"The Great What If"

"God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet." (Psalms 47:5) We can kick ourselves forever over the things we should have done, or especially over the things we did, but that will solve nothing. If God is King, and if we are truly His and part of His kingdom, then don't you think He knows where you have been and what you have been doing? He knew your travels before you have ever traveled them. That is the beauty of the victory that has been won in Christ, He has delivered all things unto Himself, and He has brought all things under His feet (Ephesians 1:18-23). If we could only spend more time praising Him for His victory, and less time kicking ourselves over our defeats, then maybe we might actually get some things done. This little verse might seem out of place, yet it speaks of Jesus and His being risen up to heaven; it can only speak of Jesus, because He came down from heaven to die upon the cross, and ascended up to heaven when He was done. As I was studying Romans 6 yesterday, I was captivated by something that has to do with the "fullness" of God's grace. God's grace is not just that He has made us justified in Christ, He has done far more than just that, He has also made us victorious in Christ; we have been made dead to sin, which means that we are alive unto to God through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11). In other words, we don't need to crucify the old man, because the old man has already been crucified in Christ; when He died upon the cross our old nature died with Him. Which is kind of interesting, considering how Adam's disobedience made us all sinners, and when we sinned, we sinned in Adam; in other words, we were alive unto sin because of Adams sin, and because we were of Adam. Therefore, if we have reckoned that old man to have been crucified with Christ, then the new man that has been raised up in Christ is no longer in Adam, but is now in Christ and has been set free from sin. Maybe it's just me, but doesn't that seem like it is part of God's grace? He has not taken away our choice, but He has given us the victory in Christ Jesus; but just as with our free gift of salvation, there is a choice: do we live out that victory or not?
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have domination over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:11-14) 

"God's Preference" -2

"He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah." (Psalms 47:4) Really, when we are talking about God's preference, it is His preference that we get blessed beyond belief, and that we live life to the fullest; He loves to bless His children, and He has so much planned for our lives, if we would only walk in obedience. I can't begin to count all of the ways that I have messed up over the last 33 years; I sometimes try to imagine where I would be, or what I would be doing had I totally submitted my life to the Lord. Obviously God is not done with me yet, but I sure wish that I had some things that I could do over; okay, most things is more like it! From the very beginning, the devil has put forth the lie that God just wants to hold things back from us, as if He doesn't want us to do something because He is just being strict or controlling; but the real truth of the matter is that God loves us and wants our minds to be pure and our hearts to be filled with love. I think the biggest issue that we have when it comes to love, is that we really don't love ourselves; oh, we might love pleasing ourselves, that's for sure; but we surely don't love all of the things that we have done, and that's the part of us that we hate. Getting prepared for next Wednesday night, I have been studying Romans 6:1-14, and I believe that there is more to "reckoning the old man dead" than just being dead to sin; everyday is a new day in Christ, and every day we must "reckon" the old man dead, and the new man "alive in Christ". Don't we know by now that God loves us more than we even love ourselves? He is not being strict and controlling, He is pouring out mercy and grace! I am not getting what I deserve, and He is giving me that which I do not deserve, all because I am able to walk in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, my Lord. We all mess up, that's why the "grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2) is not based upon our righteousness, but upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ and God's abounding grace; grace that cannot be overtaken by our sins, because His grace abounds more than our sins ever could. With Adam's curse handed down to us, we never had a choice, and we inherited damnation; but God, He has choose something else for us, but it requires us making a choice, something that we did not have in the case of being born in the curse. God's preference for our lives is that we walk in the inheritance that He has choose for us, not in the inheritance that Adam left for us. I think "the excellency of Jacob" tells it all, not that Jacob was excellent, but that God saw the righteousness that would come forth from Jacob, despite Jacob's unrighteousness... "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb. For My name's sake will I defer Mine anger, and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For Mine own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My Name be polluted? and I will not give My glory unto another." (Isaiah 48:8-11)

"God's Preference"

"He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved. Selah." (Psalms 47:4) How do we walk out the purposes of God? I know we have free will, but God has designed a special purpose for each and every avenue of our lives. So how do we walk according to His perfect will? David was known as "A man after God's own heart", which was because he desired to know God and to walk according to His will; contrary to Saul, who walked in his own will, doing what he wanted to do, even to the point of death. How can anyone disobey a direct warning, and go to battle even when they are told that they will die if they do? What am I talking about? I am guilty of the same sort of stubborn actions; and I am sure must of us are guilty of the same. As a matter of fact, Adam did what God instructed him not to do, even though God said, "For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die"; it doesn't get any plainer than that! The funny thing is, that Samuel's ghost told Saul, "and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me", knowing full well that Saul was going to do what he wanted to do anyway, no matter what the warning might have been. Much like Adam, I believe that we all know when we are not being obedient to God's will for our lives; we just choose to ignore the direction that God is leading us, thinking that our way is better, even if it is only better for the moment. Oddly enough, God can still make something from our wrong choices, it's just that His ways are always unscathed and anointed, while our ways always end up in the ditch, where God graciously picks us up and patches our wounds. Unfortunately, our wrong choices usually cause damage that spreads beyond just us; they also can effect the lives of countless other people also. We have no idea how our actions, good or bad, can change the way someone else might react or think; making how they react change someone else, and so on, and so on. You might be the weakest link in the chain, but any break in the chain effects the whole chain. Maybe I am making more of this than I should; after all, God will always work things out for the good, right? Sure He will, but that applies to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose; meaning that you are "A man after God's own heart"... "Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and His Spirit, hath sent me. Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea;" (Isaiah 48:16-18)

"God's Rules"

