Happy Mother’s Day! Some Thoughts On The Value Of Life

Posted on May 7, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Adele Morris on Unsplash

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 127.

When I woke up Tuesday morning, with Mother’s Day just a few days away, I wondered what I would preach on this Wednesday night. As I checked the news God handed me the Wednesday night Bible Study. An article from a magazine called Politico entitled:

Supreme Court Has Voted To Overturn
Abortion Rights, Draft Opinion Shows

I quote: “The Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, according to an initial draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito circulated inside the court and obtained by POLITICO.

The draft opinion is a full-throated, unflinching repudiation of the 1973 decision which guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights and a subsequent 1992 decision – Planned Parenthood v. Casey – that largely maintained the right. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Alito writes.

“We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,” he writes in the document, labeled as the “Opinion of the Court.” “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

This is a first draft, and the opinion could be changed (according to the reporters). The final document is not expected to be released for about 2 months. Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the decision to overturn Roe, was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Alito said that Roe was “egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have inflamed debate and deepened division.” If the majority of the Court holds firm, abortion laws would be left to the states – which is where they should be legislated in the first place.

I say, PRAISE GOD! Let’s stop killing babies!

Sadly there are many who are “pro choice”, who want abortion to continue to be funded by American tax dollars. Liberals – in particular liberal news organizations like NPR (National Public Radio) profess that the majority of Americans polled believe abortion should be a “right”. The truth is 22 states have laws in place to trigger a ban on abortion once Roe V Wade is overturned, with Montana expected to join in the ban soon.

Though the word “abortion” is not found in The Southern Baptist Faith & Message, in section XVIII. The Family we read:

“Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord.”

Southern Baptists do not believe in nor endorse abortion.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, writing of the Supreme Court’s decision, said:

“Assuming it truly remains a majority opinion––which could still change––it means we are one step closer to ending the Roe-Casey abortion framework that has taken over 60 million innocent lives, fractured families, marginalized mothers and harmed this nation for nearly 50 years. If this majority holds, witnessing a day where that regime is ended cannot come soon enough.”

Some who profess to be Christian are pro-abortion, or as they say, “Pro-Choice”. A United Methodist Pastor Dave Barnhart craftily wrote:

“You can love the unborn and advocate for them without substantially challenging your own wealth, power, or privilege, without re-imagining social structures, apologizing, or making reparations to anyone. They are, in short, the perfect people to love if you want to claim you love Jesus but actually dislike people who breathe.”

What he is doing is what most people do when they are advocating for wrong. He is redirecting and twisting the truth. This is a common ploy among the lost liberal world.

No genuine Christian hates people who breath. Genuine Christians love all life.Life is a gift from God.

Genuine Christians love all, and consider all made in the “imago dei”, that is, “In the image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27). When God made “man in our image, after our likeness” He made them “male and female”. God gave His command to “man”, which was “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion”. God did not tell mankind to just “satisfy yourself sexually”. There is satisfaction in human sexuality – God made it so. God said:

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

There is pleasure in human sexuality. But the intent of the pleasure is not just to give us joy, but to “be fruitful and multiply”. What does “fruitful” mean?

Psalm 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Abortion became popular in America when individual pleasure became the norm instead of procreation. In short, humanity in America ignored the command of God.

In the ancient world abortion was regularly practiced. In Egypt the Pharaoh ordered the mid-wives – those who deliver the babies – that they be aborted once their gender was revealed. The King of Egypt, Pharaoh told the mid-wives who delivered babies:

Exodus 1:16-17 … When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

When the Pharaoh – representing the government – asked why the male babies were not aborted, the mid-wives said “because the Hebrew women do not need mid-wives. They deliver their own babies”. The mid-wives “feared God” more than they feared the government. So then the government of Egypt said, “Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive”. You can read the whole story in Exodus chapter one.

Thank God that Moses’ mother
did not obey the government!

Abortion Is Murder. It Is Taking A Life.

When you take a life, you rob not just the life from an innocent, but whatever potential that child had to better society. That is the reason that God made murder a capital offense. When Noah got off the Ark God told him – and us:

Genesis 9:3-7 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.

To murder someone is to shed their blood. If you shed the blood of a human unlawfully, then your blood is to be shed according to God. God says in the Scripture “the life of the flesh is IN THE BLOOD” (Leviticus 17:11). The shedding of blood is murder. Now here’s a question for you:

God said “The life of flesh is in the blood”. God said, “If you shed blood, YOUR blood will be shed”, which is the basis of capital punishment. So here’s the question.

When is BLOOD formed in a fetus?

21 days from fertilization RED BLOOD CELLS are pumped through the heart and blood vessels of the embryo. Once more, God said “The life of flesh is in the blood”. God said, “If you shed blood, YOUR blood will be shed”. 21 days.

The Merck Manual in discussing the formation of the baby notes in the section, “Development of the Embryo”: “Most organs begin to form about 3 weeks after fertilization… At this time, the embryo elongates, first suggesting a human shape. Shortly thereafter, the area that will become the brain and spinal cord (neural tube) begins to develop. The heart and major blood vessels begin to develop earlier—by about day 16. The heart begins to pump fluid through blood vessels by day 20, and the first red blood cells appear the next day. Blood vessels continue to develop in the embryo and placenta.”

King David, writing under the inspiration of God, spoke of his own birth.

Psalm 139:12-17 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee {O Lord}; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13 For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

While still in his mother’s womb, David believed that God not only made him, but designed him to be what he would one day be. Thank God that King David was not aborted by his mother. When the blood of the child is spilled, that life – with all its potential to do good on this earth – is ended forever.

What Did Early Christians Believe About Abortion?

Abortion Doctor Willie Parker has said, “I believe that as an abortion provider, I am doing God’s work”. The man professes to be a Christian, and has insisted – along with others – that early Christians had nothing to say about abortion. But this is untrue. Dr. Albert Mohler in his article “The Real Story of Christianity and Abortion” writes:

“The early church was decidedly, vocally, and courageously pro-life and opposed to abortion. … Both abortion and infanticide were common in the Roman Empire. Christians were forbidden to murder any child, born or unborn. … Michael J. Gorman states in Abortion and the Early Church: “All Christian writers opposed abortion.” Every mention of abortion in the early church rejects it forcefully.”

The Didache [pronounced DID-a-KAY]

Around 70-100 A.D. the early Church Apostles wrote a teaching called “The Didache” (meaning “The Doctrine or Teaching”). Didache 2:1-2 states “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not seduce boys. You shall not commit fornication. You shall not steal. You shall not practice magic. You shall not use potions. You shall not procure [an] abortion, nor destroy a newborn child”.

It was not just Christians who rejected abortion, but Jews as well. The ESV Study Bible quotes the writing of the first century Jewish historian Josephus:

“The law {of God} orders all the offspring to be brought up, and forbids women either to cause abortion or to make away with the fetus” (Against Apion 2.202).

Early Christian writings like The Letter of Barnabas (A.D. 130) states, “You shall not abort a child nor, again, commit infanticide”. There are many other early Christian writings that condemn abortion. Tertullian, a lawyer who became a Christian and a theologian wrote: in his book “Apologeticum”:

“Murder being once for all forbidden, we [Christians] may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth.”

Are There Other Texts In Scripture
That Address Abortion?

Yes, there are. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote:

Jeremiah 1:4-5 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

God knows us while we are yet in the womb. Some object, saying, “But this just applied to Jeremiah”. Yes, that’s true. But Jeremiah’s mother didn’t know his destiny when she was carrying him. But God did. God has a plan for every life. Every life has potential.

Another good illustration I can think of is the life of John the Baptist. John was born to parents that, like Abraham and Sarah, were childless and past the age when they could have children (Luke 1:7). While the priest Zacharias was fulfilling his duties, the angel of the Lord came to him and told him:

Luke 1:13-17 Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before {the Lord} in the spirit and power of {Elijah}, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Before John was ever conceived, God had a plan for John’s life. John was to go before the Lord Jesus, to start ministering 6 months prior to the Messiah. He was to be the Herald of God the Son. John the Baptist fulfilled the prophesies of Malachi 4:5-6 and Isaiah 40:3-5 (see also Mark 1:2-5; John 1:23; Matthew 3:1-3). When the virgin Mary, the mother of the humanity of Jesus Christ heard that Elisabeth her cousin was with child, she quickly went to see her. The Bible says that when Mary called out to Elisabeth:

Luke 1:41 … the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

Elisabeth told Mary:

Luke 1:44-45 … lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

Thank God that Elisabeth did not abort John! Thank God that Mary, the mother of Christ’s humanity, did not abort her baby!

Crafty Lies The Devil Tells,
For He Desires To Make Us Fail!

In any discussion of abortion, there is always a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15) used by the devil to trick the saints. In the Garden of Eden the devil crept in as a serpent, questioning God’s sincerity. Here’s some of the things I’ve been told as a Pastor – little lies from little serpents.

  • Elective abortion should be lawful in the event a woman is raped, or a victim of incest.

This is a favorite of politicians. I received a letter from one candidate who said he was against abortion except in cases of rape or incest. Where abortions are tracked, we discover that 98% of abortions are from consensual sex. Some states track abortion statistics. For instance, in Florida in 2018 there were 70,190 abortions reported. From that report we find that “abortions due to rape composed 0.1 percent of the total in 2018 but have fluctuated from 0.08 percent (2015) to 1.6 percent (2012) of all abortions reported in Florida”.

Rape is a horrible crime against another human, for both men and women have been raped. Rapists were executed in ancient Israel (Deuteronomy 22:25). Rape carries with it a horrible scarring on the soul of the victim. Even so, should the child produced by the rape be punished for the evil? This is something the mother should certainly pray over before taking the abortive step. Killing the child will not kill the memory of the rape. Killing the child will, however, take a human life, while robbing the world of the potential that child had.

  • Elective abortion should be lawful in the event it is necessary to save the life of the mother.

Referring to the same Floridastudy we saw earlier, we are told that “abortions categorized as due to the mother’s physical health jumped from 0.1 percent in 2016 to one percent in 2017 and 1.5 percent in 2018”. Most nations legal systems recognize that treatment to save a mother’s life is not the same as killing an unwanted child. Again, the mother should seek God’s direction through prayer before taking the life of her child. Loving my wife and children, I would gladly take a bullet for them that they might live. I believe that most mothers – if given the choice – would give their lives so that their children might live.

  • When the fetus is aborted, it doesn’t feel any pain.

The Journal Of Medical Ethics produced an article by Neuroscientist Stuart W.G. Derbyshire and Army Physician Assistant John C. Bockmann entitled “Reconsidering Fetal Pain”. They wrote:

“Overall, the evidence, and a balanced reading of that evidence, points towards an immediate and unreflective pain experience mediated by the developing function of the nervous system from as early as 12 weeks. That moment is not categorical, fetal development is continuous and not an event, and we recognize that some evidence points towards an immediate and unreflective pain not being possible until later. Nevertheless, we no longer view fetal pain (as a core, immediate, sensation) in a gestational window of 12–24 weeks as impossible based on the neuroscience. … Given the evidence that the fetus might be able to experience something like pain during later abortions, it seems reasonable that the clinical team and the pregnant woman are encouraged to consider fetal analgesia {when performing abortions}. … Fetal analgesia and anesthesia should thus be standard for abortions in the second trimester, especially after 18 weeks when there is good evidence for a functional connection from the periphery and into the brain.”

  • If abortion is not a constitutional “right”, tens of thousands of women will die each year from illegal “back alley” abortions.

When liberals learned that the Supreme Court had overturned Roe V Wade (though this is not settled as of yet), some of the comments were “Amazon is going to run out of coat hangers”. Dr. Bernard Nathanson who was instrumental in convincing America to repeal the abortion laws and to pass Roe, later wrote an essay called “Confessions Of An Ex-Abortionist”:

“The number of women dying from illegal abortions {before Roe V Wade} was around 200-250 annually. The figure constantly fed to the media was 10,000. These false figures took root in the consciousness of Americans convincing many that we needed to crack the abortion law. Another myth we fed to the public through the media was that legalizing abortion would only mean that the abortions taking place illegally would then be done legally. In fact, of course, abortion is now being used as a primary method of birth control in the U.S. and the annual number of abortions has increased by 1500% since legalization.”

I could go on and on, for the devil is very good at twisting the truth. The truth is – a truth we in America need to rediscover – is that life matters. ALL life matters. Black lives matter. Red lives matter. Yellow lives matter. White lives matter. Unborn lives matter. Regardless as to how loud the liberal screams and protests, regardless as to whether we see more “peaceful – but fiery protests” on television – life is precious. God has a purpose for every life. I pray daily that we as a nation would come back to this great truth.

Happy Mother’s day! For the glory of God, and the advancement of our great nation, I pray these words would touch your hearts. Pray with me that the Supreme Court will hold the line and overturn Roe V Wade, sending the question back to each state’s legislature. This is where the question should have been dealt with from the beginning. Through His Spirit, Amen and amen!

Posted in abortion, Sermons Preached | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Saving Our Nation

Posted on May 4, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Dawid Małecki on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Jeremiah Chapter Five.

The Book of Jeremiah is the longest book in the Bible. By counting the number of words in Hebrew or Greek, Jeremiah has 33,002 words, whereas Genesis has 32,046. Jeremiah is also a very difficult book to read – and few Christians have ever read or contemplated its words. Most believers look at the Book and think, “This only deals with Israel and Judah – not with the Church. Jeremiah wrote to a people under the Old Covenant of works. The Christian and the Church are under the New Covenant – so there’s nothing here for me”.

