In this way, she was a type of Christ. The Bible says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” [5]

“Not only this... the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her [Rebekah], ‘The older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’” [6]

God hates pride. That whole pride in performance orientation! Jesus said to the religious “elite” among His people, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” [7]

The Lord said to Moses, “’I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’ So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My Name may be declared in all the earth.’ Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” [8]

Pharoah wanted to proclaim his worth based on his performance. The Lord let him do it to his own destruction, but the Lord saved His people via His mercy, compassion and love for them.

“God made known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea: ‘I will call them My people, who were not My people, and her beloved, who was not beloved.’ And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not My people,’ there they shall be called sons of the living God.” [9]

God loved unlovable me. He made a person out of me/you who was not a person. He has made known the riches of His glory by showing me/you mercy and saving me/you by His grace.

Many in Israel were not saved because they were led by false prophets (the Pharisees) to reject Jesus. “They did not seek it [salvation] by faith.” Faith is receptivity. It receives Christ and all that He has done for us. “They [Israel] stumbled at that stumbling stone.” Namely, Christ! The Bible says that “whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” [10]

Isn’t that what a good performance is about? Not being put to shame? The Lord says to forget about performing for people, just trust in My forgiveness, My grace, My compassion and My love for you. Whoever believes in Me will not to be put to shame. To the contrary, they will enjoy eternal glory with Me.

[1] Deuteronomy 7:7
[2] Lamentations 3:22-24
[3] Romans 9:1-5
[4] Romans 9:6-8
[5] Genesis 27:12; Galatians 3:13
[6] Romans 9:10-13
[7] Luke 16:15
[8] Romans 9:15-18
[9] Romans 9:23-26
[10] Romans 9:30-33

Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

“Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” [1]

Consumerism! The IN influences the OUT. Is your IN filling you UP? How’s the overflow?

While doing missionary work for Jesus in China, I noticed that I did not miss fine cuisine, TV or movies. The Holy Spirit was filling me, I was testifying for Jesus, and university students regularly met with me for Bible studies that usually lasted for hours but did not seem that long to me.

Recently, the Lord has drawn me close to Himself again via prayer and meditation in His Word. The Lord graced me with power to lose over 50 pounds nearly two years ago and continues to help me by His Spirit to hunger and thirst for Him rather than for those things which do not satisfy the soul but instead destroy the body. My blood pressure dosage has been reduced twice and it is running too low now so I will probably be able to stop it altogether soon. My cholesterol labs are perfect. Praise the Lord! What did it cost me? Just the blessing of being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a blessing!

“There’s no condemnation to those who walk according to the Spirit.” [2]

“To be spiritually minded is life and peace.” [3]

“The Spirit is life because of righteousness.” [4] He gives joy to do what is right in the sight of the Lord such as testify for Jesus.

“He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” [5] The Spirit helps you to resurrect daily to live for Christ.

“You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” [6] The Spirit keeps you in a wonderful communicative relationship with your Abba Father.

“The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” [7] The Holy Spirit helps you to stay within the perimeters of where God can bring the greatest glory to HIS NAME.

Worship! The Holy Spirit empowers you to worship God. There’s nothing on earth that compares to God’s presence. King David was a worshipper of God. He wrote more words than anyone else in the Bible about glorifying God.

“Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified!” [8]

“Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.” [9]

“I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.” [10]

“I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” [11]

“You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” [12]

“Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious Name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen.” [13]

“Holy Spirit, please fill us until overflowing. Help us to pray for one another. Help us to serve the Lord with gladness and bring great glory to His Name.”

[1] Ephesians 5:18
[2] Romans 8:1
[3] Romans 8:6
[4] Romans 8:10
[5] Romans 8:11
[6] Romans 8:15-16
[7] Romans 8:26-27
[8] Psalm 70:4
[9] Psalm 71:8
[10] Psalm 71:14
[11] Psalm 71:16, 18
[12] Psalm 71:20-21
[13] Psalm 72:18-19

Sing Praises unto God Sing Praises

“The Bible explicitly commands singing to God in approximately 50 instances, with over 400 references to singing in total.” [1]

“Sing to God, sing praises to His Name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His Name Yah, and rejoice before Him. A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.” [2]

The Lord rides on the clouds means that He is above all else. But what does the Most High do? He is a father for fatherless children. He defends husbandless wives. He fills relational gaps with power and wisdom. Let us sing praises to God for His love, kindness, and grace.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah! Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” “Bless God in the congregations.” [3]

Let us sing praises to God for saving us. Let us join our faces and voices with others who sing praises to Him so that His praise is glorious.

“The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.” [4]

Let us sing to the Lord for strengthening and empowering us!
“I will praise the Name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves.” [5]

Praising God with song, magnifying and giving Him thanks pleases Him so let us do it. He does so much for us.

“Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!” [6]

Our songs have Biblical truths that set people free even as we profess them joyfully unto God! Our singing harmoniously unto God is a testimony of His greatness unto all who join with us.

“O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His Name together.” [7]

[1] https://www.9marks.org/article/sing-to-one-another
[2] Psalm 68:4-5
[3] Psalm 68:19-20, 26
[4] Psalm 68:35
[5] Psalm 69:30-31
[6] Psalm 96:3
[7] Psalm 34:3

Agents of Christ for Peace and Goodwill

God rescues His servants from plots against them. I experienced the Lord’s deliverance firsthand in China. Holding a home-based Bible study could and did result in arrests, but not for me. Glory to God! I have numerous testimonies of failed captures thanks to the Lord’s hand on me.

This morning as I read Psalm 64, the Lord reminded me of how important it is to pray for those who serve the Lord in this evil world. The Psalmist was in the crosshairs of assassins but their plots ultimately failed because of the Lord’s intervention.

The Psalmist prayed to God, saying, “Hear my voice, O God.” He asked God to preserve him from the fear of the enemy. An influencer for faith in God does not want to be silenced by fear. He asked God to hide him “from the secret plots of the wicked” and “from the rebellion of the workers of iniquity.” He compared their tongues to swords and their bitter words to arrows. “They shoot in secret at the blameless.” Like hunters in camouflage! Like stabbers in the back! “They talk of laying snares secretly.” They delight in a “perfect shrewd scheme.” [1]

The Lord says, “they lie in wait for their own blood.” [2]

The Psalmist was confident of the Lord’s deliverance. He declared, “God shall shoot at them with an arrow.” “He will make them stumble over their own tongue.” “Suddenly they shall be wounded. All who see them shall flee away.” The greater outcome will be that “All men shall fear and shall declare the work of God.” “They shall wisely consider His doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” [3]

Mordecai overheard two men plotting to assassinate his king and notified the authorities about it. The king’s life was preserved, and the two assassins executed. David inquired of the Lord to reveal to him the plans of King Saul against him. The Lord led David to safety. The Lord revealed the plans of evil men to slay Jeremiah and Paul so that they escaped from them. [4]

The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” [5]

Yes, being a servant of the Lord involves danger but also great blessings.

The Psalmist said, “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” [6]

Standing up and speaking for God exposes the kind of metal we are made of, especially when or if we suffer attacks from evil people as a result. But the Lord is no man’s debtor. The Psalmist testifies that the “Lord brought us out to rich fulfillment.”

God promises in His Word to “Surely, scorn the scornful but give grace to the humble.” [7]

One messenger told his persecutors, “Don’t threaten me with heaven.” Paul wrote, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His [Christ’s] death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.” [8]

Let us yield ourselves to serve the Lord and pray for our brothers and sisters around the world that are doing the same.

Paul wrote, “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” [9]

Serving the Lord is better than serving sin. Paul commended the Christians in Rome for serving the Lord. He wrote, “God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” Paul often introduced himself to others as a slave of the Lord. He was happy be bound to the Lord rather than addicted to sin. He urged his readers to present their members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” [10]

Paul asked them, “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” [11]

What did the angels sing to the shepherds the night that Jesus was born? They sang, “Peace on earth, goodwill towards men.” [12] We, who serve the Lord, have a higher government to serve than the ones here on earth, so let us put our hand to the plow for peace and goodwill among all people, and let us pray for leaders and other servants who are working for the same results.

[1] Psalm 64:1-6
[2] Proverbs 1:18
[3] Psalm 64:7-10
[4] 1 Samuel 23:9-11, Esther 6:2, Jeremiah 20:10, Acts 23:16-22
[5] Proverbs 3:5-6
[6] Psalm 66:10-12
[7] Proverbs 3:34
[8] Romans 6:5
[9] Romans 6:12-13
[10] Romans 6:17-19
[11] Romans 6:20-22
[12] Luke 2:14

From Foulest Sinners to Finest Saints

Along the east coast of the US, some people say, “No one wants to see the Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore.” Why? Because he covers the big storms. His presence means the oncoming hurricane will do much damage. His presence also represents care. Care for the well-being of those in the pathway of the storm!

“Then the Lord sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said to him...” [1]

David had sinned. He had a valiant and noble soldier named Uriah put to death after he committed adultery with his wife. After that sin, four of his sons died prematurely. His sin gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. His sin displeased the Lord. [2]

The Lord sent His servant Nathan to hold David accountable for his sin and to prophesy to him what was going to transpire as a result of his sin. Sin yields curses. What is true in this regard for individuals is also true for nations. [3]

Thankfully, David responded well to God’s prophet. David said to Nathan, “’I have sinned against the Lord.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.’” [4]

Nathan prophesied to David that he would pay four times over for his sin. He had one man’s son, namely Uriah, put to death. David lost the baby of Bathsheba, Ammon, Adonijah and Absalom – four sons. Those losses were extremely painful for David.