"He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet." (Psalms 47:3) Obviously not everyone feels the same way about what is most important; is it winning souls, or establishing religion? I am under the belief that it is winning souls, however yesterday afternoon I heard a pastor say that there was something else which mattered more. What that was, I really did not understand, because it seemed to be some kind of talk of philosophical order of some sort. I have only one person that I follow, and that is Jesus, so where is the order in that? Besides, when did the great commission get accomplished? As far as I can tell, there are people that still need to get saved, and many of them are stuck in some sort of religion. We do not save people, that is God's job; what we are called to do is to spread the Gospel Message and to be a light for Jesus. One sows, one waters, one reaps, but God makes things grow; He provides the seeds, He provides the water, and He provides the sun; we are just His laborers in the harvest. If you take notice, the word "feet" is used, not the word hand, because it is by God's mighty hand that people are subdued, and it is by His Spirit that hearts are changed. What people did Israel ever rule? They were ruled by many, but they never really ruled any; however, there are people under them, which are all those that are blessed as per God's promise to Abraham. All the "nations under our feet" does not refer to ruling over, not in a way that slaughters, but rather in a way that preserves; which speaks to the way that Jesus Christ will subdue the Gentiles. Paul uses the illustration of Israel's unbelief to show how God uses it to include us in the promise that they were given (Romans 11:25-36); and yet, it all comes down to Jesus Christ, because Jesus has broken all the rules; and why not? Is He God or not? If He is God, then He establishes the rules; and if He establishes the rules, then shouldn't His commands matter more than any religion or even the Law? On a practical note, it is the people under us that has me concerned, because those are the ones which I feel we are going to answer for when we stand before Jesus; not whether or not we have established a religion, but whether or not we have lived out Jesus in our lives... "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." (Romans 12:9-18)

"...God's Rule"

"For the LORD most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth." (Psalms 47:2) As if we can make God do something by crying out to Him for help; He has more love for us than we could ever imagine, but that does not mean He is subject to our cries, especially since we hardly ever understand why we are crying in the first place. Yesterday I heard something different, that the 'body of Christ' and the 'bride of Christ' were not the same thing. I had never thought of it that way before, but if it is so, then the separation must be somehow connected to purity and commitment to the Lord. As I was thinking about this, I wondered if the body of Christ has sub par members; you know what I mean, members that don't quite cut the mustard; that would be those which have salvation, but have not really done anything worthy of rewards; especially not the special reward of being part of His bride. I do believe that there will be two separate compartments if you will in heaven, where there will be those that are within and those that are without; meaning those that will be ministers to God, and those that will be ministers to one another; or something like that. But these are things that we will know once we get to heaven; not really something that we can know for sure right now. What we can know for sure is that God is just, and because He is just, He will reward those that do right and He will reward those that do wrong; each based upon the way that they lived for Him. That is pretty much what this word "terrible" is referring to, in that God is to be feared against the day of judgment; for He will judge every one of us according to our works; works actually meaning the way that we have responded to His great love for us, individually. You see, here is the thing: although God is a great King over all the earth, He is also Lord over each and everyone of the earth's inhabitants; that would be you and I. Yesterday I also heard several messages that pretty much said the same thing, which was how there will be those in heaven that have regrets or sorrow. How can we have joy and sorrow together? Well, maybe we can have joy for being in heaven but sorrow for those that we caused to not be there; those in whom we did not witness properly the hope that was within us; or those that we failed to even witness to at all. I think part of loving others must consider their eternal condition, and where it is that they will be ending up once that they die. That is pretty much the main focus that I believe God has towards us, and is pretty much the main focus that He wants us to have for one another. That's His rule, and that's what I'm going with... "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:9-11)

"Let It Be..."

"O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph." (Psalms 47:1) Sometimes we just need to forget about the circumstance and focus on the victory; after all, what really matters is what Jesus has done for us, not what the result of our circumstance might turn out to be. The victory has been won! All that is left is a celebration of the life that we have in Christ, because none of this present life really compares with what is to come. I mean, think about it; if Jesus is our King, then where is our kingdom? It's not here! Each and every day brings me closer to the day that I will be in His presence; each and every day is another day to celebrate the life that is to come. The more we celebrate that which is to come, the less we agonize and are tormented by this present life. Sometimes I ask God, "Just help me get through another day", not realizing that the day is a day that He has made! Every day that we have is another day of opportunity, another day to celebrate and to share what God has done, regardless of what our situation might appear, there is a cause for celebration, because of what the Lord has done for us that goes beyond this life. I mean really, of all the healing, and of all the miracles, did anyone gain eternal life through any physical healing? No, the healing was only temporary, and only prolonged that which was going to happen anyway; but the real miracle is the free gift of God, which is His grace freely given to those of us that surely don't deserve it. The most important thing we have is that which has been given to us freely, God's grace! O how I need to make that my banner! That is what is being said by "shout unto God with the voice of triumph", the voice of triumph being something that is proclaiming victory in God, not necessarily victory over anything that happens here, but victory over sin and death, that's the victory that matters the most! Lord, please free me up to love you! That is what I need more than anything, to just forget about all the temporary garbage that keeps cluttering my mind, and just love God with all that is within me. Then maybe I can begin to love others as God has intended me to do... "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain into life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-8)

"God Is King"

Psalms 47 [To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.] God is in charge, no matter what the devil might think, or anyone else for that matter; God is the one that is ultimately in control, because He is King. Much like any kingdom, there are always some that are under the kings rule that just don't do what they are meant to do, or what the king has asked them to do; however, in the kingdom of God there is one very huge difference, which is, God knows everything that goes on in His kingdom. He sees all and He knows all, so no one can do anything without Him knowing; which actually means, no one can do anything without His permission, or Him allowing it to happen. Which might be the reason so many people get upset with God when they see someone they love suffer, because He could stop it, and He surely knows that it is happening; yet He allows it to continue, because He works through our tribulations and our difficult trials. The harder the trial, the more powerful the result, and the more He gets the glory. I know there are some who may disagree with the logic, but if God is in control, and He is on our side, then doesn't it seem logical that He knows what is best for us? I don't know what I would be, or where I would be if God did not allow my wife to be in the condition she is in; we could have been divorced by now, for all I know; our marriage was good, but it wasn't perfect. One thing is for sure, I would not have learned how to seriously love her if this had not happened. Sometimes I think love needs to yearn for someone in order to be fully felt; in other words, the desire to express love is far more powerful than the desire to receive it. Take our love for God as an example; God freely has given us all of His love, so the desire we might have to receive it is not really the issue, because He has freely given it to us; but the expression of our love for Him, when it is expressed, oh how powerful it is to know that we are loved, words cannot say enough to express our love for God, when we actually desire to express it... "Having therefore, brethren, a boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised; and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:19-25)  