I disagree. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that the things which happened to Israel and Judah are examples for us in the Church Age (1 Corinthians 10:11). Further, the Apostle wrote:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the {believer} of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

When the Evangelist Stephen (Acts 6:8) preached Christ at the “synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians” just prior to his martyrdom, Stephen referred to Moses and Israel, saying:

Acts 7:37-38 … Moses … said unto the children of Israel, a Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear. THIS {JESUS} IS HE, that was in the CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS with the angel which spake to him in Mount Sinai …

Israel was the “Church in the wilderness”, God’s Old Covenant people. Jeremiah is speaking directly to Israel and Judah – but his words also apply to God’s people today. Just as Israel and Judah walked away from God in the days of Jeremiah, the Church in America has walked away from God today.

Our nation and our churches are falling apart because we have forsaken the “Way of the Lord”.

Judgment is coming to Israel and Judah because they have forsaken God. I truly believe judgment is coming to America – and the American Church – if we do not return to the “Way of the Lord”.

Jeremiah 5:1-5 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. 2 And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely. 3 O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. 4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. 5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

To Save The Nation, Believers Must Follow God

As we watch the news with horror, and see how radical racism and aberrant sexual practices have taken over our nation, the one thing I hear Christians say is “We’ve got to do something”. Yes, we do. The first thing we as Christians need to do is to “fully return to God”.

As God contemplates the destruction of Israel and Judah, He looks for something. What does God look for? Read again:

Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

God told Jeremiah to go throughout the nation. He said “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem”. Go looking. Look for what? God said, “find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it”. Look for one person. Do you see even one person who executes judgment and seeks the truth. What is God talking about? He is asking Jeremiah to question professing believers, and see if there is even one that agrees with what HE, GOD BELIEVES. God expects the unbeliever to abide in darkness. God will eventually pour out His wrath on those who disregard His Holy Word. The Scripture says:

Romans 1:18-19 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

God will pour out His wrath on “all ungodliness”, that is, against any action that has not been sanctioned by God. God will pour out His wrath on “unrighteousness of men”, the things that people do that are not right according to God’s Word. God has a standard, and His standard is clearly revealed in this Bible. God has determined what is right and what is wrong. God has decreed righteousness, and godliness.

It is true that we are all broken. It is true that our works cannot save us. It is the Cross of Christ that saves us. It is our faith in the Blood that was shed on Calvary that saves us. As the Scripture says:

Romans 3:21-28 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

We are “justified by faith” in Jesus’ work on Calvary. We are made right in God’s eyes because we love His Son, and receive Him as Lord and Savior. But hear me: ONCE SAVED, we are SAVED TO BE SET APART. We do not walk in darkness anymore. We walk with God. We walk yielded to God. Praise God, any can be saved, for Jesus died for whosoever will. Again the Scripture declares:

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation is a gift which brings you into union with God. You are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). But once saved, you become the property of God. You do not belong to yourself. He is your Father, and you are His son. As a son, you are called to walk according to God’s established righteousness. The same Apostle who wrote of the freedom of salvation also warned:

Romans 2:3-11 … thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

“There is no respect of persons with God”. Once saved, you are called to walk WITH God, not against God. God will “will render to every man according to his deeds”. If you do righteously, as a child of God should do, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life”. God blesses the believer who walks with Him. But what of those who do NOT do righteously, following Christ? The Word is clear. “unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil”.

You cannot be a Christian and be blessed while rejecting God’s commandments. This is true for both the Old as well as the New Covenants. What did God tell His Church in the Wilderness?

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (ESV) And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?

We are to “fear” the Lord our God. We are to “walk” in ALL His ways. We are to “love” and “serve” the Lord Who saved us. “But”, you say belligerently, “This is the Old Covenant. We are under the New Covenant, the Covenant of Christ!” Fine, what did Jesus say? What do we find under the New Covenant? Jesus said:

John 14:15 (ESV) If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 15:10 (ESV) If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Whether in the Old or New Testament, the believer is required to “keep God’s commandments”. When the Corinthian Church began to get away from the commandments of God, the Apostle said:

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

God expects His children to follow Him. He told Jeremiah to look, and if he found just one who followed, then “I will pardon it”. God would withhold judgment if Jeremiah could find just one besides himself. When Abraham pled for Sodom (Genesis 18:16-33), God said “If there are ten righteous, I will not destroy it”. But our Lord is much more generous here. Just one. But there was none.

Jeremiah 5:2 And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.

They did not truly believe that “the Lord liveth”, for if they truly believed He lived, they would repent and return to Him. They have drifted away from God.

To Save The Nation, Believers Must Return To God

Jeremiah 5:3 O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

God brought discipline on the nation because His people would not return to Him. And yet, rather than “receive correction”, they have “made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return”.

And yet God loves His people, and calls on them to return to Him. We read:

Jeremiah 3:1 They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.

Among humans, if a man has a wife who steps out on him, who even goes so far as to divorce him so she can be with another lover, that man would never accept her back. I’ve actually seen this in my ministry, the bitterness that comes when there is infidelity. AND YET GOD said, “Even though you have done this to Me – I will receive you back”.

The relationship that God has with His believers is just as intimate – if not more so – than a relationship between a man and wife. The stepbrother of Christ writes:

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

God wants all of our hearts. When we step away from God’s Word and begin to receive the vain philosophies and empty alleged truths of this world, we offend our God Who loves us so. It is like we are spiritually cheating on Him. Many church groups and Christians today have compromised on things which God has declared sinful.

It starts as a trickle. But in time, the tiny hole in the dam leads to catastrophic failure. This is how sin does. When sin creeps into a family, it is not long before it takes over the whole family. When sin creeps into the Church and the denomination, it is not long before that which was once done in the dark is now proudly displayed in the light. This has been true in our nation of:

heterosexual sin (fornication)
homosexual sin (LGBTQ2S+)
transgender sin
abortion
drug and alcohol use

And many other wrongs. God forbids it, declaring it immoral. And yet those who profess to be Children of God have begun to normalize sins like these and others. If God condemns an action, it is always wrong (for example, see Galatians 5:19-21; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:24-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Matthew 19:18; Genesis 39:7-9; Exodus 20:14). God says to the wandering believer:

Jeremiah 3:12-15 … Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

If we have wandered, God calls us to repent and return to Him. We are to open our hearts to His Word, to hear the messengers, the pastors that God has sent to us. We are not to trust in the things of this world, but in the Scripture, the Word of God.

The salvation of our nation will come from God.

Jeremiah 3:22-23 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

Only God can heal our nation.

Let Us Walk In The Way Of The Lord

Jeremiah 5:4-5 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God. 5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

Word Study: God expects His Children to walk in HIS Way, not in ours. The one who does not “know the way of the Lord” is first called “poor”. This is the Hebrew דַּל dal, {pronounced dal}, which means “weak, thin, dangling”. The other adjective is “foolish”, the Hebrew יָאַל yâʼal, {pronounced yaw-al’}, which means “to be slack or simple minded”. Those who do not know the way of the Lord will be easily duped by the world. Jeremiah could find none who loved God’s Word, and trusted in it. God calls His people to repent and return to His way.

God’s way is always right. God’s Word is always true. Let us cling to Him. Let us both hear and do His Word. Our salvation is found in following the Lord Who saved us, in heeding and doing His Word. The Apostle said that we are to live …

1 Peter 2:16 … As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Iniquity (sin) in the life of the believer turns away the blessings of God. Let us, like the Prodigal Son of Luke 15:11-32 come to our senses and return to our Father. There is where the blessings are! Confess sin as soon as you recognize it, believer, and put it under the Blood of Christ. There is hope for America still , but it begins with us. We must return to the way of the Lord. We must walk with Him as did Enoch and Elijah, as did Daniel and the Hebrew children. We must walk with out God, having faith in Him, but not fearing the world.

Our God will triumph! Iniquity will turn away the blessings of God (Jeremiah 5:25). Let us therefor confess our sin, and walk in His Word. May God the Holy Spirit move through this, His Word, this very day. Amen and Amen! For the glory of Christ!

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Choose You This Day

Posted on May 1, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Joshua chapter 24.

Joshua is an old man now, ready to retire as the General of Israel’s Army. Joshua made a decision as a young man to follow God. He has led Israel through battle after battle, to victory after victory, because he followed the Lord. At the end of the road Joshua had many more blessings than he had cursings. Why? Because he chose to follow God. He chose to rest in God’s Grace.

Someone asked me the other day, “If God is all powerful, if God is everywhere, and if God is ultimately in control, then why is our country – our world – in such a mess.”

The problem is not God’s, but ours. God is gracious. God is faithful. And we consistently keep choosing to walk apart from God. You are the sum of all the choices you have made in life. And Beloved, you are responsible for the choices you make.

Joshua is resigning as the leader of Israel. He wants to share the secret of his success. We read:

Joshua 24:1 … And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

Joshua brings ALL ISRAEL to “Shechem”. Shechem is an interesting place. The Bible tells us that …

  • “Shechem” is the place where God promised Abraham the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:6-7), and there Abraham built an altar to God.
  • One of Abraham’s descendants named Jacob purchased land there, and dug a well. It is at Jacob’s Well that Jesus would meet a woman of Samaria (John 4:5-6) and present Himself as Messiah.
  • When Joseph (of the coat of many colors) dies in Egypt, he makes Israel promise not to bury his bones anywhere but in the Promised Land. Joseph’s bones will be buried in Shechem (Joshua 24:32).

Shechem represents GRACE. God shares with Israel all the instances where He bestowed GRACE – undeserved mercy – on them.

God Speaks GRACE At Shechem

Joshua 24:2-7 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac. [This is GRACE.] 4 And I gave unto Isaac {sons} Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir to possess it; [remember that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of lentils? This is GRACE.] but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. 5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. 6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: [God saved Israel from Egypt. This is GRACE.] and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. 7 And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. [even though Israel betrayed God, He loved Israel. This is GRACE.]

Everything that God recounts to Israel – His people – is GRACE. When God called Abraham, it was not because Abraham deserved it. This is GRACE. Oh, how gracious our God is. “For from His fullness we have all received, GRACE upon GRACE (John 1:16). God called, and Abraham followed. God called, and Jacob followed. When you follow God, you follow GRACE upon GRACE.

When was Peter, James, and John blessed in the life of Christ? When Jesus said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” – and they followed!

When was the Apostle Matthew blessed of Christ? When Jesus told him, “Follow Me” – and Matthew got up from the tax collection table and followed. God forces no one to follow Him. When we follow the Lord, we enjoy the benefits of Grace. When we heed His command, and choose to obey Him, this is when the salvation starts.

Joshua wanted Israel to know this great truth. I want you to know this great truth. When you follow the Lord, Grace abounds. When you follow the Lord, the enemy is defeated. God said …

Joshua 24:11 … I delivered them into your hand.

Listen to these Gracious and Faithful words of God to His people. He told them:

Joshua 24:13 … I have given you a land for which ye did not labor, [this is GRACE] and cities which ye built not, [this is GRACE] and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat. [this is GRACE]

Everything that Israel had, they had because of the Grace of God. Everything that Israel accomplished, they accomplished because they followed God.

Do You Choose Grace? Then you must follow God. Joshua, that old warrior, speaks, saying:

Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Everyone Follows Someone or Something
Choose Carefully Who You Follow

Joshua 24:15 … choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Life is all about choices, and you WILL serve someone or something. The Apostle Paul told the Church at Rome:

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

If you follow SIN, that is, what God has said is WRONG and UNRIGHTEOUS, then you will not find GRACE but DEATH. It’s your choice. It’s my choice. We can choose to serve the gods of this world, whatever they might be, and they lead to nothingness and death. The Bible is very clear that to follow any god but the God of Scripture is to go down a dark and empty valley. Before Israel entered the Promised Land with Jacob, Moses told the people:

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (ESV) … “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 BUTif your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. … 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days …

Where God is, there is GRACE. Where GRACE is, there is LIFE. Jesus said:

John 5:40 (ESV) … you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

John 10:10 (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that {my sheep} may have life and have it abundantly.

The “thief” is the person who attempts to trick you into following idols. The “thief” is the false prophet who tells you that you may be saved and yet continue to hold on to your old gods. Beloved, the devil is a liar! “When the devil lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44).

God NEVER promised salvation and GRACE apart from following Him. The believer is to follow the Lord. The believer is to follow Christ.

The choice is yours – but you must choose. No one can make the choice for you. Hear what the great Evangelist Billy Graham said:

“When you come to Christ, you must give up all other gods.”

You choose the master you will follow. Joshua said, “choose YOU THIS DAY Who you will SERVE”. The choice is yours. But you are responsible for your choices. What you do effects not only you, but your family, your church.

Make the choice. You have free will to choose. Make a choice.

Matthew 6:19-21, 24Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. … 24 No {one} can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Some say, “I am a free man. I serve NO master.” That’s not true. If you do not serve God, then you are serving the gods, you are serving sin. Before a person meets Christ they are “servants of sin”. Giving your allegiance to Jesus, you are …

Romans 6:18 … made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

If you are saved, your god is not sin but the Savior. “When you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness” (Romans 6:20). But once you come to Christ your allegiance is to be to God your Savior. The Apostle said,

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Choose you this day whom you will serve! God gives you the freedom to choose. Choose God and Grace.