But in wrath God remembered mercy. Bathsheba bore David a second son. The Lord gave His prophet Nathan a name for Bathsheba’s second son. It was Jedidiah, meaning, “Beloved of the Lord.” Also, God gave David’s army a victory over the Ammonites that yielded a beautiful gold crown with jewels for him, and spoils in abundance for his nation. [5]

Praise God for His mercy! If we are honest, we will admit that we too have sinned in many ways. It is easy to identify the failures of others, but the truth is, we have all failed God and others.

God also sends goods news to us through His prophetic writers. His servant Paul wrote, “When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” [6]

I have heard some say, “I will wait until I get right with God and then, I will go to church.” To me, that’s like saying, “I will wait until I get well and then, I will go to the doctor.” No, run to the Lord the moment His Spirit is convicting you of sin and ask His forgiveness. With His forgiveness comes His Holy Spirit who transforms us and helps us to be more like Jesus.

The Lord says that as Adam’s sin defiled the human race, the grace of Christ purifies us.

“For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” [7]

God has more grace than we have sin but we must believe in His Son to receive from God.

“Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” [8]

Sin separates. God’s grace Christ Jesus brings us together.

Thank God for sending His prophets to convict us of sin. Thank God for sending His prophets to remind us of His grace, forgiveness and love. The Bible is a story of human failures but of God’s great love for us. By His grace in Christ Jesus, God transforms the world’s foulest sinners into His finest saints.

[1] 2 Samuel 12:1
[2] 2 Samuel 12:6, 9, 11, 14; 11:27
[3] Jeremiah 18:7-10
[4] 2 Samuel 12:13
[5] 2 Samuel 12:24-31
[6] Romans 5:6-10
[7] Romans 5:15, 17
[8] Romans 5:20-21

Who Has Believed Our Report

“Although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’” [1]

Do you believe Isaiah’s report? Do you believe that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and your sin as well? Jesus is One that Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah chapter 53.

The Bible says that among the rulers many believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” [2]

Many rulers believed in Jesus but would not confess Him due to fear of what identification with Jesus would do to their poll numbers. The Pharisees were extremely effective at destroying the popularity of people they opposed.

Jesus cried out, saying, that whosoever believed in Him believed in Him [God] who sent Him. Jesus declared Himself the light of the world. The dispeller of darkness! The command He had from the Father was and is everlasting life. His brings people to God. [3]

Who has believed our report?

Abraham believed God’s report. The Scripture says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.” Did you catch that? God gave Abraham credit for believing in Him. He placed righteousness in Abraham’s account as a gift because Abraham believed His Word. [4]

Ouch! This cut out the middlemen’s take. Pharisees erroneously project themselves to be the middlemen so they can take what belongs to God and enjoy it for themselves. They are like Hophni and Phinehas, the wicked sons of High Priest Eli in this regard. [5]

Abraham believed that God justifies the ungodly, and God credited Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness. David also believed in God this way. “David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.” [6]

A ceremony did not make Abraham righteous. The Lord did! The Old Testament ceremony of circumcision has a similar relevance as the New Testament ceremony of baptism. Both ceremonies testify to the recipients faith in God. God is the Savior of the believer. Believers demonstrate their faith in God by being baptized in His Name.

“How then was it [righteousness] credited? While he [Abraham] was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also.” [7]

God imputes righteousness to those who believe in Him. Righteousness “is of faith that it might be according to [God’s] grace.” Righteousness by God’s grace makes His promise sure to all of us who believe in Him. Thus, Abraham is called the father of all us who in believe God. [8]

The faith that Abraham had in God was more than an intellectual nod. The Scripture says that Abaham “believed God gives life to the dead.” He believed that God “calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” “Contrary to hope, in hope he believed God so that he became the father of many nations.” [9]

To be a father of many nations we must have the faith of Abraham. To help people of other nations to believe in God (the great commission), we must have the faith of Abraham. The faith that births new believers in Christ needs to be in us. Paul said that faith is revealed from faith to faith. The Scripture says that Abraham was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform. [10] This is the kind of faith in God that helps others to believe in God.

Abraham was strengthened in faith as he gave glory to God. [11] God is the source and object of our faith. Let us receive from God so that we may give what only God can give to others, namely faith in Christ!

Righteousness from God was imputed to Abraham and “it is imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Jesus “was delivered up because of our offenses and He was raised because of our justification.” [12] This is the Gospel.

Do you believe this report? I do. “Dear Lord Jesus, please help us to lead others to believe in You!”

[1] John 12:37-38
[2] John 12:42-43
[3] John 12:44-50
[4] Romans 4:3
[5] 1 Samuel 2:12-16
[6] Romans 4:5-6
[7] Romans 4:10-11
[8] Romans 4:16-17
[9] Romans 4:17-18
[10] Romans 1:17, 4:21
[11] Romans 4:20
[12] Romans 4:23-25