"Our Holy Place"

"The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Psalms 46:11) Maybe it's just me, but if you have ever played Craps, then you might get the whole 7 and 11 connection between verse seven and this verse today. Here is the thing about God being our "refuge", in that He is the refuge for those that honestly seek for Him to be that refuge, in the sense of "Our Holy Place" where we can enter into and find refuge like none other. Leave your bags at the door, because God wants all of your heart to want Him; all of your heart means that you serious about needing Him to fix your brokenness, and to change your heart into something that yearns for Him. If you betting on a different set of circumstances, then all bets are off, and those magic numbers do not actually work for you as they should. It's not just about our security for when we die, there is security now in this place of death and destruction, but it requires the desire within us to be holy, as He is Holy. And when I am talking about security, I don't mean just the thought of God's protection from those things which might come against our soul, but I am talking about a living stronghold that is free from doubt and confusion. It requires a pure heart to find pure security in the Lord! All that really means is that we honestly want to be changed; which then only requires that we say, "Not my will, but Thine!" But instead, we are apt to say things like, "Change the way that I treat others, but don't change my love for You, because I still have some things that I want to hold onto". Of course we don't actually say that, but our actions speak louder than our words; besides that, God sees our heart, and He already knows what our intentions are, far before we even know them ourselves... "This is how the LORD responds: "If you return to Me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve Me. If you speak good words rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. You must influence them; do not let them influence you! They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the LORD, have spoken! Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands." (Jeremiah 15:19-21 NLT)

"Gnothi Seauton" -2

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) I have actually had something wrong, and I it has just dawned on me: God did not call me because He knew that I would walk in holiness, He called me because He loves me, even though I am not perfect! Think about this for a moment, because we can sure spend a lot of time hating ourselves over something really is a fundamental part of who we are; we are sinners that are saved by God's grace, and even though the sin has been dealt with for all eternity, we are still living in the here-and-now, and therefore, we still are dealing with sin. We actually should be spending more time praising God, not just because He deserves to be praised, but because of the mighty weight He has taken off of us; that is if we are willing to accept the fact that He has removed the weight from us; which is really hard to do, because we cannot understand the logic of unconditional love; it's just so far out of the bounds of the way that we love, even in the way that we love God. Think about our hearts, which the Bible says, "they are deceitfully wicked", which is not because God is deceived, but it is we that are deceived by our own wickedness; our hearts are so wicked, that we are deceived by the plots and the desires that are within them. We are not able to love as God would have us to love, and the harder we try, the easier it is to be disappointed by our failures. It is God's love that must be poured out into our hearts; not just once and done, but it is a constant need that we have for His love to be poured into us; it is a need that is never satisfied, nor is it ever enough. My car constantly needs me to put gas into it's tank; the further I go, the more gas that I will need; so too, I need God's love poured into my heart, and the more that I love, the more of His love that I need. I can't continue loving as He would have me to love, without His love being poured out into my heart; just like my car cannot continue to go without me putting in more gas to get down the road. I guess I could cut a hole in the floor, and I could Flintstone down the highway, but that would be impossible; so too, is it impossible for me to love without God's love being poured into my life. That said, we can view righteousness in the same light, in that it is God's righteousness that makes me holy, never my own; trying to make my righteousness count for my holiness is like putting sugar into my car's gas tank; my car is going to break down. So too, my righteousness is going to disappoint me, and I am going to feel defeated and ashamed, and the testimony that I should have of the glory of God is going to be broken down on the side of the road... "Much more than, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son; much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:9-11)  

"Gnothi Seauton"

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) Part of understanding involves "knowing thyself", which basically means, knowing our own limitations. We may not be able to figure out a lot of things about God, but we can surely understand why we need Him so much; based upon our track-record of being righteous, we fall so short of holiness. But you see, that's the Good News of the Gospel! That is why the Gospel Message is such Good News! We are broken and weak, and God knows that far better than we know it ourselves; which is precisely why we needed a Saviour, and why God sent His Son to die upon the cross for us. We have no strength within ourselves to be righteous, and we especially have no strength to save ourselves; only God can save us from ourselves, and He has! Looking at the meaning of "Be still", I get the feeling that we fail to really understand what God is trying to tell us to do; mostly because we tend to think it means what our parents told us to do in church when we were squirming in the pews; but it actually speaks of putting our arms down, as if so stop fighting. It would best be described as surrender, if that is how you want to look at it; but more than that, we don't just surrender because we give up fighting, we surrender because we want to win. That is key! Oh how we need to want His righteousness! It's not just that we must surrender to His will for our lives, we need to dismiss our own will and want His will for our lives. That is the only way we are going to win, is by coming over to God's side of the fight; then not only do we win, but we have already won. Which brings me to my next point, that being how God has been exalted, which means 'lifted up'... "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)

"Through Thick and Thin" -2

"He maketh wars to cease unto the ends of the earth; He breaketh the bow and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire." (Psalms 46:9) God not only loves us, but He likes us; He calls us friend! The war that has ceased is the war between us and God, because He has already won, and we are no longer at war with Him; we are His children, and He is our loving Father. As far as Him destroying these other items, for the most part, it is His love that has taken care of the weapons, such as the bow and the spear; and the chariot He has taken care of with His Holy Spirit. When it comes to us saying that "God is our refuge and strength", we often will gladly accept the "refuge" part, as in being safe and secure, but then when it comes to Him being our strength, we tend to rely way too much upon our own capabilities, as if God has empowered us to move out on our own. Another thing about Paul's statement, "I can do all things through Christ", is that his statement is conditioned upon his abiding in Christ. In other words, we can only be empowered to do anything through Christ if Christ is working though us, and Christ can only work through us if we are abiding in Him. As soon as we begin to start working to gain merit with God, we have left off abiding in Christ! When it comes to loving others as ourselves, we have nothing within us that is of ourselves to allow us to do that; absolutely nothing! It is only the power of the Holy Spirit that can love others through us; it is not even us that is working to love them, but it is the Spirit within us that is loving them through us. The "bow" that God has broken is our own strength, which is the deceitful power that we think equips us to keep His commands and to earn merit with God; which we are totally incapable of doing, and He knows that, but He loves us in spite of our weakness. The "spear" is a little more complicated, because it is our understanding, or what we think that we know; which, no matter how much we think that we know, God will always cut it down to size, because we always know far less than we think we know, even if we know everything, or so we think. The plot thickens; God thins it out...  "Therefore, as by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the obedience of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21)