Salvation is a gift from God, but you must go to Him to receive it. You must reject the false gods. You must not follow yourself as a god. Didn’t Jesus say:

Mark 8:34-38 Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

We Are Saved From This World To
“Fear” The Living God!

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

God demands first place in our lives. Israel was saved from Egypt to “serve the Living God”. The Christian is saved from this world “to serve the Living God”. This is why Christ died. He died not just to get you into Heaven, but to get HEAVEN INTO YOU. Last week I spoke on “without shedding of blood is no remission {of sin}” (Hebrews 9:22). But the Blood of Christ goes beyond just a covering for sin. We read in:

Hebrews 9:14 … the blood of Christ … purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Israel saved from Egypt was not to be double minded. The Christian saved from the world is not to be double minded. We belong to God – we are bought with a price – His Blood.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

When you come to God, you become God’s possession, God’s Child. The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanses you from all sin. You are no longer an idol maker, but you are an idol breaker. (I got that from Billy Graham :).

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

The phrases “fear the Lord” or “fear God” are found frequently throughout the WHOLE Bible – not just in the Old Testament. The Apostle commanded:

Colossians 3:22-24 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as pleasanter; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

And again,

1 Peter 2:15-18 {It} is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.

The Angels of God cry out:

Revelation 14:7 … Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

When we “Fear God”, we recognize and respect God as God, and seek to please Him as sons and daughters.

Pastor Justin Camp of Gather Ministries notes:

“… what does it mean to fear God? Well, mostly it means keeping our thinking straight. It means seeing God, in all his power, in proper relation and proportion to the people and problems in this world. Though we sometimes act as if he were, God isn’t smaller than financial hardship, difficult work situations, difficulties with children. He’s not equal to them. He’s so much bigger, so much more powerful, even comparing doesn’t make sense. He’s alpha and omega. He’s the beginning and the end of everything. What’s astonishing is this fearsome God, for some reason, chooses to love each of us with a fierce love—a love that’s good and will never relent.”

To “fear” God is to put Him first and foremost. A rich young ruler came to Jesus one day …

Mark 10:17 … came one running, and knelt to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

Jesus told the young man:

Mark 10:18-23 … Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus loved that young man. But that young man had a god – riches – and he was not willing to release that god and follow Jesus. Do you want to “inherit eternal life”? Then you need to understand “there is none good but one, that is, God”. This is why Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary. He died, giving up His perfect and sinless life for ours. Jesus Christ is WITHOUT SIN (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was “offered to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28).

It is only by kneeling at His feet we receive salvation from sin. It is only by our unconditional surrender to Him that we have …

Romans 3:21-25 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a {covering or atonement} through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

We bend the knee to Jesus. We put away all gods that we once followed, and surrender to the God of Scripture. King David wrotein Psalm 51:5, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. We are born to sin. When we reach the age of accountability we choose to sin. We practice sin daily, redefining it and getting better at it. We must have the Savior. We must have Jesus.

God made a choice to provide salvation for us through Jesus Christ. We must now make a choice that we will put away our gods, and come to Jesus surrendered. The Prophet said: “I set before you the way of life, and the way of death” (Jeremiah 21:8). Moses said, “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil”. Joshua said, “choose you this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Jesus said,

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Choose To Run In The Right Direction:
Jesus Calls You To Him!

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Illustrate: On October 25, 1964 Jim Marshall of the Minnesota Vikings took a fumbled football 66 yards in the wrong direction into his own end zone. Though the Vikings went on to win against the San Francisco 49ers, Marshall was – needless to say – mortified. Jim was sincere. He was certain. He was positive that he was right. And he was absolutely wrong.

We must choose Jesus. We must choose to give our lives to God. What does this look like?

  • We REPENT. We turn away from the gods of this world, and acknowledge that we are weak, sinful, and totally unable to do any good without Christ’s intervention.
  • We RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As Billy Graham once defined faith, he said, “We put our whole weight on Jesus”.
  • We daily RUN OUR RACE looking unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). We follow Jesus. We do this publicly, and unashamedly every day of our lives. We believe what our Lord said,

John 14:6 … I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no one comes to the Father BUT BY ME.

You cannot sit on the fence and expect to be blessed. You must CHOOSE God. You must CHOOSE Jesus. James said, “A double minded person is unstable in all their ways” (James 1:8). Choose life. Choose Jesus. “Let not the double minded think that they shall receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:7). We must surrender to the Lord. It is not me you are surrendering to. I am nothing. But like Joshua, I can tell you – God is faithful. Jesus never leaves us. He has never left me. So I repeat the words of Joshua:

Joshua 24:15 … as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

What about you? May God through His Spirit touch your hearts with His Word. To Jesus Christ be the glory forever! Amen and Amen!

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A Prayer Against The Bully

Posted on April 29, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Ilayza on Unsplash

Tonight we’ll be in Psalm 70. Psalm 70 is a very interesting prayer of David. It isn’t long – just five verses – but it is a prayer that many of us can identify with. Let’s prayerfully read the prayer first, asking the Spirit of God to guide us:

Psalm 70:1-5 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. 3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. 4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. 5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

David, though a King, was being bullied.
Anyone can be bullied.

Word Study: To “bully” someone is, according to “Oxford Languages”, is “to seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable)”. The “bully” seeks out someone he or she perceives is weaker to push around in order to build up his or her self esteem or ego. Anyone can be bullied. Though David is the King of Israel, he was being bullied by others. We don’t know exactly WHO was bullying David – maybe a member of his cabinet, or perhaps it was his son Absalom who was rebelling against his throne. We don’t know, but we can say for sure:

Your position or place in life does not protect you from the bullies. Bullies target perceived weaknesses in those
around them in order to make themselves feel more worthy or valuable.

We live in a day where bullying is king – particularly on social media. Bullies hide behind electronic walls, attacking those they disagree with. Sadly today people no longer have civil discussions over weighty matters. We are “feeling” driven as a people.

When someone does not agree with my “feeling”, the acceptable practice is to bully until your opponent is shamed into agreeing with you.

Children are bullied in schools. I grew up being bullied, up until the age of 17 when I met the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus taught me that I was cherished, and that I was to stand up against the bullies. When I did, the bullies quickly backed down and sought easier prey. But bullies still abound. A scholarly article in the Journal of Adolescent Health called “Bullying and Suicide: A Public Health Approach”notes: “Several recent studies have found an association between bullying and depression or bullying and suicide-related behaviors …” Both the child who bullies and the child who is bullied have self esteem problems. An article on School Counseling notes, “In regards to bullying, 87% of school shooting perpetrators left behind evidence that they were victims of severe bullying.”

Bullies are found in politics. I watched one presidential candidate bully another during the presidential debates several years ago. One candidate “dominated” the other by rudeness, by interruption, by “cutting off” the other candidate. The bully lost the election.

Bullies are found in religion. Rarely did our Lord Jesus teach where He was not interrupted and second guessed by pushy Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, and Priests. Though Jesus pushed back, the bullies in time gathered enough momentum to where they could have Jesus executed. The Apostle Peter told these same bullies:

Acts 2:22-23 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain …

Though evil bullying killed Jesus, God still controlled the outcome to secure our salvation through Christ’s death. Nonetheless, the bullying was still “wicked”.

Rather than turn to a human solution to what he was suffering, King David turned to God in prayer. What is interesting is that …

This Is The Second Time David Prayed This Prayer

This is not the first time this prayer was prayed. The superscription to this prayer notes, “A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance”. In Psalm 40 David prays this same prayer – almost word to word:

Psalm 40:13-17 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

The commentator and Bible Teacher J. Vernon McGee wrote, “Why repeat {Psalm 40:13-17} here? Because my memory is not very good, and God knew it wouldn’t be. I can imagine that God said, ‘By the time McGee gets to this point in the Book of Psalms he will have forgotten all about Psalm 40, so I’ll repeat it {McGee, 2:790}”. That’s amusing, and it’s meant to be. God has David repeat it because it reinforces that – when we are bullied or made to feel less than by someone’s arrogance, our refuge is to be not tit for tat, but to seek God’s face.

David Sought God’s Presence
While Bullies Sought His Destruction

Psalm 70:1-2 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. 2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

As David prays against those who “seek after my soul”, he does not pray that his enemy be killed. There are other times when David prays for the death of the wicked. Consider:

Psalm 55:12-15 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

David prayed death against those who, like Judas Iscariot, pretended love but were secretly seeking his demise. There are other texts where David prayed for the destruction of his enemies, such as in Psalm 69:28 and 109:8. These are called imprecatory Psalms. Why did David NOT call for the destruction of his enemies here?

I think it has to do with the glory of God, and the spread of God’s Kingdom.

Our God wants to save as many as will come to Him in faith. Our God would prefer that the enemies of the Gospel be converted rather than be crushed. David prayed for the destruction of the enemy only when that enemy was so far gone from God that their destruction would aid the growth of God’s Kingdom.

Some are so hardened that there is no hope. The Hitlers, the Stalins, the Judas Iscariots have concreted their heart in faithlessness. But God seeks the conversion of whosoever will. The Scripture says:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance …

God so loved THE WORLD that He gave His Only Begotten Son (John 3:16). There are very few instances where God would honor a prayer that the enemy die. Jesus told us that we are to …

Matthew 5:44-48 (ESV) But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (see also Luke 6:27-38)

There are times when a prayer should be imprecatory – that is – calling down the catastrophic judgment of God. The Apostle Paul said of the false prophets who twisted the Gospel:

Galatians 1:9 (ESV) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Word Study: That word “accursed” is the Greek ἀνάθεμα anáthema, (pronounced an-ath’-em-ah), meaning “to be put under the greatest curse”.

David sought God’s comforting presence. He wanted God to come to his aid.

Psalm 70:1 Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord.

Word Study: David asks God to come quickly and do two things: to “deliver” David, and to “help” David. The word translated “deliver” is the Hebrewנָצַל nâtsal, {pronounced naw-tsal’}, which means “to take me away from, to rescue me, to snatch me up”. David is praying that God would take him out of the presence of the bullies. The word does not mean to kill, but to render that person ineffective. When Jacob in later years was going to meet his brother Esau, a brother he tricked, Jacob prayed:

Genesis 32:11 Deliver me {nâtsal}, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

Jacob meant no harm to his brother, but prayed that God would change the heart of the hunter-warrior Esau into a heart that would not kill him. Further in the Bible, when Joseph’s brothers cast him into a pit and were going to kill him, his brother …

Genesis 37:21 … Reuben heard it, and he DELIVERED {{nâtsal},} {Joseph} out of {his brother’s} hands; and said, Let us not kill him ..

David prayed that those who were attacking him would be changed into those who were not attacking him. David also asked God to “help” {עֶזְרָה ʻezrâh, [pronounced ez-raw’]} or ASSIST him. When we are attacked, our first go-to is to attack back. If hit with a stick, we want to hit with a 2×4. David was asking God to minister to his soul, while removing the power of the bully (though not killing him).

David prayed that the enemy would see
the error of their ways.

Psalm 70:2 Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

Word Study: David wanted his attackers to be “ashamed” is the Qal Imperfect ofבּוּשׁ bûwsh, [pronounced boosh], which means “to be delayed, to be disappointed in”. He prayed they would not be gratified. The word “confounded” is the Hebrewחָפֵר châphêr, [pronounced khaw-fare’], which means “to be ashamed or put to shame”. This same word is used again in the phrase “put to confusion” – again, it means “to be put to shame”. David is asking God to stifle his enemy’s efforts, to cause their attempts to backfire on them. As they knit a net of evil to entrap David, David prays that the enemy be “turned backward”. That is, that they would be caught in their own snare!

Psalm 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

David prayed that those who found found fault with Him “be turned back for a reward of their shame”. That their efforts would go no where but into the dust bin of history. We who are Christians are to never avenge ourselves. The Apostle said in another place:

Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are not called to eradicate evil nor to kill evil, but to “overcome evil with good”. We are called to love even the unlovely, to forego vengeance. God will take vengeance on all unbelievers when they pass out of thus life. God is the Judge. We are to do good, and pray.

Psalm 70:3 Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

Those who said “Aha, aha” are those who, watching David, find fault by which they can condemn and mock him. The phrase “Aha, aha” is also found in:

Psalm 35:20-22 … they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land. 21 Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it. 22 This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

Though We Are Tried, Let God’s Glory
Be Our Driving Force

Psalm 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

In the midst of his suffering, David prays that others would find the Lord, and the salvation that comes through Him. God is not magnified when our enemies are killed. God is magnified – His power is glorified – when our enemies are converted to become our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we are suffering under the hand of life’s bullies, we need to remember our Lord Jesus, when He preached from the pulpit of His Cross:

Luke 23:34 … Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The crowd minimized and mocked Christ because sin blinded them to Who He is. Sin blinds the bully today from understanding that ALL are created in God’s image. This includes that bully. The only cure for what the bully is doing is a new heart – and only Christ can give him or her that new heart. Let us, like Jesus, pray for the conversion of the lost. As the lost are saved, the King of Christ grows, and evil diminishes.