"Through Thick and Thin"

"He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire." (Psalms 46:9) Just a few examples of God's strength in dealing with our battles, yes? Maybe; but then again, if God is so good in the little things and in the smallest little details, why would He not also deal with the little things that bother us and cause us to stumble? In other words, He has already won the war, so why would He leave the items of our warfare unattended? If God has done what He has done to defeat sin and death, isn't it very possible that He has also provided the way that we can be holy? God does not ask us to do anything that we cannot do! Do you trust God enough to believe that every thing He tells you to do, you can do? Sometimes I don't think that I do; maybe even most times, I doubt that I am able to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might", mostly because "I am weak and without any strength". One of the highlights of my teaching tonight is going to be from Romans 5:2, where Paul speaks about "this grace wherein we stand". The main point of my message is going to be about standing in grace, which actually speaks to the fact that His grace not only saved us, but it is His grace that keeps us in a right standing with Him. Paul says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." The other side of that coin is, I can do nothing in or of myself! Why do we always start out in His strength and then think we have power in our own strength? Do we think God has fixed our brokenness and now we are empowered to walk in the flesh? I am thinking that surrender means that we have no more power in and of our own, don't you think? It's kind of like: Get down and stay down! That needs to be our attitude towards any strength we think we have in our flesh, because there is nothing that we can do of ourselves. Think about those two simple commands that Jesus said we need to live by, "to love God with all of our might, and to love our neighbor as ourselves"; so simple, yet oh so hard...
 "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love other, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT)

"God's In Control"

"Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth." (Psalms 46:8) Some people think that God does not really concern Himself with the small stuff, things like, if I am going to find work, or how do I care for someone that I love; but I believe God is into all the very details of our lives. I say this because of God's awesome detail that He has put into everything that He has made; nothing that He has made lacks some sort of complex structure that doesn't blow our minds when we start taking it apart and identifying all of it's parts; the structure of cells and molecules almost appear endless, yet He is in control of each and every one of them, all the time. God not only cares about what we care about, but He cares what we think about also, He cares about the thoughts that are running through our minds, and the things that we let our minds dwell upon. Talk about complexity, our minds are pretty complex, and I don't care what modern-day science may think that they know, the mind is far from being figured out; life itself is far from being figured out, let alone the life that is within the mind.The word for "desolations" is the word 'shammah', which has the primary meaning of waste, horror, or appalment; however, the same word has been used in the context of 'astonishment' far more than it has been used in the context of 'waste'. On the other hand, if you really want to get technical about God's creativity, then you could really start pointing at 'waste', as in the waste used up in the astonishment of the things which cannot be seen, or the things which are hard to be discovered. What I am trying to say, is that God has put far more detail into the little things and the things that need to be discovered, than He has into the things which are easily looked upon. Much like the stars in the sky, which when looked upon by a telescope are far more amazing then they are otherwise; what a waste...
"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? Or hath thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, that thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? Haste thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?" (Job 38:16-23)

"God Is Here" -2

"The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Psalms 46:7) When you think about it, where was Jacob when God renamed him? he was more or less hiding from his brother, waiting for him to show up, and hoping that all the gifts that he had sent to him would cause him to be merciful to him. It's kind of ironic, don't you think? God's grace cannot be bought, because you cannot buy anything that is freely given; any attempt to purchase something that is being freely given should offend the giver; especially if that gift is given out of love. As I was preparing for my Wednesday night teaching in Romans, I was struck by something said by Charles Spurgeon: "You will say, 'Oh, I am the worst in the world'. Christ died for the worst in the world. 'Oh, but I have no power to be better'. Christ died for those that were without strength. 'Oh, but my case condemns itself.' Christ died for those that legally are condemned. 'Ay, but my case if hopeless'. Christ died for the hopeless. He is the Hope of the hopeless. He is the Saviour not of those partly lost, but of the wholly lost."  Maybe if you could experience what Jacob was feeling, you might better understand the "wholly lost" part of what Spurgeon was talking about. Jacob considered himself to be died, then God shows up, and Jacob wasn't letting go until God blessed him; which God did, by saying, "Thy name shall be called no longer Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Notice God did not say, "Prepare for thy death", but just the opposite was put forth; God gave Jacob hope by giving him a new name, Governed By God. We too have a new name as believers in Jesus Christ; where we once were sinners and the ungodly, we are now called righteous and the justified; not only that, but Paul shows us in Romans 5:2 that we have access to God anytime and forever more, which is based upon the "faith in the grace wherein we stand". This is so important for us to understand, because it's not based upon merit, it's God's grace that allows those that believe access. "Oh, but I don't feel worthy". It is Jesus Christ who is worthy, you have access through Him. "Oh, but my sins are too many for Jesus to consider forgiving me". Ya, right! Who are you kidding? Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, not just part, but every single sin that everyone could commit and has committed, He paid the price for them all; so where do you think your sins stack up with that? He already forgave your sins while He was on the cross, so there; now what are you waiting for?
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commanded His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)

"God Is Here"

"The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Psalms 46:7) Do not underestimate the goodness and the power of God, because not only does He love us, but He will sometimes do what ever it takes to get us to cry out to Him; even things that might hurt temporarily, if that's what is necessary to get our attention. This verse has some very interesting features; and it is repeated again at the end of the Psalm. In the context of what has previously been said, this verse amplifies God being in the midst of His city, and it assures us of His present help in a time of need. The word "refuge" used here in this verse is different than the one used in the first verse; the first verse speaks of refuge which we can run to and hide, while this refuge is more about the shelter and security where we take refuge, meaning the actual place; hence, what God is. Primarily when "the God of Jacob" is used, it is speaking to the children of Israel, but it also speaks to God's grace for His people; before God named him Israel, he was Jacob, the heel holder or supplanter. The point I see made in this, is that sometimes there is no place to run to, nor is there any need, because He is right here, right now; and all that we need to do is to reach up for Him to hold us... "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:1-7)

"No Worries"

"The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted." (Psalms 46:6) You could say that you are fireproof, at least that best fits the description of what Jesus was speaking on when He spoke of the branches that abide in Him; only those branches that do not abide in Him are cast into the fire (John 15:6). As long as we are abiding in Christ, we have nothing to worry about. The heathen on the other hand, as soon as their world is shaken up a little bit, they begin to fall apart; and when I mean fall apart, I mean mass chaos begins to unfold; things like crowds of protest, looting, riots in the streets; their lives can get totally out of control, because they have no other hope but the system in which they live. If we truly believe that God is the one who has ultimate control, and you truly know that you are His child, then what could you possibly be worried about? Ultimately our focus needs to be on heaven, not upon the things of this earth; all of this is temporary, but heaven is eternal. The biggest cause of sickness and death in this life is worry; the more you worry, the more your hair falls out, your blood pressure increases, and your body becomes prone to ulcers, tumors, and aggravated cancers. The only worry we need to concern ourselves with, is that we are abiding in Christ; and if we truly are abiding in Christ, then we actually have no worries what so ever! The NLT has this verse broken up into two exclaimed statements that oppose each other, which read, "The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts!" The idea behind this translation is based upon the ones which are not governed by God live in chaos and their lives are constantly falling apart; but those which are governed by God, as soon as they feel disturbed, they take it to the Lord in prayer, because God can change things with just a word. The biggest change that we usually need to have performed in our lives is the way that we see things; the biggest miracle that we often need involves our perception of God, because when we see God more clearly, all of our worries are swept away... "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shad abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Romans 5:1-5)  

"Stability" -2

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." (Psalms 46:5) Actually, when we look further at that word "help", which is the Hebrew word 'azar, the primary idea lies in girding, surrounding, hence defending, so I guess you could call that definition "protect"; after all, if we are dealing with refuge, then there is no place better to be than surrounded by God's protection. However, when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, protection is secondary to the help that we need in realizing "shadow" means that death can not harm us, because it is but a shadow; it might appear big and spooky, but it has no bite! Take the worst thing that could happen, and say, So be it! If that is what God wants to allow to happen, then who are we to argue with God; but if it's not what He wants to happen, then it won't. When Paul was about to go to Jerusalem and there was prophecy over what would happen to him if he did, Paul determined in his heart not only to be bound in Jerusalem, but to die there also for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13). Stability comes from knowing the final outcome of whatever this life might deal you, because no matter what happens here in this life, we have the same final outcome, to be in the presence of the Lord! That my friend is one of the gifts which the Holy Spirit gives to us, which is commonly referred to as peace; peace that passes all understanding, because although we may not understand why something is happening, or what is going on in the midst of a trial, we can still have peace about whatever it is because we know God is in control, and no matter what happens, God is working all things for the good, period! If we get right down to it, we belong to the Lord, so He can do whatever He wants to us, in us, and through us; and we should just hold on and try to enjoy the ride... "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:22-24)

"Stability"

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." (Psalms 46:5) I actually had one more thought on "Visibility", that being the fact that our eyes must be fixed upon heaven, where the river runs through the streets of gold; how easily the things of this earth can cloud our vision of that holy place, and delay our yearning for that which we desire most. Reading the NLT version of this verse, I find it over simplifies the meaning, taking away some of the thought-provoking aspects, such as, "she shall not be moved" is changed to "it cannot be destroyed". If God is the source of our strength, and if God is our refuge in times of trouble, then our strength and refuge is endless, because our God is a very big God. Now consider the Holy Spirit which is living within us and is a very present help in our times of need; how can we be moved if our very big God is so close? I fear that we do not totally submit to the power of the Holy Spirit; at least not until we are being pressed upon. They say that the average human only uses 10% of their brain, but that myth has been restated; we mechanically use 100% of our brain, it's maximizing the usage which comes into question. Typically, you could say the same thing about how Christian utilize the power of the Holy Spirit; something very similar to what Jesus was talking about with "the mustard seed of faith", a little bit of a very big God can perform mighty things. Another point about the NLT version that I am not that impressed with, is the second part of this verse changes "help" to "protect", which is not really that big of deal, except for the comforting part that I get from "help". Then again, I just love the KJV, and I am trying to adapt my thinking, but I still like to think about the meaning, not be told what to think. Thirdly, when to comes to the "and that right early" part of the text, sure we could assume this is speaking about daybreak, or we could say "From the very break of day", as the NLT puts it; but what about before you are moved? I say this only because the KJV has a colon between these two sections, verses breaking them up into two separate lines of thought. Before we actually sin, we have a change of heart about why we should not sin, thus, we stop trusting God's loving and caring commands are really what is the best thing for our lives; taking desire for something that is not good for us, and placing that in the middle of God's love and our immediate needs or lusts. That's the time when we need the help, early on, before we actually sin; that's when we need the power of the Holy Spirit to remind us about His love, and how much He loves us... "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commands are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)