In the midst of trials, let us pray and praise our God. The great Chinese Church Leader Watchman Nee wrote:

“We have seen that our praise is a sacrifice. But there is more. We have to see that praising is the way to overcome spiritual attacks. Many people say that Satan is afraid of the prayers of God’s children; he flees whenever God’s children kneel down to pray. This is why he often attacks God’s children and frustrates them from praying. This is a common attack. But we will point out another fact: Satan’s greatest attacks are not aimed at prayers; his greatest attacks are aimed at praise. … Satan does not attack just prayer; he also attacks the praise of God’s children. The ultimate goal of Satan is to stop all praises to God. Prayer is a warfare, but praise is a victory. Prayer signifies spiritual warfare, but praise signifies spiritual victory. Whenever we praise, Satan flees. Therefore, Satan hates our praising the most. He will use all his strength to stop our praising. … even a Philippian jail can become a place of songs (Acts 16:25). Paul and Silas were praising God inside the jail cell. Their praise broke loose all the jail doors.”

Let us cast ourselves upon God our Savior! David closes the prayer as he started it:

Psalm 70:5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my Help and my Deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.

David bows himself dpadown to God. He describes himself as “poor” {עָנִי ʻânîy, [pronounced aw-nee’]}, that is, “wretched” and “needy” {אֶבְיוֹן ʼebyôwn, [pronounced eb-yone’]}, that is, “a beggar man”. David is casting himself before God, seeking the glory of God. We as His children need to do the same. May God touch your hearts with His Word! God is our Portion forever. Amen and Amen!

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My People Have …

Posted on April 25, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Daniel Tseng on Unsplash

Jeremiah 2:11-13 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

The Serpent Entices Us To Trade Value For Vanity

Illustrate: Before the service, make up some slips of paper with $100 on it. When starting the service, use these slips to make the sermon point: “Do you remember that old game show ‘Let’s Make A Deal’. During the original show Monty Hall would entice people, giving them something to start, and then tempting them to switch what they had – the thing with obvious value – for something hidden under a box or behind a curtain. Do you remember? Well, let’s play ‘Let’s Make A Deal’. Does anyone have a $10 bill? If you do, hold it up. Now, I hold in my hand what I “believe” to be a hundred dollar bill. I “feel” that it’s a hundred dollar bill. I “identify” this as a hundred dollar bill. Who would like to make a little money today? If you’ll give me that ten dollar bill, I’ll give you this note that I “believe – feel – identify” to be a hundred dollars. That’s a deal! Let’s make a deal!”

Only the foolish would exchange their real money for this slip of paper I have in my hand. And yet, this is what humans have done from the beginning of creation. When God put Adam in the Garden of Eden,

God gave Adam a garden that needed no weeding, a wife that needed no clothing, and an animal kingdom that was under his direction. God gave Adam the greatest thing of all. Adam had a personal relationship with his Creator.

But God told Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Adam had everything. Most especially, Adam was God’s Child by creation. Adam represented God on the earth. If God is King (and He is), Adam was the Prince. Adam named the animals (Genesis 2:19-20), and Adam and Eve were told:

Genesis 1:28-29 … Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Adam and Eve were given rule over all the earth. “They were both naked … and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). They were stewards of all creation in God’s stead. What happened? The Serpent (a picture of Satan – see Revelation 12:9 & 20:2) came into Eden and, like Monty Hall, offered Adam something in place of what he already had. Adam took the bait. He switched a ten dollar bill for a figment of his imagination hundred dollar bill. Adam didn’t just lose Eden. Adam didn’t just lose the world. Adam lost his relationship with God. Adam traded his relationship with God for something worthless.

We repeat this pattern over and over.

In the Book of Jeremiah, the Prophet is speaking to a nation (Israel), warning them that destruction is coming. Last time we were in this Book, we were in chapter one. There God gave Jeremiah two visions. He had the vision of:

Jeremiah 1:11 … a rod of an almond tree

This symbolized that God was watching His people, and would “hasten My Word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:12). What God promises, He does. When Adam ate that which was forbidden, Adam immediately died – that is – lost his relationship with his Creator. This was what God promised. This is what God would do. God will bring a rod to His people if they will not repent. The second vision God gives Jeremiah is:

Jeremiah 1:13 … a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

A whistling tea kettle is pointing northward. God will use the nations of Babylon and Assyria to punish His people for refusing to repent. God said that – using these nations:

Jeremiah 1:16 I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.

Punishment will come to God’s people. God is not speaking to the lost. God is not warning the lost. God is warning His people. God is not addressing the lost. He said:

Jeremiah 2:11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

He is comparing His nation, His people to the other nations of the world. The other nations, the nations filled with lost people, do not change their gods, though their gods are but idols, the creation of their hands.

The lost have always created gods to follow after.

The lost followers of Moloch and Baal do not trade in their gods, but sacrifice to them. The lost followers of the gods of evolution, abortion {so called “women’s reproductive rights”}, of wokeness will not change their gods. An article by Michael Vlahos published in Humanitas (volume XXXIV Nos 1-2 2021) states:

“What does it mean to be woke? First and foremost, “woke” is a religious signal that you have heard the Good News and Seen the Light. Awakening means both witnessing revealed truth and experiencing spiritual transformation. Today this has taken the form of a collective enunciation: Of a new national church, reformed and transformed, to replace the original American sect, which is wicked and corrupted. … In simple, practical terms, the Church of Woke is pledged to the destruction of Racism, Patriarchy, and Heteronormativity.”

This darkness has crept into churches all across America. Certainly as believers in Christ we do not affirm racism. We believe that “God is love” (1 John 4:7-8) does not just apply to one race, but to all peoples regardless of color. Jesus said:

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus came and gave His life to us regardless as to race. Racism is a direct contradiction to the Gospel. But what of what wokeism calls “Patriarchy, and Heteronormativity”? The Bible is clearly patriarchal.

God is called Father, not Mother.
The first created & commanded was Adam, not Eve.
Sin entered the world because of Adam’s disobedience – not Eve’s.
Romans 5:12 .. by one MAN sin entered the world, and death by sin
The FATHER of faith is a MAN (Romans 4:11-12, 16)
Sin’s solution was that one Man had to die for the sinner.
Romans 5:19 .. by the obedience of JESUS shall many be made right
The MAN is to lead in the marriage (Ephesians 5:22-24)
The MAN is to lead in the Church (1 Timothy 3:2, 12)

The Bible is not only patriarchal, but it is Heteronormative. The Church’s Founder Jesus Christ affirmed proper sexuality by quoting the Bible (Genesis 1:27):

Matthew 19:4-6 {Jesus} answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

What was God’s design in creation? What does the Scripture – and Jesus – say? God made them “male and female”. God designed humanity from this template. There are but TWO GENDERS according to Scripture. The “man … shall cleave to his wife”. The male has the pronoun “his”. The sexuality is Heteronormative. The god of wokism says this is not true – but God in His Word affirms it to be true.

Unbelievers will not leave their false gods. They stick to the darkness. But God says:

Jeremiah 2:11 … but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

God’s people are facing destruction in Jeremiah’s day because they have “changed their glory for that which doth not profit”. What is the “glory” of the Kingdom of God? It is God Himself. God never allowed His Old Testament people to make a statue or an idol to bow down to. He commanded His people:

Exodus 20:2-5 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

The lost world could make idols to bow down to, man made things to worship, but not God’s people. God was the glory of His people. God did direct His Old Covenant people to make something called “The Ark of the Covenant”. This “Ark” was a box that held the Ten Commandments, some Manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded” (Hebrews 9:4). These three things symbolize the truth that God’s people are given – because of God – His Word, His Sustenance, and His Life. The Ark, a box made of acacia wood overlaid with gold, had for it’s lid a “Mercy Seat”, an altar where blood was sprinkled once a year to cover the sins of God’s people. This Mercy Seat was the only place in the world where sin could be covered or atoned for in the sight of God (see Leviticus 16).

The Ark of the Covenant represented the person of God. Specifically, the Ark of the Covenant represented the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).

The Prophet Simeon said of Jesus:

Luke 2:30-32 mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Jesus is the “glory” of God’s people. God became Man …

John 1:14 … and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

C.H. Spurgeon preached:

“Now, the true Israel, which are spiritually the church of Christ, are said, according to the text, to be the Lord’s people. “The glory of thy people Israel.” Briefly let me remind you, my fellow believers, of the ties which make us the Lord’s. Are we not his tonight by his eternal choice? “You only have I known of all the nations of the earth.” The eternal Father has selected us from amongst the ruins of the fall, and given us into the hands of Christ that we may be his portion, his bride, his jewels, “according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world.” We are Christ’s next by redemption. He has redeemed us from among men by a special and particular redemption which is peculiar to ourselves. A price has been paid for us, an effectual price, which will not permit for a moment that the objects so purchased shall ever be lost. “Ye are not your own, ye are bought with a price.” The saints are redeemed from among men. Thus are you Christ’s by double bonds — the gift of the Father, the purchase of his own blood. The Father gave you to Jesus, and none shall pluck you out of his almighty hands. You are his, too, this night by conquest. You admit it. He has struggled with your sins and overcome them. The Spirit of the living God has taken you, as it were, like a lamb from the jaws of the lion. You were led captives by the devil, but Christ met the devil and overcame him in terrific duel, and you, the once willing captives of the powers of darkness, are now Christ’s portion made free and blessed. You are now the possession of your Conqueror, for he took you out of the hand of the enemy with his sword and with his bow. You belong to Christ as the spoil which he has won from death and hell.”

Jesus Christ is the glory of God’s Kingdom.
Jesus Christ is the Glory of His people.

As the Ark had the Ten Commandments, we who are in God’s Kingdom through Christ have His Commandments.

• We have the Bible that Jesus affirmed. Jesus frequently referred to the Old Testament Scriptures by saying “It is WRITTEN” (Matthew 4:4, 6-7, 10; Matthew 21:13; Matthew 26:24, 31; Mark 7:6; 9:12-13; 14:21; Luke 7:27; 19:46; et al.)
• We have the writings of the Apostles that Jesus APPOINTED. Of the Church we are told:

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The foundation that the Kingdom of God is built upon is not man made doctrines, but the writings of the Apostles and Prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself the Chief Cornerstone. We obey His command. Jesus said:

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

What are Christ’s commandments? They are in this Book. One of His Chief Commandments is:

John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

We are commanded of God to love God FIRST and FOREMOST, but to love one another SACRIFICIALLY as Jesus SACRIFICIALLY loved us.

As the Ark had Aaron’s Rod that budded, we who are Christ’s by faith have eternal life. Those who possess eternal life are to keep God’s commandments (Matthew 19:18-21) while following Jesus. We are to walk with God. Period.

Heaven Shudders At The Evil We Lightly Pursue

Jeremiah 2:12-13 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

God will bring judgment on His people – His Kingdom – if they walk away from a RIGHT relationship with Him. Israel did this in the Old Testament. The Church throughout America is doing this in the New Testament.

We are to do everything we do FOR GOD.
We are to do everything we do FOR JESUS.
We are to do everything we do in THE SPIRIT’S POWER.
We are to do all that we do FOR GOD’S GLORY.

Israel forgot this. To those who are saved,

1 Corinthians 6:20 … For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Christians, we do not belong to ourselves. We belong to God. Everything we visibly do should be for the intent of glorifying our Owner. God told Pharaoh:

Exodus 5:1 … Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Exodus 7:16 (& Exodus 8:1) … Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness

That which God has purchased is to glorify God. We live to serve God, not ourselves. If we wish to be blessed, we are to seek to serve God FIRST. What did Jesus say?

Matthew 6:33 … seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Seek FIRST God’s Kingdom. Seek FIRST His glory. Seek first to DO what God has said to do. Seek FIRST to “hear Jesus’ sayings, and DO them” (Matthew 7:24-25). This is where the blessing is.

When we turn away from God’s Word, from what He has said and recorded for our benefit, we commit “two evils”. By our actions we say that God’s Word is not true to us, and by our actions we believe we can make a better way than God has. This is arrogant. God says that our efforts apart from His Word are, “broken cisterns, that can hold no water”. A “cistern” is a man made hole put in the ground or in the rock meant to catch rainwater run off. It may satisfy for a moment – but in time it drains out, and you are thirsty once more.

What does God promise the believer in Christ? He promises righteousness and peace. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 85:7-10 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. 8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Righteousness – true righteousness – is a gift from God. Your righteousness is imputed or credited to your spiritual account because of what God did for you on Calvary. Once you grasp and rest in this salvation, you are freed from the world just as Israel was freed from Egypt. You are not freed to satisfy yourself, but you are free to love God, and love one another as Christ has loved us. We live to please our Lord.

Romans 5:1 … being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

We live our lives FOR JESUS. Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We are – those of us who have received Jesus as Savior – UNDER CHRIST’S COMMAND. We are under His YOKE. We do as Jesus directs. We follow Jesus. We love Jesus. We TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO LOVE JESUS.

Illustrate: A little girl was on her lunch break, and reading her Bible. One of her friends came up. “What are you reading?” her friend asked. “My Bible”. Her friend asked, “Why are you reading the Bible? Isn’t that boring?” The little girl said, “I’ve loved reading the Bible since I found my name in it”. Her friend said, “You found your name in it? Where?” The little girl read:

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners …

She said, “There’s my name – ‘sinners’. If you are not ‘sinners’, I certainly am! And Jesus came to save me!”

We are all born flawed, broken. But God came into the world to redeem whosoever would heed His call. Once we heed His call, we cling to Jesus day and night. We do not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1), but hold on to Jesus as He holds on to us. We do not trade the gift of God – His Person – for our temporal pleasures and for our selfishness. Salvation is a process.

You are SAVED when you call upon the name of Jesus.
You are DAILY SAVED as you continue to seek Christ’s face.
You are ULTIMATELY SAVED if your faith overcomes in Him.

Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Do you belong to God? Do you belong to Christ’s Kingdom? If not, today is the day of salvation. Call upon Jesus Christ, believing He gave Himself for you, and you shall be saved. “For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). May God touch your hearts with His Word. Amen and Amen.

Posted in Jeremiah, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Without …

Posted on April 24, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Max Muselmann on Unsplash

Today we shall focus on texts from Hebrews 9 through Hebrews 12. To start, please turn with me in your Bibles to:

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Without The Blood, There Is No Salvation

Word Study: The word translated “without” is the Greek χωρίς chōrís, [pronounced kho-rece’], which means “separately or apart from”.

I believe every person who is honest will admit that we are all broken. We are not broken because God made us this way. We are broken because of Adam. God gave Adam a clear set of rules to obey – and he broke them. So God gave Adam what He promised to give him. “The day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die”.

It was sin that caused God to send Adam and Eve outside the Garden of Eden. But before God sent them out into a sin influenced world, God shed the blood of animals to cover Adam and Eve’s sinful act of rebellion. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21).

That poor animal had nothing to do with man’s fall, yet that animal was sacrificed. It’s blood was shed, and the shed blood provided a covering for man’s sin. “The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11, ESV). The blood of the innocent animal was slain from that time forward. When the Law was given to Israel on Mount Sinai, the Law told Israel to make sacrifices in first the Tabernacle (the mobile Temple), and then later in the Temple.

Animal Sacrifices Were Temporary: To explain how offensive sin is to God, the Lord for many years gave humanity the animal sacrifices. The center of the Tabernacle or the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy of Holies. At this Holy of Holies the High Priest made sacrifice for the sins of the people. God “winked at” (Acts 17:30) sin, giving Israel a temporary atonement or covering for sin in the animal sacrifices. The Gentiles never made these sacrifices, but the Jews did. The Tabernacle or Temple was the only place that forgiveness of sin could be granted. The Temple and the Altar of the Ark were given to Israel to show us how sin horribly separates us from God. But Israel did not understand.

Early in His ministry our Lord Jesus chased the money changers and the sellers out of the Temple (John 2:14-16), causing the Jewish Leaders to ask:

“What sign do You show us for doing these things?”
(John 2:18, ESV)

What they were asking Jesus for was authority. They were asking, “By what authority do you do these things, running the sellers out of the Temple. Show us your identification. Show us your right to vote. You have no right to do this!” Jesus replied simply,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
(John 2:19, ESV)

The Jews thought that Jesus was talking about the Temple. They said, “It took 46 years to build this Temple – and You think you can raise it up if it’s destroyed?” But Jesus was talking about Himself. Jesus was foretelling His death, and His resurrection. Jesus would die on Calvary, and would rise from the grave in three days. Jesus would chiefly be executed at the request of the priests and the Pharisees, who had forgotten why the Temple and the Altar existed.

God would eventually destroy the Temple because of their failure. As Jesus and His disciples passed by the Temple one day, the disciples remarked …

“Look, {Jesus}, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” (Mark 13:1, ESV)

Our Jesus replied, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” WHY WOULD THE TEMPLE BE TORN DOWN?

Because of sin.
Because the Messiah – the Lamb of God – had come.

As humans, we minimize that which the Bible calls “sin”. We shouldn’t, but we do. Sin is to God as poison ivy is to us. God despises sin. His nature is sin free. God hates sin. Sin is anything that runs contrary to God’s design.

Sin brings darkness. Sin brings suffering. The Psalmist said of God, “You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You” (Psalm 5:4). God hates sin because God is holy, without sin. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). Sin is to God as:

Putrefying sores (Isaiah 1:6)
Heavy burdens (Psalm 38:4)
Defiling filth (Titus 1:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1)
Binding debts (Matthew 6:12-15)
Darkness (1 John 1:6)
Scarlet stains (Isaiah 1:18)

God hates sin. Sin calls for death, separation from God. God despises sin because it causes His creation (us) to be far from His embrace. Sin separates us from God (Colossians 1:21). Evil is sin’s outworking.

BEFORE THE CROSS the ONLY place you could receive forgiveness for sins was at the Temple.

BEFORE THE CROSS the ONLY way you could receive forgiveness of sins was by sacrifice of animals via the priests of Israel.

What Animal Sacrifices Teach Us

Only by the shedding of blood is there remission of sin. Why was it shedding of animal blood? Because a sinner cannot pay for the sins of another sinner. Man is fallen. We are all broken, all sinners. Innocent animals were sacrificed to cover man’s sins, but this covering was temporary and insufficient.

A perfect Man was needed to make proper payment for our sins. There were no perfect Men, so God made one!

The broken cannot make a perfect Man – so God decided to do so. God Himself entered into His creation as Jesus Christ. The Book of Hebrews tells us that it is only Jesus that can make purification for sin (Hebrews 1:3). It is only Jesus Who – among all humans – entered this world without sin. It is Jesus that the Father said,

Hebrews 1:8 (ESV) “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom”

Jesus Christ is God the Son, Who came into this world to save us from our sins. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 2:17 {Jesus} … had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation {to COVER} for the sins of the people.

Before Jesus came, the only means by which sin could be covered was by animal sacrifice. Jesus entered this world through a virgin, born of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was, is, and will always be without sin. Jesus came to be both the High Priest of the believer as well as the Lamb of God that takes away sin (John 1:29). The Scripture says:

Hebrews 4:14-15 (ESV) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Under the old Temple system of the Law the blood of animals was offered to cover sin. But when Jesus came, He came – a perfect Man – to give Himself for our sins. We are told:

Hebrews 9:12-14 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood {Jesus} entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

It is the Blood that caused God to pass over judging and condemning people. He told Israel, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”. The blood of the animal represented a temporary covering for sin. But when God became Perfect Man, and yielded Himself up for our sins, faith in Him makes a permanent covering for our sins. What does the Scripture say?

Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

It is the blood that saves us. It is your faith in the blood of Christ, His once for all sacrifice, that covers your sins so that we might “serve the living God”. How do we know that

1 John 1:7 (ESV) … the Blood of Jesus, {God’s} Son, cleanses us from all sin

? … We know this because Jesus, truly dying, rose again from the grave. Jesus told the Jews, “Tear THIS Temple down, and I will raise it up in three days”. We saw that before. Jesus did this. He rose from the grave.

The Campus Ministry formerly known as “Campus Crusade for Christ” notes:

“Jesus made numerous appearances to His followers. He comforted the mourners outside His tomb on Sunday morning. On the Road to Emmaus, He explained things about Himself from the Old Testament. Later, He ate in their presence and invited them to touch Him. Scripture records that Jesus was seen by more than 500 at one time. Some may argue that a few people could have agreed to a deception, but how can one explain the collaboration of 500 people?”

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that paid the penalty for my sin, and your sin. If you do not receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believing He is the one and only way to have your sins covered – then you are under the condemnation of God.

You Must Believe (Have Faith In)
The Lord Jesus To Be Saved

The first text we studied was …

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Word Study: where the word translated “without” is the Greek χωρίς chōrís, [pronounced kho-rece’], which means “separately or apart from”. The next time we examine this “without” (chōrís) is in the text of:

Hebrews 11:6 But WITHOUT (chōrís) faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The Blood shed by Jesus was shed for us all – but if you do not receive this truth by faith then you cannot be saved. “WITHOUT (chōrís) faith it is impossible to please {God}”. God requires the guilty to be punished. His holiness demands this. But God will allow an Innocent to take our place. The Innocent that takes our place is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s Only Begotten Son. That phrase, “Only Begotten”, means that Jesus, though a Member of the Godhead, lowered Himself to be born into this, His creation. God became Man for one purpose.

To die for our sin.

As God, Jesus is pre-existent with God the Father. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word WAS GOD” (John 1:1-2). Jesus is equal to God in all aspects, as He is God. But “the Word BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US” (John 1:14).

God became Perfect Man, with the intent of bringing
Imperfect Man to God.

Jesus Christ is perfect and “WITHOUT SIN” (Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 9:28). To be saved you must trust what the Scripture declares of Jesus. The Evangelist Billy Graham said,

“Faith is believing and receiving what God has revealed
in His Word, the Bible.”

Though we are fallen creatures, Jesus is NOT. Jesus Christ came to save sinners. We must have faith in Him, calling upon Him and Him alone to be saved. Jesus Christ and the Cross of Calvary replaces the animal sacrifices and the Temple and Ark of God. Jesus Christ dying on the Cross replaces the lamb that was slain. Jesus Christ is the:

“Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”
(John 1:29, 36)

There is no other Lamb. There is no other way. There is no other Messiah. There is no other truth. The Psalmist, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah Jesus Christ, wrote:

Psalm 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

When Jesus walked this earth, where was He often found? Among sinners. The Pharisees could not understand this. They asked, “Why does your Master eat with publicans and sinners?” Why would He Who is sinless spend so much time among sinners? Jesus told the Pharisees:

Matthew 9:13 … go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Jesus did not come to this earth to enable sinners to sin. Jesus came to this earth to make payment to God for the sinners sin, and to lead the sinner “to repentance”.

Faith – genuine faith – is both a COMING TO
and a STAYING WITH God.

What does our text say?

Hebrews 11:6 But WITHOUT (chōrís) faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, AND that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is not a temporal thing. Faith is a reclining on God, an absolute reliance on His promises. Jesus Christ is “a friend of publicans and sinners”. He doesn’t want any to stay in sin – for sin is horrendous! But Jesus “came to call SINNERS to REPENTANCE” (Mark 2:17). What wonderful news the Gospel is. We are told:

Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

God does not leave sinners in the sins. No, but God causes a REPENTANCE from sin to those who believe. One of my favorite Bible stories is that of Zacchaeus, a tax collector. His story is only found in the Gospel of Luke. The Bible tells us that Jesus saw Zacchaeus up in a tree, and called to him:

Luke 19:5-6 Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And (Zacchaeus) made haste, and came down, and received {Jesus} joyfully.

This is faith, saving faith. Zacchaeus’ sinful lifestyle choices caused him to be shunned, and up a tree. But Jesus called Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus “received {Jesus} joyfully”. Embracing Jesus, Zacchaeus said:

Luke 19:8 Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Salvation – genuine salvation – is always accompanied with repentance, a change of heart. Whereas Zacchaeus once worshiped money, now he worships Jesus. He loves Jesus more than he loves sin. And Jesus said:

Luke 19:9-10 This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

A true “son of Abraham” is the person who exhibits the faith of Abraham. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Romans 4:3, For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. .. 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 11 {Abraham is} … the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Salvation comes by faith in God’s provision of salvation. Abraham believed God, and his faith in God was counted to him as righteousness. Beloved, you must believe.

You must receive Jesus Christ as the LAMB of God.
You must receive Jesus Christ as the LORD of life.
You receive the LORD and the LAMB by faith.

Genuine Salvation Is Always Accompanied
With External Evidence

Word Study: Where else do we see the word translated “without”? {The Greek χωρίς chōrís, [pronounced kho-rece’], which means “separately or apart from”}. It is found in:

Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

On the day that you understood the need for the Blood, and have called upon Jesus and Jesus alone for salvation, God the Holy Spirit does a work in your life. He brings the believer in Christ to a place where we are “children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). We are adopted into the Family of God by the Holy Spirit (). And – listen Beloved – our outward actions and works begin to be in accordance with the holiness of God. The only Apostle to die of old age was John. The Apostle wrote:

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

James, the stepbrother of Christ put it this way:

James 2:20, 26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? .. 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If you are saved by faith in Christ, you walk in LIGHT, NOT IN DARKNESS. You follow after Jesus. You live your life to please your Heavenly Father. Billy Graham said:

“I cannot work my way to Heaven. After I receive Jesus as Savior, I prove my faith with my works. … After I’m saved, I’m sinning every minute of every day I’m not working for Jesus …”

There are many on local Church rolls all around the world who profess to be children of God, saved by faith in Jesus. And yet, they walk in darkness. Does not the Scripture say:

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

If you are saved, truly saved, your life will show it. You will walk separate from the world. You will shun sin. When you fall into sin, you will repent of sin quickly, and get back in step with Jesus. You will love God and love others. Jesus said:

John 8:12 … I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

God the Holy Spirit does not make stillborn children. If you walk apart from God as a believer, God will chasten you until you repent. If you do not repent, you may find yourselves meeting death prematurely. Christians are to walk in the light of God and His Word. If you are a Christian, you have this promise of God:

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

“As Jesus is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). The Christian belongs to God. The Christian is purchased by the Blood of Jesus. The Christian is to walk in the light. If you are indeed saved, your works will show it. You will love God with your all. You will love your neighbor as yourself. You will lover your fellow Christian sacrificially. This is the truth of the Scripture. This is the Word of the Gospel.

May God the Holy Spirit move in your lives, drawing you to His side this very day. Amen and Amen!

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The Apostle’s Prayer

Posted on April 24, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Samuel Martins on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 13. Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, Revelation … the 9th book from the end of the Bible. As Wednesday night is “Prayer Meeting” night, we have been looking at various prayers in the Bible. The early Apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). With those words Jesus gave us what we today call “The Lord’s Prayer”. Though the “Lord’s Prayer” is a beautiful model of prayer, there are many prayers in the Bible. The Bible is given to us to grow us as believers. The Apostle said in

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect (ἄρτιος ártios, [pronounced ar’-tee-os] COMPLETE or MATURE AS A BELIEVER), thoroughly furnished unto all good works (we are ORDERED to do GOOD WORKS – Ephesians 2:10).

God gave the Scripture as the means by which the Christian grows into spiritual maturity. As the Word of God increases in the soul of the believer and in the life of the Church, the Gospel spreads. When “the Word of God increased … the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly (Acts 6:7). When Herod the King was destroyed by the angel of the Lord, because he gave not God the glory, “the Word of God grew and multiplied” (Acts 12:23-24). God’s Word grows us.

Are you in Hebrews 13? We will look at:

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

This is one of five prayers found in the Book of Hebrews.

What is interesting about the Book of Hebrews is that – unlike the other Apostolic writings – this Book does not tell us who it’s Author is.

Yes, I know God wrote the Book. The Apostle Peter tells us that the “prophecy came not by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The Church has long held that the Book of Hebrews was written by an Apostle, but God never told us which Apostle wrote the Book. God had a reason for this.

The early Church was persecuted for following Jesus, persecuted by both Gentiles as well as Jewish leaders. By masking the writer of this Book, God protected him from attacks from Judea and from his own family.

What can we learn from this prayer?

1. A prayer does not have to be LONG to be effective – but it mustglorify God. There are many short prayers in Scripture that God answered. There is the Prayer of Peter, when he was walking on water and started sinking:

“Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)

Jesus answered that prayer, for He reached out His hand to catch and keep Peter from drowning. There is the Prayer of Blind Bartimaeus, who asked Jesus,

“Lord, let me receive my sight.” (Mark 10:51)

Or the Prayer of the Ten Lepers,

“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13)

Jesus Christ is LORD. He is MASTER. The Bible says:

Philippians 2:8-10 And being found in fashion as a man, {Jesus} humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, … 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is LORD. This is the name that the Father has given to the Son. LORD. This is the name that the Spirit acknowledges is Christ’s. HE IS LORD. When we confess Him LORD, we give glory to God the Father.

Our prayers must glorify God – not ourselves. It must glorify His limitless Grace, and our unbounding weakness. When the Pharisee prayed in the Temple he prayed:

Luke 18:11-12 … God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

The Pharisee glorified himself in the prayer – not God. The Publican, however prayed:

“God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18:13)

We can pray and ask many things of God – children often ask their parents for things which they ought not have, things which the loving parent will never grant. And yet, God does not mind our asking it – though He will not grant it if it does not glory Him and benefit the supplicant. In the Apostle’s prayer today, he prays “to {God} be glory for ever and ever”. Every prayer should glorify God! One of the shortest prayers in the Bible is one our Jesus prayed in:

John 12:28 Father, glorify Thy Name.

The Father answered Jesus immediately. He said, “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again”. The prayer that glorifies God will be answered, for God will glorify His Name.

2. Prayer that God honors must be true to the teachings of the Scripture. God will not honor prayer that does not honor His Word. Notice how the Apostle weaves Scripture truth into his prayer.

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant..

There is a lot of Bible in this prayer! Our God is “the God of peace”. It is God Who initiates peace between us and Him – though He Himself is the aggrieved party. God made peace with us by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to die for our sins. The Apostle wrote earlier:

Hebrews 13:12-13 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

God “sanctif[ied]” or set us apart from the lost world by shedding of “His own blood”. Jesus willing “suffered without the gate”. This means He stepped out of His comfort zone, and went outside the gates of Jerusalem to a garbage dump called Golgotha to make payment for our sins. Jesus went to a place outside of the civilized world to give Himself for us. We should be willing to remain sanctified or set apart from the lost world, as Jesus was and is.

The shedding of blood “without the gate” is what makes us right with God. We read:

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have “peace with God” not because we are worthy, but because Jesus Christ took our condemnation on Himself.

He bore the blows that we should have received for sin. We honor God by receiving Christ as Savior.

John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Those without Christ cannot pray and expect anything from God – unless their prayer is to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. When we affirm what God has declared, that

1 Peter 2:24 … {Jesus} Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.

Jesus died for us. But He not only died, but rose from the grave.

Hebrews 13:20 the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus

It is God the Holy Spirit Who caused Christ to become incarnate – made of flesh. The Angel said to Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). The Spirit gave Jesus flesh. The FATHER resurrected Jesus from the dead. In Acts 2:24, Peter preached “God raised Jesus from the dead”. And we are told in

Galatians 1:1 … God the Father, who raised {Jesus} from the dead …

The Bible also says that Jesus raised Himself from the dead (John 2:9; 10:18). God raised Christ from the dead. Jesus is the acceptable sacrifice for our sins. But Jesus is also:

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant..

the “great shepherd of the sheep” as well as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus Christ is our Sacrifice, but He is also our Savior and Lord. He lives to lead us as His people. We are saved by “the blood of the everlasting covenant”. Jesus as perfect Man died for us. Jesus as perfect Man paid for our sins. Jesus as perfect Man was raised from the grave. But Jesus as GOD leads us. His Blood is eternal. Because of Christ, we who are saved are in an “everlasting covenant”.

3. Prayer that God honors brings requests according to God’s will. We read:

Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Word Study: The verb rendered “Make you perfect” is the Greek καταρτίζω katartízō, {pronounced kat-ar-tid’-zo}. It doesn’t mean to make perfect, but to bring to a state of usefulness. We see the verb used in

Matthew 4:21 …. mending {katartízō} their nets

for fishermen restoring their nets to what they originally were meant to be. The word is used by Paul in:

1 Corinthians 1:10 … I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together {katartízō} in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Where the Church is called into unity in Christ.

The word {katartízō} means to be restored to what you should have been, to be completed, or made fit or able.

Believers are called to work TOGETHER for the glory of God. God’s people are called to do all of God’s will, doing good toward God and those around us for the glory of Christ’s Kingdom. We do not belong to this world, but to Eternity. Again we read:

Hebrews 13:14-16 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By {Jesus} therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

The Apostle’s Prayer is that the Church not just HEAR the Word of God, but DO it, knowing that – though it be unpopular on this earth – we do not belong to this earth.

The commentator Arthur W. Pink writes:

“…a man cannot be a good Christian without doing God’s will. If it be God’s will that he should restrain from an act or practice, he dare not proceed to do it: see Jeremiah 35:6; Acts 4:19. On the other hand, if it be the revealed mind of God that he should do something, he dare not omit it, no matter how it cross his inclination or fleshly interests: “To him that knoweth to do good, and doth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). It is not enough that we thoroughly understands the will of God: we must do it; and the more we do it, the better shall we understand: John 7:17.”

The Apostle prayed that the Church would learn to DO God’s will – and in so doing, we learn more of God. Jesus said:

John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

The Apostle is praying that Christ’s Church would be busy to do our Lord’s Will. He prayed that God would …

Hebrews 13:21 Make you {complete} in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;

that the Church would work together to do good works as God defines good works, and that every work of the Church would be “well pleasing in his sight”. We are called to please our Lord in our individual lives. We are called to please the Lord by the outward works we produce for Him. We are reminded daily that our God is the Silent Witness of all we do or don’t do. The Scripture says:

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

As His Church, as His People, let us live …

1 Thessalonians 2:4 … not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Let us …

Colossians 1:10 … walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God

God expects our loving labor for Him. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 14:6). The faith that saved is is a “faith that worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6). The Apostle’s prayer is that the Church BE the Church, BE the Lighthouse of God in a dark and doomed world. While there is life in us, let us live for our God, serving Him “acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).

May God touch our hearts to do so, especially in these dark days of America. Amen and Amen!

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Prayer Makes Us Like God’s Own Heart

Posted on April 19, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

As this is Wednesday night and our focus is “Prayer Meeting”, I have taken to giving a devotional that focuses on Biblical Prayers. Tonight we are looking at a prayer of David found in Psalm 16. God said of David:

Acts 13:22 (ESV) … I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.

Why did God call David “a man after my heart”? Was it because David was flawless? No, for David as King allowed sin to entice him into evil. Everyone knows of David’s murdering of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:9-10), so that he could take Bathsheba to be his wife. David already had a wife, King Saul’s younger daughter Michal (1 Samuel 18:20-27), when he pursued Bathsheba. While David was a fugitive, running from King Saul, he married Abigail (1 Samuel 25:39-41), the widow of a surly shepherd named Nabal. David also “took Ahinoam of Jezreel” (1 Samuel 25:43) to be his wife. David also married “Maacah, the daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur, the mother of Absalom” as well as “Haggith”, the mother of Adonijah (1 Chronicles 3:2). To say that David had a “complicated” family life is an understatement!

David was flawed, but David pursued God in prayer. God was the true Love of His life.

Is God The True Love Of Your Life?

Psalm 16:1-2 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. 2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

Of all the relationships David pursued, he pursued God most of all. David had a deep, personal relationship with God. David saw our God as the true Source of all goodness.

God is indeed the Source of all that is good. The Bible tells us that at the end of the sixth day of creation:

Genesis 1:31 … God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God is the Source of goodness. God made everything “very good”. It is humans that make things less than good or bad. The stepbrother of Jesus writes:

James 1:13-17Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God is good. He is the Source of Good. Temptation is a desire to do evil. Temptation does not come from God.

God tries our faith, allowing hard things in our lives to grow us to be closer to Him. But God never, never brings temptation to evil.

God is incapable of tempting us to evil – this is what that old serpent, the Devil (Revelation 12:9; 20:2; Genesis 3:1-2) does. He and his minions whisper lies and deception into our hearts through outside sources, tempting our hearts to turn away from God. As David started his prayer, he prayed:

Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

Word Study: The word translated “Preserve” is the Hebrewשָׁמַר shâmar, [pronounced shaw-mar’], which means “to take charge of, to guard, to watch and protect, to restrain or keep me from, to put a hedge or a fence around”. David is asking God to do what Adam did not do. The Bible says:

Genesis 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep (shâmar) it

Had Adam guarded the Garden, and chased the snake off of it, we would not be in the sinful mess we are in today. David asks God to guard his soul, to keep him – flawed as he is – from going off the rails of righteousness. David tells our Father God:

vs 1 for in Thee do I put my trust

David has “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). He does not trust in his strength or in his abilities, but casts all his hope upon God his Savior. David prays:

Psalm 16:2 … O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

David prays unto the Lord, “Thou art my Lord”. As he prays, he is utterly surrendered unto God. David first says,

“Thou”

The ancient worshipers of other gods did not believe that their god personally cared about their lives. The God of Israel – the God we serve – was very relational. From the Garden of Eden to where the Lord walked with Adam “in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8), to God’s personal contact with Abram, the father of faith (Genesis 12:1-3), we see our God wants to have a personal relationship with His creation. This was not so in pagan religions. In his book “Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament” by John H. Walton, he writes (page 145):

“In a well known Assyrian prayer entitled A Prayer To Every God, the worshiper is seeking to appease a deity from anger over an offense that the worshiper has presumably committed. {In this prayer, the worshiper} does not know which god is angry, and he does not know of anything he has done wrong. … {he prays hopelessly} “Although I am constantly looking for help, no one takes me by the hand; when I weep, they {the gods} do not come to my side. I utter laments, but no one hears me; I am troubled, I am overwhelmed: I cannot see. Man is dumb, he knows nothing … Whether he is committing sin or doing good, he does not even know ..”

This is very different from the God of the Scripture. Our God is the Source of all good. But our God shares what is sinful, and what is right with us as His creation. We know what is right and wrong, what is light and darkness. We are called to follow our God in the Light, in the revealed truth that He has given us in His Word. David prays:

Psalm 16:2 … O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

Since God is the Source of all that is good, our goodness does not benefit God. As believers, we are not called to do good because it helps God out. King David got to thinking one night, and had a conversation with Nathan the Prophet:

2 Samuel 7:1-3 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; 2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. 3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the Lord is with thee.

God had been so good to David and Israel that he wanted to build God a house, a place of worship. The “Ark of God” or the “Ark of the Covenant” (Exodus 25:10-22) symbolically represented the Presence of God with His people. Within the Ark were the tablets of the Law, which reminded God’s people that it is the Lord – not man – Who establishes good and right. There was also a jar of manna which symbolized God’s provision for His people, as well as Aaron’s Rod that budded which proved that God can bring life out of death. This Ark of the Covenant resided in a tent, the Tabernacle. David’s thought was:

“God is so good to me – and to us as His people – that I want to do good to Him. I’ll build God a house to stay in.”

Nathan wasn’t against the idea initially, but God spoke to Nathan that night.

2 Samuel 7:5-13 (ESV) ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling. 7 In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’ 8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9 And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

God told David, “You want to build Me a house. I need no house. But I will build My people a House, and build your House. I will put One of your children on your Throne, to rule and reign forever”. This was a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ.

When we do good, it does not add to God, for God is all good. “Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to Thee”. We are called as His Children to do good, not because our doing good will add to God, but because our doing good is a source of OUR blessing.

Psalm 16:2-3 my goodness extendeth not to Thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

Doing good as God defines good blesses us. Doing bad as God defines evil hurts us. “My goodness extendeth not to Thee; 3 But to the saints that are in the earth”. Doing good blesses the Saints, those who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we DO GOOD, God blesses us. The Scripture says:

Psalm 34:14-17 (ESV) Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

We “do good” not because “good” saves us (for Jesus said “No one is good, except God alone” [Mark 10:18]), but because doing good preserves us.