"Visibility" -2

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." (Psalms 46:4) Additionally, our perspective must be sure. Unfortunately, there are many things in this world that cloud our perspective of eternity with God; things like money, lustful desires, personal ambitions, and even success; all of which make us take our eye off the prize, and to get caught up in a life that is all temporary. In Philippians 3:18-21, Paul writes,"(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it might be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself." Sadly, we hardly can tell who these people are that Paul is talking about, that is until they are robbed of some of their temporary things; then their true colors show up, as they totally freak out over stuff that really has nothing to do with a conversation in heaven. I find it interesting that Paul uses that term, "conversation", because it constitutes a form of government, such as a Constitution whereby the people our governed, and whereby they establish the laws by which they live. In other words, actions speak louder than words, and if our actions speak that we mind earthly things, then it really does not matter what our mouth might say, because our heart is in the wrong place. That was the warning Paul was giving those of the church in Philippi, that they should walk as he walked, and mark those that walk accordingly; having their attention on the things of heaven, not of this earth. Which reminds me; have you noticed all the tension in the world lately? The church is being pressed against in many areas of the world, and today we have a call to fast and pray for those that are being persecuted throughout the world... "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." (Philippians 1:27-30)  

"Visibility"

"There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High." (Psalms 46:4) There is so much here, this may take awhile. First off, Jerusalem had no river running through it, at least not a river of water like many other famous cities; rivers that supplied those cities with water to grow crops and avenues of trade with other cities; the river in Jerusalem was God. To be perfectly frank, God's river that flowed through Jerusalem was dried up because His people stopped worshiping Him and stop being His people. Long story short, the river was God's presence in the lives of His people, as in, the way that they viewed His presence; as they became more and more unaware of His presence, His protection upon their city was removed, and so were they removed from their city. Secondly, that same principle can be applied to our lives, as believers in Jesus Christ, and as vessels of the River of life which is to flow through us. The River of Life that flows through us must be visible to be sustained, otherwise the presence of God is not visible in His people, or to His people; in other words, you can't see His presence in your own life, and neither can anyone else. In their glorious days, those that dwelt within the holy city of Jerusalem were looked upon as God's people; those within other cities knew that they were, because they lived like they were. Strangely enough, that is also the way it works in our own lives; others will know that we are God's people, because we live like we are God's people. Thirdly, the word "tabernacles" is plural, which I believe speaks of God's tabernacle of testimonies, meaning the life lived of His people. The way that this works in our own lives is pretty much the same as it would look like in God's city of Jerusalem, where those looking upon the city would see lives that were testimonies of God, thereby becoming tabernacles of testimonies for Him. A city on a hill, if you will...  "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)

"Invincibility"

"Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried away into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." (Psalms 46:2 & 3) When it comes to knowing how invincible our God is, we can not only take refuge in His ability to get us through anything, but we can also withstand anything ourselves, if we truly are trusting in God. There is really nothing in or of this earth that can touch our eternal life that we have in Jesus Christ, absolutely nothing! Oh, you say a 100 mile wide rock is falling to the earth? that's okay, because this is really not where I want to be anyways. I mean really, how can we say that God is God, and yet at the same time become afraid to die? Are you afraid to die? I want to continue to care for my wife; other than that, I am waiting for death to come knocking. Several of these things will come to pass, and I do hope that I am not here when that happens; not because I might have any fear of them happening, but because I believe those that are here when they happen missed the rapture, and are going through the great tribulation. Besides that, when it is our time to go, then it's our time to go; and if it's not our time to go, then nothing can take us out; it's really up to God and His purpose for our life. The biggest question that we need to ask ourselves concerning our position, is that of security: are we secure in Christ? If we have truly given our lives over to Jesus, and our sins are forgiven, then the answer is yes, and absolutely nothing can take us from His hand. The second biggest question that needs to be settled in our hearts and minds, is that of our home: where is it that we want to call home? And if heaven is our home, then what does that actually mean?
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death." (John 8:51)

"Our Invincible God" -2

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalms 46:1) "Too strong or skillful to be defeated", that is a pretty good definition of God, and it is also why we can count on His power to be our refuge and our strength; which also gives way for Him to be considered "A very present help in trouble". I hope that we truly get that, because sometimes I think we don't always believe that God is all that present, let alone "very present". If you were to look up the word "very", the Lexicon says, "strength, force", and then it goes on to say, "and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength". No doubt there is a connection between God's strength and His love, but is there also a deep connection between His strength and our love for Him? Reverence best describes the love we have for God, because our love for Him is in response to His love for us; without knowing God's love for us, we would not love Him; we might fear Him, but we would surely not love Him as Deuteronomy 6:5 says that we should. The love that is spoken of there, is a love that is be desired, or to breathe after; much as would be the case if you could not breath, but desired to take a breath, say like if you were under water and needed to get to the surface for a breath; you know what you need and where you will find, you just need to get there. That is the love we have for God, because without God's love we could not love Him, nor would we; but because He loves us, we then can love Him (1 John 4:7-10). Now, looking at the word "present", it speaks to finding, as in to find, or to obtain, or to arrive at anything; much as would be the case if we were to cry out to God for help, knowing full well that He hears our cry, and knowing full well that He loves us; therefore, because He is our invincible God, and because He loves us, and because He hears us, we have no fear; which means that we need not fear, because God is near... "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts and understandeth all imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off for ever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

"Our Invincible God"

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalms 46:1) I know you know what I am talking about; better yet, you know what the Lord is talking about, since the church of Ephesus did display many fruits of the Spirit, yet they lacked one important ingredient, "First Love". It might be up for debate what "first love" might be referring to; was it our first love we felt for Jesus Christ, or was it love in general? I am convinced that it was not love in general, because I believe that is something God works into us and is the fruit of the Spirit, like patience or longsuffering, meekness or kindness; all of which are the things that we are taught to do by the Holy Spirit, but falling in love with Jesus happens in an instant. Anywho; as to whether God is near or far, as I opened with yesterday, there are many verses in the Bible that indicate He is not always so accessible, such as Paul's description of God's holiness in 1 Timothy 6:16, saying, "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see". Or Isaiah 45:15, which speaks from another angle, saying, "Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself. O God of Israel, the Saviour." As for me, the day that I accepted Jesus into my heart, Jesus Christ exploded into my heart; in other words, it was not a faint little twinkling of a light, it was Light that exploded, almost as if it where as in the time of creation, when God said, "Let there be Light". That is pretty much the only way I know how describe it, almost as if the switch was turned on and darkness fled; in that very instant, Jesus Christ was revealed to me as who He is, and the love I felt for Him was indescribable. Looking up the meaning of the word "invincible", it's number one meaning is that of being "to strong or skillful to be defeated"; which is something that best describes the power that I felt came with that Light, as if that Light which exploded within me was power, power to powerful to be stopped or to powerful to be contained; and at the very same time, I realized that this very same power was only a tiny glimmer of His Light, and was nothing to be compared with His Light that we will experience in His presence. This takes me to my next thought, as in our want to contact God, being that He is this incredible Light... "For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed any thing, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are His offspring." (Acts 17:23-28)