We are to “do good” in a world that does bad, because “doing good” is blessed of Jesus. Jesus told us:

Luke 6:27-36 (ESV) … I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. … 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

As God does good, we are to do good. As God does good to the undeserving, we are to do good to the undeserving. This alone brings stability and light into this present darkness. The Apostle wrote:

1 Thessalonians 5:15 (ESV) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Galatians 6:10 (ESV) So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV) … brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

We who believe are to DO GOOD as God defines DOING GOOD. Why? Because it blesses us, it blesses our community, it blesses our nation. When people chase after false gods, they are not doing good, but evil. It is an evil thing to chase after an idol. An idol did not make this earth. An idol is “nothing at all” (1 Corinthians 8:1), and “there is no God but One, the God of Scripture”. An idol is a figment of the imagination.

Psalm 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

People say “there are many ways unto God”. That is absolutely untrue. There is but ONE WAY unto God, and that is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). God will not bless those who chase after false gods and goddesses. God will not honor worship that departs from His Biblical Word. God will not honor those who will not come to Him in faith, believing that Christ was sent to redeem us from all sin. Jesus Christ …

Titus 2:14 (ESV) … gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are ZEALOUS FOR GOOD WORKS …

Saved by faith in Christ, we are saved to do good as He defines good. We are to live our lives for Him Who loves us so.

Our Desire Should Always Be God Himself

Psalm 16:5-6 The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

The Puritan Preacher Jonathan Edwards preached (The True Christian’s Life a Journey Towards Heaven):

“God is the highest good of the reasonable creature. The enjoyment of Him is our proper happiness, and is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied.”

David said, “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup”. Many today are not content with their lives, because they are trying to find contentment within themselves, or through things. This does not bring contentment. The Apostle said:

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV) … I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

The Apostle found his portion in the God Who loved him, and loves us. When your portion is found in the dark sources of this world …

identity politics
gender dysphoria
sexual deviations
temporal blessings in things
mammon or the love of money
fame or power

…you will find in time that these things are but temporary satisfactions. The greatest satisfaction is to possess, and be possessed of God. If you’re not a possessor of and possessed of God, you get into weirdness and evil. Look at the headlines:

From ESPN: First Known Transgender Athlete Wins Championship

From National Review: {Supreme Court} Judge Refuses To Define “Woman” During Confirmation Hearing

From FOX: Biden Administration Endorses Transgender Youth Sex Change Operations

Evil is defined as that which is wrong as God defines wrong, but cloaks itself in rightness and blessing. God does not create evil – and God hates sin. The Scripture says:

1 John 1:5 (ESV) … God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Romans 2:4-6 (ESV) … do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works

Our America is going into deeper and darker evil because our citizens are seeking happiness in sin and self. Our Churches have abandoned the Gospel of Christ, teaching worldly “social justice” rather than love of God. The Apostle warns “those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury”.

God delays the punishment of sin, and gives one more day of life, because He is steadfast in His love toward His creation. He calls us out of darkness, and into His marvelous light. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 36:5-9 (ESV) Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. 7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! … 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

In God’s light, we see light. God – the Source of goodness – shows us the way to go. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s light gives us life, eternal life. “The God Who said ‘let light shine out of darkness’ has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Psalm 16:7-9 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

We who are saved by Grace through faith in Christ live for the Lord Who loves us. He is our portion. Our hope is in Him. Our God has conquered the grave. To those who love Him above all else, we will be with Him in glory. David closes with:

Psalm 16:10-11 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Word Study: This verse has been misinterpreted by many because of the King James translation. The word translated “hell” is the Hebrew שְׁאוֹל shᵉʼôwl, {pronounced sheh-ole}. When we hear the word “hell”, we think of the place of torment, where unbelievers in God go. We think of the rich man of Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:23, “in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments”. We think of what Jesus said of hell, that “it would be better to cut off a foot, than to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:45). David is not talking about the place of eternal punishment where the unbelieving go. David is speaking of the Grave. How do I know this? Because Peter preached this Psalm on the Day of Pentecost, and applied it to Jesus Christ Who rose from the dead (Acts 2:23-32). Jesus did not go to “hell”, but to the Grave. His body went into the tomb, but on the third day He was resurrected, and is alive forever more. The Apostle Paul also preached this text of Christ while in the Synagogue of Antioch in

Acts 13:35-37 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37 But {Jesus}, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Here is the good – no, the GRAND NEWS. For those who have believed on Jesus, they shall not suffer the corruption of the grave. Though we may die physically, because of Christ we shall live beyond the grave. For Jesus has promised:

John 11:25-26 (ESV) … “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

God is the Portion of those who believe in Jesus. Our health will decline, and circumstances in life may bring pain into our temporal lives. People may misuse and abuse us. But we are to do good regardless as to what others do – and cling to the Lord as David did. May God move your hearts to do so this very day. Amen and amen!

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Resurrection Changes Everything

Posted on April 19, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
Photo by Daniel Burka on Unsplash

Luke 24:1-12 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

I came across an article – entirely by chance – entitled “5 Founders Whose Businesses Cost Them Their Lives”. I read about:

  • The founder of Baskin-Robbins, Burt Baskin died of a heart attack at 54 years old. His son John said that Burt’s death was due to the very product he made. “He was a very big man who ate a lot of ice cream”, John said.
  • Another businessman, James Heselden the owner of the Segway Company (the two wheeled carts that you ride standing up), died when he drove his Segway off of a 30 foot cliff.
  • In 1914 a young chemical scientist named Sabin Arnold von Sochocky developed a paint made with radium that would glow in the dark. It was a boon for our military in World War I, for pilots and soldiers could now read the gauges and dials ion the dead of night. There was only one problem: Radium causes cancer. After killing 50 workers at the U.S. Radium Corporation, von Sochocky died of Radium injuries at just 45 years old.

People die. This is the nature of life. Founders of businesses die, founders of religions die. The founder of Islam, Muhammad died in 632 AD. The founder of the Indian Independence Movement, Mahatma Gandhi died from an assassin’s gun in 1948. People die. The Scripture says:

Hebrews 9:27 … it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment

Today we commemorate the death of another Founder, and we will celebrate His death by partaking of what we call “Communion” or “The Lord’s Table”. There is one big difference in the death of Christianity’s Founder and the death of all others.

Jesus didn’t stay dead!

Executed on a Roman Cross after several hours of brutal torture, Jesus’ death was not a mistake nor a miscarriage of justice. Jesus told His disciples:

John 10:15 … I lay down My life for the sheep {His people}

The Great Shepherd, Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be slandered and railroaded into an execution. But Jesus told us:

John 10:17 … I lay down My life, that I might TAKE IT AGAIN …

Jesus promised that – though He would die willingly on that terrible Cross – that death would not be able to hold Him. On the Day of Pentecost – some 50 days after Jesus rose from the Grave – Peter preached:

Acts 2:22-24 (NLT) People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. 24 But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip.

Death could not hold Jesus. Jesus told us:

Matthew 12:40 (ESV) For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus Christ died on that Cross so that we who believe in Him can have access to the Holy Father, Creator of all things. God the Father covered our sins by the death of Jesus. The Apostle says,

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) For our sake {God the Father} made {Jesus} to be sin who knew no sin, so that in {Christ} we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus is not dead. He died – but He rose again. The resurrection of Christ from death is a key truth in Christianity.

The Resurrection Changes Our View Of Death

Luke 24:1-3 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Very early in the morning on the first day of the week {Sunday} the Bible tells us that Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James along with other women (Luke 24:10) came to the tomb of our Lord Jesus. Jesus had been crucified on the day before a high Sabbath (John 19:31), three days and three nights before this moment. The women had hastily prepared His body for burial.

Some unbelievers claim that Jesus really didn’t die on the Cross, but just swooned and later revived. Yet the soldiers who crucified Jesus were experts in death. Before they allowed Jesus’ corpse to be taken down from the Cross, we read:

John 19:33-35 {the executioners} came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

When blood separates from the plasma or water in the blood it is sure proof that a person has died. Jesus was dead.

Joseph of Arimathaea a very wealthy follower of Christ sought out the governor Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. (John 19:38). He along with the influential Nicodemus,

John 19:39-40 … brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Jesus’ body was prepared hastily, before the sunset, for the High Sabbath of Passover was at hand (Luke 23:7-16). Once Jesus’ body was wrapped and laid in the Tomb, a stone was rolled over the mouth of that cave to seal it. A guard was placed on the Tomb, and the Tomb sealed with Pilate’s mark (Matthew 27:66).

In our focal text we see these women coming back to our Lord’s Tomb “with spices they prepared” to better prepare Jesus’ body for the tomb. They expected to see an armed guard and a sealed door. They found nothing that they expected.

Jesus wasn’t there!

Luke 24:2-5 {the women} found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Jesus was not in the Tomb, but “two men in shining garments” were. Were these angels, or men? When you read of the account later (see our context in verse 23) these are actually ANGELS.

Angels announced the birth of Jesus
It is fitting that angels announce the resurrection of Jesus

These angels are at the Tomb as witnesses of the resurrection. In the Law of God, a truth is established …

Deuteronomy 19:15 … at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

These two were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. Their message is simple: What Jesus said, Jesus did!

Luke 24:5-7 … Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Jesus Christ – Eternal God in perfect human form – was born into the creation with one overall purpose. He had to die for our sins. But He also had to rise from the grave to be our Living Savior and Lord. Jesus told His disciples repeatedly …

Luke 9:22 {Jesus said} The Son of man {a favorite title Jesus used for Himself} must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and BE RAISED THE THIRD DAY.

Luke 9:44-45 … Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. 45 But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Luke 18:31-33 {Jesus} took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: AND THE THIRD DAY HE SHALL RISE AGAIN.

Jesus told them over and over again – nevertheless the Bible says “they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not”. What “hid this saying” from them was their own humanity. It is not normal human experience to see someone die, be laid to rest in a grave three days, then that person come back from the dead. They heard, but did not process it. It was only after the angel reminded them of Jesus’ words that:

Luke 24:8-9 … they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

The two witnesses at the Tomb sent the women back to the Apostles, “unto the eleven”. Judas Iscariot had already killed himself after betraying Jesus, and the eleven that were left were mourning Jesus’ brutal death. When the women came and told them that Jesus was raised from the dead,

Luke 24:11-12 … And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulcher; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Though Peter ran to the Tomb, not all who heard of the resurrection of Christ believed. That is surprising to me. It should not surprise anyone that Jesus would rise from the grave. After all, Jesus repeatedly raised people from the dead when He walked on this earth. Jesus defeated death repeatedly while He walked this earth. He defeated death for …

a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17)
a ruler’s daughter (Luke 8:49-56)
and Lazarus His friend (John 11:38-44)

Our Jesus defeated death. The glorious Gospel that we preach is not just that Christ died for our sins, but that Jesus defeated the grave!

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen …

The actual death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very foundation of the Gospel of salvation. You cannot be saved unless you believe Christ both DIED then ROSE AGAIN. Jesus walked on this earth for forty days following His death and resurrection. He was SEEN by many who, in turn, were willing to die affirming that they saw a Living Savior. The Apostle Paul said:

1 Corinthians 15:17-22 … if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

In order to be “saved” a person must “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD” (Romans 10:9-10). Without the resurrection death is still man’s greatest enemy. But since Christ has conquered death we can say with the Apostle:

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Illustrate: Death was not permanent for Jesus, and will not be permanent for us who believe in Him either. The resurrection changes our view of death. I heard the story once of a family traveling, the windows on their car lowered so they could enjoy the day. Suddenly a wasp flew into the car. The little girl, on seeing the wasp, cried out. “Daddy, don’t let it sting me!” Quickly the father reached out, and grasped the wasp in his hand, crushing it. The father was stung by the wasp, but the child was not.

Death, like a wasp, flies uninvited and unexpected into the window of our lives. Yet we need not fear death. Jesus reached out and, grasping the wasp of death, took its sting on Himself. “Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory?” We are more than victors because of Jesus Christ!

The Resurrection Brings Our God Near

Right after the Angel testifies that Christ is risen, and the women go and tell the unbelieving Apostles, we read of two others on the Emmaus Road. These two were there when the women reported what the angels said – but they did not believe! These are two disciples, one of whom is Cleopas. They are walking the seven mile road between Jerusalem and Emmaus, and are sad and recounting the horror of Christ’s death.

Luke 24:15-17 … while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Why did Jesus draw near to these two men, and not the eleven Apostles that were back in Jerusalem? I believe it was because they were sad, low of spirit. They saw Jesus – the great hope of Israel – die on the cruel Cross of Calvary. They are mourning His death. The Scripture says:

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Jesus asks these men why they are so sad, Cleopas says that what saddens them is …

Luke 24:19-24 … Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulcher, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

These men saw Jesus as many see Him today – a Great Prophet, a Great Teacher, a Great Man. They thought that Jesus was going to redeem Israel from Rome but, alas, Jesus was crucified by the leadership of Judaism. Cleopas says “the women didn’t find His body, but said that angels told them He was risen … but we couldn’t find Him!”

Beloved, the women couldn’t find Jesus because they were looking in the wrong PLACE. These men couldn’t find Jesus because they were looking for the wrong PERSON.
But Jesus found them!

Preach This! Jesus Christ is not found in a tomb. And Jesus is no mere Prophet. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Timothy 6:15). These men’s eyes were blinded to Christ because they expected a simple King, a simple Prophet, a simple Man to lead Israel away from Rome. God is more than that. Jesus is more than that. Jesus Christ came to redeem His people Israel, to redeem all that will believe on Him as Lord and Savior.