"God Is Our Refuge and Strength"

Psalms 46 [To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah. A Song upon Alamoth.] There are many places in the Bible that indicate God is not so accessible; yet God is omnipresent, so He really can't be that far away from anyone; but you must want the contact. This word "Alamoth" is an interesting word, it has meant different things in different settings, but the primary meaning states, "young women, soprano?"; the question mark is added to indicate that there is some mystery to the actual meaning. The secondary meaning is "a term in psalm heading", which refers to the use here in this Psalm. The word does appear once more in the Old Testament, and is found in 1 Chronicles 15:20, but really offers no further explanation as to what it means, except that it was part of the worship appointed for the ark when David set it up in Jerusalem. Trying to make sense of the Lexicon, it would appear that word tries to put forth the meaning of a virgin, yet it falls short of that actual meaning in the context of 1 Chronicles; however, when you think about it, there might be something in connection with "First Love", as in the way you might expect love to be for a "youthful spouse recently married". The way I see this word "Alamoth" in relation to it's use here in the introduction, is that this Song is to be sung with a virgin voice, as in sharp; and yet, within the meaning of the virgin voice, there is another meaning of freshness, as in "Just Like The First Time". Comparing this to the life of a Christian, we might associate this freshness to our beginning of our new life in Christ, as in those first few months, when everything was new and fresh, and when God appeared big enough and close enough to make us invincible. With that, I really find it interesting how this Psalm is placed after Psalms 45, which was about A Royal Wedding, and spoke of Jesus and His bride; because if you actually think about it, we became part of The Bride of Christ the day that we were born again; which means the marriage relationship actually started then, and for some of us the freshness of the marriage may have worn off... "Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and has found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nonetheless I have found something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and I will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:1-7)

"The King and The Bride" -2

"I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise Thee for ever and ever." (Psalms 45:17) I took the liberty of making those "T"s into capitals because I do have a red star beside this verse in my Bible; there are four verses in this Psalm that I have previously marked with red stars: 2, 6, 7 and 17 all speak directly of Jesus Christ and cannot be given to anyone else. That said, the reason the Bride is included into the title of this post is because of association with "the people", those that will be praising the King for ever and ever. Which makes me wonder how anyone could not get what praising Jesus represents; why would the Father allow everyone to praise Jesus if He was not God? doesn't it seem clear that if we are to be worshiping Him for ever and ever, then He must be who He said that He was? The way that I see it, His bride knows who that He is, and He knows His bride; no one that is His needs to try and figure out who He is, because it has been revealed to those that He has called unto Himself; those that accept the call, He enters into their hearts and He fellowships with them, revealing who that He is and giving them the peace and the joy that cannot be taken away. That is what really makes those that are His Bride secure, knowing who He is, and that He is God, and that He will fulfill every promise that He has made. Talk about stability, there is nothing that can compare to the stability of the relationship that we have with Jesus Christ; this life might be as crazy and unstable as anything can get, but He does not change, and His promises are for ever and ever; we just need to believe... "For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." (1 John 5:4-8)  

"The King and The Bride"

"I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise Thee for ever and ever." (Psalms 45:17) It is hard to imagine how the God of the universe and we His people shall become one, but it will happen, because Jesus has said so. If we could only see what that might look like, maybe then we could love one another as we should, and not get so upset with each other's imperfections. You know, I sometimes miss those stupid arguments with my wife; although I hated them then, they did seem to add some drama into our marriage; and sometimes they actually caused us to hold each other more dearly, knowing how fragile a relationship can become. And then again, if you have a relationship that is in Christ, then your not just married to each other, you have Jesus in the mix; a three-strand rope that cannot be broken without taking the three apart. Yesterday on To Every Man An Answer, I heard them answer a woman that knew who Jesus was, but was having issues with someone that refused to believe that He was God. The pastors had nuggets of information to refute those that might not believe, but the most powerful point that was made was from John 8:24, "for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." The N.L.T has it as, "for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins." Pretty much cut and dry point that Jesus made; you either believe Him to be God manifested in the flesh, or you don't; those that don't, die in their sins. In case you don't know what die in your sins actually means, it means that you are not washed by the blood of Jesus Christ, and that your name is not written in the Lamb's Book of Life; meaning that your going to get judged for your sin, and you will end up in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). I know that might some harsh, but it's the truth; but Jesus can set you free from the fate that awaits, because He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; but you must believe He is who He claimed to be. If you are having trouble believing that He is God, then you might need intervention, the intervention of the Holy Spirit upon your heart and mind, so that you can actually see the Truth; such an intervention can only happen if you are truly Born Again... "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither I came I of myself, but He sent Me. Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do: he was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not. Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:42-47)

"The Bride is Secure"

"Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth." (Psalms 45:16) It's not about what's behind, but what is ahead; that is what this verse speaks into my heart. Much is the same for the bride who is being married, as she is about to receive her new identity and begin her new life as the wife of her husband; at least that is the way it was for me and my wife; most marriages today consist of two lives blending into one, where he has his job and she has hers. The home becomes just a house, because the Homemaker has gone missing, and because in this modern society the role of a stay-at-home mother is looked down upon, when they should be looked up to. If you really think about it, this completely makes a perfect picture of the New Covenant that Jesus spoke to His disciples about; how that they were now no longer to focus upon the Old Testament ways of sacrifice and the covering of sin, but that there was a New Testament order that He had established; one where there was forgiveness of sin by the sacrifice He made upon the cross, and the fruit of that forgiveness would bear more fruit, as in spreading the gospel message unto others. Mother's teach their children to care for others, at least caring mothers do; fathers really don't care for much of that, they are more interested in work, hobbies and sports; but it is mothers that instill into their children the virtue of caring, because they themselves are cared for; at least that's how it is meant to be. Not so in this modern culture where the role of providing has been divided among the two, and cares have been distorted by ambitions and success. I am sorry, I might have stepped on a few toes, but I feel that there is a lot of truth in what I am talking about; besides, children need to have stability in their lives, and that is meant to come from the mother, the mother that is always there. Reading the N.L.T.'s version of this verse, it reads as such: "Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands." A little different take on what is being said, but it points in the same direction, forward... "So shall my word be that goeth fourth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 55:11-13)

"The Honor of The Bride"

"She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King's palace." (Psalms 45:14 & 15) First of all, let me explain something about honor, because some might think the honor needs to just be given to the King, as it well should; but if you have ever witnessed what happens when the bride enters the back of the room, and as she begins her march down that isle, then you would understand her honor. That is her moment she has been waiting for, that she has dreamt about her whole life; when all eyes are turned towards her, and she is given the honor of being stood to and gazed upon, as she makes her way down that isle. Besides that, if you can accept it still, this is God speaking in the third person about the Son, so the "thee" that is spoken of is the King that is being spoken of, and the Father who is speaking greatly approves of the Bride, and is right there to honor her also. Why would she be honored in such a way? I think the word "needlework" speaks a little into that, much like a tapestry that has too much to behold, the "raiment of needlework" speaks of everything that went into dressing her for this very special day. If you really think about it, if God planned for this from the very beginning of time, as I believe that He did, then that tapestry would be so intense and so complex, it would take forever to take it all in. It's a good thing that we will have for ever to do so, because I am sure that there will be no boredom in heaven. The N.L.T. has a real simple translation of these three verses, 13-15, as it reads, "The Bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown. In her beautiful robes, she is led to the King, accompanied by her bridesmaids. What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the King's palace." Although it is fun to read, I much prefer the King James, not only for the poetic nature that it is written, but because of the way the thoughts are broken up, such as the last part of verse fifteen, as it says, "they shall enter into the King's palace"; isn't that what it's all about?
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Revelation 22:11-14)

"The Glorious Bride" -2

"The King's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold." (Psalms 45:13) What makes the Bride so glorious is that which is within her, the glory of God: "And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it" (Revelation 21:22). On a similar line, what makes us glorious now is not us, but Jesus Christ; without Jesus we have no form of godliness at all; we have no righteousness, because He is our righteousness; and we have nothing within us that is pleasing to God, except His Son Jesus Christ, in Whom He is well pleased. Several times in Revelation the "Lamb's Book of Life" is mentioned as a qualifier for being justified or made worthy; to be qualified for eternal life, you must be written in the Lamb's Book of Life; to be disqualified for the lake of fire, you must be written in the Lamb's Book of Life; and to be part of the Bride of Christ, your name must be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. It is pretty obvious to me that being written in the Lamb's Book of Life is the ticket to having eternal life, and that the only way that you can receive that ticket is through Jesus Christ, for it is He that writes your name within that Book, and it is He that can blot your name out, if He so wishes (Revelation 3:5). So then, what is the qualification for having Him write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life? The sweet, short and simple answer, is to put all of our faith in Jesus Christ! The other thing that makes the inside look so good is what is on the outside, mainly that we are clothed in His righteousness. When it is speaking about "her clothing is of wrought gold", it is speaking her golden gown, pure white and radiant; a gown that is only available by the washing of the blood of Jesus, and by having our sins replaced by His righteousness... "Even as David also described the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it the reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: and the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised." (Romans 4:6-12)

"The Glorious Bride"

"The King's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold." (Psalms 45:13) Regardless of what you think heaven will be like, your vision of it most likely falls far short of what you will experience; the major difference is where you will be, verses where you are right now: right now you are here, with God dwelling with you, there you will be dwelling with God. And another thing that we must visualize, if that even can be done, is the awesome love that the Lord has for His bride; how much He has done to prepare this place for her, and to assure that she is never going to need anything, ever! You could read that description of what the Bride will look like over and over, but you still won't be able to comprehend the glory that will be displayed once you experience it firsthand. I was listening to a message yesterday that made me start tearing up, but it was all tears of joy. The message was about a lady who wanted to be buried with a Bible in her left hand and a fork in her right hand; and when her pastor asked, "Why the fork?", she said, My grandma always would say, after we had finished our meal, and as we were stacking our plates, "You're going to want to hold onto that fork", because that meant there was dessert, and the best was still to come... Wow!!!
"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

"The Present For The Bride" -2

"And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour." (Psalms 45:12) I know that some might not understand what it is that I was getting at, but it takes knowing to understand; it takes the experience of what it is like to give up everything, if not for just a short while, and to give your heart completely to the Lord, then you see the gift like never before, then you come to understand the value of it's worth. It is truly not something that is easy to do, especially for anyone that has a family, and especially not for anyone that owns a business; but it can be done; much like a camel going through the eye of needle is possible with God, but it is only possible with God alone! Having said that, there is another aspect that must be considered here, which is what we shall bring; that is, what will we offer as a gift, or is there even such a thing to be considered? Will we have anything of any worth to give, and if so, will we be able to offer it at the wedding celebration? I believe that we shall, and that we will be so amazed by what we are going to partake in, that nothing we have will be ours; no crowns, no rewards, no stature; absolutely nothing is going to matter but the fact that we are in the presence of the "Bright And Morning Star" (Revelation 22;16). So yes, there will be gifts to give, and give them we will do; we will happily and joyfully cast our crowns at the feet of God, and there will be nothing of value that we will call our own, except Him. So with that, the present which shall matter the most will be Christ, the Bridegroom Himself will be our reward; He will be our all in all, and nothing else will matter but Him; no family, no business, no form of entertainment; nothing but the glory of God for ever and ever; and we shall never grow tired of just being in His presence. That is a present to be looking forward to... "And I saw no temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 21:22 - 22:5)