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people

Jesus redeemed His people from the sacrificial Law, being the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29):

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Jesus has also redeemed us from sin and iniquity:

Titus 2:13-14 … our Savior Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

We who are His are redeemed from ritual worship and religion, so that we can walk with the Risen Savior:

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Jesus Christ redeemed us from circumcision and ceremonial laws and rituals that have no lasting effect. He purchased us with His Blood so that we can become Sons of God by faith in Him. Jesus corrects these two men, saying:

Luke 24:25-27 O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Jesus gave these men a Bible class. He took them to the Old Covenant Scriptures and showed them how each of the rituals of the law were but shadows that foretold the coming of the Messiah. We no longer practice ritual sacrifices because Jesus Christ took their place. We no longer practice ceremonial abstinence from certain foods, for what God has declared clean, do not call it unclean (Acts 10:13-15). We no longer practice ritual circumcision, because in Christ their is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

As Jesus explains these wonderful truths Cleopas and his friend arrive at home, and they invite the Lord to eat with them. As of yet they do not know this is Jesus. But we read:

Luke 24:30-32 … as {Jesus} sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Go And Tell Others That Jesus Lives!

Cleopas and his friend nearly run the 7 miles back to Jerusalem. Like the women at the tomb of Christ they can hardly wait to share the news: Jesus is alive! The Bible says:

Luke 24:36-43 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

If it seems that the Apostles were somewhat hard to convince concerning Christ’s resurrection, the truth is I believe each one of us – if we had gone through what they went through – would have been just as difficult. Jesus told them:

Luke 24:44-48 These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Now that the Apostles had experienced the Risen Savior they were now empowered to preach Him among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Jesus Christ came to save all people from sin, death, and the grave. He is the Risen Savior. We are to preach repentance and remission of sins in His Name – through His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive! He is alive, and leads His Church this very day.

The resurrection of Christ changes things. It even changed the day the Church met. Prior to Christ God’s Israel worshiped and rested on Saturday. But since Christ rose from the grave on the first day of the week, Sunday became the New Testament Church’s Sabbath Worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; John 20:19; John 20:1). Jesus Christ is alive. The devil could not stop Him. The Pharisees could not destroy Him. Death could not keep Him. The grave could not hold Him.

Jesus Christ is alive! He is alive! Do you know Him? Do you know my Jesus? If not, may God the Holy Spirit and His precious Word open your eyes to see Him this very day. Amen and amen!

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My God Enlarges Me

Posted on April 12, 2022 by bibleteacherorg
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Turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 4 – one of the wonderful prayers of a Prayer Warrior and King named simply “David”.

Psalm 4 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

One of the greatest weapons that a Christian has is the weapon of prayer. One of the great prayer warriors of yesteryear, E.M. Bounds said:

“God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless. They outlive the lives of those who uttered them. … Prayer honors God, acknowledges His being, exalts His power, adores His providence, secures His aid … Prayer is a trade to be learned. We must be apprentices and serve our time at it. Painstaking care, much thought, practice and labor are required to be a skillful tradesman in praying. Practice in this, as well as in all other trades, makes perfect.”

Sadly, rather than pray too many of us sit at home and watch a worldly and demon influenced television, a screen that spews out incessant hopelessness, gloom and doom.

As a nation we underwent two years of a worldwide pandemic called the Coronavirus. During that period many Americans allowed the government to strip them of their God given rights in order to “protect” the populace. We were imprisoned in our homes, businesses and churches were shut down, and the American economy horribly disfigured by “stimulus” packages that only promoted laziness and a dependency on the government as if it were God Almighty. Neither government nor politicians are God Almighty. There is but One God – and He still reigns supreme over the universe! Rather than panic, obsess, or withdraw from society when afflicted, do what King David did.

King David Called On God First When Tried By Life

Psalm 4:1-2 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

The Psalms are not only songs that the Hebrews sang, but they are prayers that God recorded for our blessing. When David was afflicted, he did not cry out against the affliction first. Notice the first thing David did was call upon God. No panic. No “oh is me”. He calls upon God.

  • Notice that David does not ASK God to hear his prayer. David COMMANDS God to hear him.

Word Study: “Hear me” is the Qal Imperative of עָנָה ʿānâ (pronounced aw-naw’), or “Pay attention to me!”

“Have mercy upon me” is the Qal Imperative of חָנַן ḥānan (pronounced khaw-nan’), or “be gracious to me, bend down and bestow kindness or grace”.

“Hear my prayer” is the Qal Imperative of שָׁמַע šāmaʿ (pronounced shaw-mah) + תְּפִלָּה tᵊp̄illâ (pronounced tef-il-law’). This means not just to “hear or take heed of”, but it also means “to obey”.

As we read this, we think, “How dare David – or anyone – command God to do anything!?” But if you think this, you miss the point. David is commanding God not as a god himself, but as a child would cry out to a parent. Notice that David calls God …

Psalm 4:1 Hear me when I call,O God of my righteousness:

David calls God the “God of my righteousness”. The Bible tells us that “God is righteous”. What God does and is is ALWAYS right. When the Prophet Daniel acknowledged the sins of Israel, he said:

Daniel 9:14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

God is righteous, God is just. The Angel declares:

Revelation 16:5 … Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be

God always does the right thing. God’s way is always right.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

There is no error in God. Any error is in MAN, in US. God is pure, and righteous, and holy. And we are fallen creatures so far away from God by nature, that we infinitely fall short of His glory. But to those who receive the Lord as Savior, to them God credits righteousness. To those who seek God

Titus 1:2 … in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began …

… those who “call upon the Lord for salvation”, these people are sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus. What does the Scripture promise?

John 1:12 But as many as received {God}, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

  • God is the “God of MY righteousness” because He credits righteousness to our spiritual account when we receive and believe in Him.

We cannot be righteous enough to be acceptable to God on our own. But when we call upon God, call upon Jesus to be our Savior and Lord, when we believe that He and He alone is the payment for our sins, our High Priest, our Lord …. we become sons of God. God is the “God of my righteousness”. I am “righteous” because I have believed in and received Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Believing in Him, God has IMPUTED or CREDITED righteousness to my life. The Apostle said:

Philippians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Because of God and His faithfulness the believer is marked “righteous” simply because we have trusted in and responded to Him in our weakness. Because God is faithful, and David called out to the lord to be His Savior, David is marked as righteous.

The Christian properly understood is one whom – upon believing on Christ – God has marked us RIGHTEOUS, and adopted us into His family through the operation of the Holy Spirit.

We are predestined unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to God the Father, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:5). We have received the Holy Spirit of Adoption, by which we cry out, ABBA, FATHER (Romans 8:15).

  • The true Christian belongs to God, and God belongs to him. God is our Parent because of our relationship to Jesus Christ.

Illustrate: When David commands God in prayer, he is commanding as a child would command a Parent. My children have the power to command me when they are in affliction. Years ago, after a long day of work in the Air Force, I came home to rest. Having just settled down I heard the cry of my eldest son. “Daddy, I need you!” Immediately I jumped up, and ran to where my son was, ministering to him in his need (he had broken both arms in a freak accident). If I as a broken and fallible parent can be mobilized by the call of my sons, how much more can God be mobilized when we cry out to Him as His children?

David Reminded Himself That Pain Has A Purpose

Psalm 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress…

If you are a child of God by faith in Christ,

and if God is infinitely in control of all things,
and if God loves you as His child
if all these things are true …

then pain has a purpose. David reminds himself this great truth.

  • Pain drives us into God’s arms.

Just as a child with a skint knee runs to its parent, pain drives us into the arms of God. The Psalmist said:

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

The GREAT I AM, Yahweh, is near to the sufferer, because pain breaks away our false bravado and disingenuous faith. Pain makes us realize that we desperately need the Savior. Pain casts down all the false gods and goddesses that we as Americans have engineered to take the place of God. The Prophet, afflicted and hurting, cried out:

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) Casting all your anxieties on him, because (God) cares for you.

Rather than worry and fret, God tells us to trust Him, to cast our anxieties and uncertainties on Him. In this confusing and uncertain world, our Heavenly Father “cares for you”.

  • Our response to pain proves our salvation.

There are many alleged “Christians” in the world that have little to no relationship with God in Christ. They believe they are saved because they,

said a sinner’s prayer
shook the Pastor’s hand
had a clerk put their name on a church roll
had holy water sprinkled on them as a child

Pain cuts through the plastic and the fake Christian credentials. Peter told the suffering early Church Christian:

1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV) In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

The genuine Christian stands with Jesus, though all the world hate him, and all the demons of hell attack. The genuine believer in Christ has this characteristic: THEY OVERCOME. This is what the Apostle says:

1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The end time Church (and we ARE the end time Church) will be plagued with false and plastic “Christians”. Yet God says this:

Revelation 2:7 … To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:11 … He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Revelation 3:5 … He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Revelation 3:21 … To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Revelation 21:7 … He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Do you get the scriptural point? The faith that does not abandon Jesus in the midst of pain and trial is the genuine, God pleasing faith. Life is pain. God gives us the power to overcome all things for His name’s sake!

David Acknowledged His Suffering,
But RESTED In The Fatherhood Of God

Psalm 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Word Study: The word “leasing” is the Hebrewכָּזָב kâzâb, (pronounced kaw-zawb’), which means “falsehood, lying, deceit”. The sons of Adam will attack the Sons of God, telling lies about them. The world pursues “vanity”, the Hebrew רִיק rîyq, {pronounced reek}, which means “the worthless thing”. The world is constantly seeking the worthless thing, or whatever “reeks”.

The world pursues that which REEKS. We as believers in Christ are to shun the reeking, the stinking, the useless, the vile, the empty, the foolish.

As David acknowledges the worthless ways of the sons of Adam, rather than be discouraged, he says,

Selah!

Word Study: The word “SELAH!” means “to pause or rest, so as the exalt”. It means that David commanded himself to turn his attention from the ways of the lost, to pause, and to look upward, to focus entirely on His Heavenly Father.

  • Control where you focus your spiritual eye. SELAH. Rest in Christ. Rest in the love and fatherhood of God.

David speaks to his own soul, his spiritual heart directing his spiritual eyes to look godward. David prays:

Psalm 4:3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

If you belong to God, you are “set apart for” God, by God. God’s eye is on you – ALWAYS. Jesus told us that – if we are saved – we are to be distinctively different from the lost world.

The lost world can be described in one word: ANXIOUS

Look up the word “ANXIOUS” in the dictionary. To be “ANXIOUS” is to be:

worriedconcernedapprehensive
fearfultroubledbothered
disturbeddistressedfretful

If any of those words apply to your life, you are not where God wants you to be. As believers in Christ, we are set apart by and belong to God. Jesus told us:

Matthew 6:25-33 (ESV) … do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

If you are “ANXIOUS”, then do what Jesus said. Turn off the television and radio. Turn off the computer. Get off of social media. Leave your smart phone on silent. DO the things that help build the Kingdom of God. DO the things that please your Heavenly Father. Love God. Show love toward others. DO RIGHTEOUSNESS. Command your soul:

Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

  • Rather than being led by your heart, direct your heart. Command your soul to focus on the goodness of God.

If you give way to your emotions, your life will be like a chicken with its head cut off.

David refused to let his emotions rule him. He often commanded himself. Consider …

Psalm 103:1-3 (ESV) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases …

or as in Psalm 42:5 (ESV) Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation

David spoke to his soul, commanding and reminding himself that God is faithful, powerful, truthful, and most importantly, his loving Father. This is what made David “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Pastor Ryan Griffith (Cities Church, Saint Paul, Mn) writes:

“When you are fearful, do you command your soul to trust in the Lord? When your affections are low, do you command your heart to bless the Lord? As Paul Tripp is fond of saying, “no one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do.” In the particularly difficult moments of the day, how do you talk to yourself?… do you specifically exhort yourself to hope in God?”

In the Law of Moses, God told His people that when they went to battle the enemy, “you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 20:1). God commanded that Israel NOT be afraid, but that they remember that God is in control, and God is with them. God told the officers of Israel’s Army:

Deuteronomy 20:8 (ESV) … the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’

The “fearful and fainthearted” were not needed in the midst of battle. Anxiety is like a cancer. See how anxiety afflicted Israel when Goliath was on the battlefield (1 Samuel 17:11). “Saul and all Israel … were dismayed and greatly afraid”.

To Israel and Saul, Goliath was too big to kill. But when David came along, he saw a loud mouthed giant who was too big to MISS.

What was the difference between David and Israel at that moment? David’s focus was on the God Who saved him. Israel’s focus was on a loudmouthed giant. Beloved, remember that:

2 Timothy 1:7 … God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Christians, Let Us Offer The Sacrifices
Of Righteousness

Psalm 4:5-8 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

God saved us so that we might serve Him. Let us “offer the sacrifices of righteousness”. What does this mean? The Apostle tells us:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Dedicate yourselves in living for the Lord Who saved you, and keeps on saving you. Do not “freak out”, but faith up. Look for God in whatever you are going through in your life. When Satan whispers treason in your ear, rebuke him in the name of Jesus. “I don’t belong to you, you old devil. I belong to God, your Creator, and my Father. Get thee behind me!” God is in control. Trust Him. “For thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety”.

May God the Holy Spirit draw you close to Him this very day, and every day, for the glory of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen and Amen!

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