Psalm 103:12

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” -
Praise and thank God our Father. He doesn't just forgive our sins; he removes them from us completely!

Do not be Afraid

Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram  in a vision:
  “Do not be afraid,  Abram.
 I am your shield,
 your very great reward

Proverbs 6:20

“My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.”
So often today, we discount the wisdom of those who have come before us and who want to share with us the collective wisdom that was handed down to them by their predecessors. Let's be especially attentive over the next few weeks of those who are older and have proven themselves faithful.

At the same time, let's remind our children and our grandchildren how important obedience is to God, especially the obedience of children to their parents.

Thoughts 

"He who has not forgiven an enemy has not yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life." - Johann K. Lavater

"We can stand affliction better than we can prosperity, for in prosperity we forget God." - Dwight L. Moody

In the end, nothing to Fear

Genesis 49:33

When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

[Message No: 6496]

Waiting Period

“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. — Romans 8:19

Eagerly waits! Don't you just love that idea! Sounds like an oxymoron. It's not. Think of a groom waiting for his bride to come down the aisle. Imagine parents of a child that is due to be born. Remember what it was like as a child waiting for Christmas morning. Eagerly waits!”

That's what creation, so caught up with decay, disaster, and death, is doing! And what is creation waiting for so eagerly? Our transformation and revelation as God's triumphant and glorious children. Sounds pretty wonderful for a time and world like ours.

Speaking by the Holy Spirit

For David himself said by the Holy Spirit:
   ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
 “Sit at My right hand,
 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ - Mark 12:36

Jesus tells us that David's great Psalm 110 is Spirit-inspired. And that Psalm speaks to the greatness of the Messiah — the greatness of Jesus! He is Lord. Lord of the nations. Lord of all. Lord of even David. He will rule. He will triumph. And the power of David's testimony is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gave this testimony about Jesus being Lord through King David a thousand years before Jesus came. When the Holy Spirit is present, Jesus is praised, and his identity is proclaimed, as has been true for centuries!

The Christian Soldier

Do Christians have to contend with these powers?

Ephesians 6:12

we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

2 Peter 3:2-5

that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?

For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

[Message No: 6495]

After That - 2

6] Thanksgiving after blessing.
Deuteronomy 16:13-17

The Feast of Tabernacles Reviewed
    “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress. And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.
   “Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed. Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.

7] Glory after suffering.
1 Peter 5:10

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Majority Rules 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” – Matthew 7:13-14

"Majority rules!" That's the edict of democracy. This has been a blessed political philosophy for so many people over the course of history. But, "majority rule" doesn't apply to the Kingdom of God. God sets the standard, not us. God's holiness is the goal, not just trying to be better than someone else. Most, regrettably, will never find the way of the Lord.

They want it their way. One crucial problem with wanting things our way: it leads to ultimate disaster. God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life, is the only one who can set life's agenda. Let's ask for his help and guidance for our way!

[Message No: 6494]

After That - 1

1] Trusting after hearing.
Ephesians 1:13
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,

2] Communion after cleansing.
Leviticus 14:8
He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days.

3] Revelation after separation.
Genesis 13:14
And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;

4] Service after consecration.
Numbers 8:15
After that the Levites shall go in to service the tabernacle of meeting. So you shall cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering.

Numbers 8:22
After that the Levites went in to do their work in the tabernacle of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them.

5] Power after the Spirit’s coming.
Acts 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

[Message No: 6493]

Prayer for personal growth -2

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

2 Peter 1:5-8

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Message No: 6492]

Prayer for personal growth -1

Romans 12:1-2

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

Ephesians 3:16-21

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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

Ephesians 4:12-16

for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Philippians 1:10-11

that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:12-15

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

     Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

[Message No: 6491]

Besides Still Waters - 18

I will carry You
Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age and gray hairs
 I am he,  I am he who will sustain you.
 I have made you and I will carry you;
 I will sustain  you and I will rescue you.

In the face of the Future
Isaiah 46:10
I make known the end from the beginning,
 from ancient times,  what is still to come.
 I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
 and I will do all that I please.’

The furnace of Affliction
Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined  you, though not as silver;
 I have tested  you in the furnace  of affliction.

I will not forget You
Isaiah 49:15
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
 And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
 Surely they may forget,
 Yet I will not forget you.

Continually before Me
Isaiah 49:16
See, I have engraved  you on the palms of my hands;
 your walls  are ever before me.

Taught by the Lord
Isaiah 54:13
All your children will be taught by the Lord,
 and great will be their peace.

In His love and Pity
Isaiah 63:9
In all their distress he too was distressed,
 and the angel  of his presence  saved them.
 In his love and mercy he redeemed  them;
 he lifted them up and carried  them
 all the days of old.

[Message No: 6490]

Christ and the Inness of Things

Christ ever  taught the Inness of things.

1] To Nicodemus it was  the inward  life – John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

2] To the woman of Samaria, inward supply – John 4:14

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

3] To Saul of Tarsus, inward light – Acts 26:13-19

at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
      Paul's Post-Conversion Life
     “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision

4] To the demonic inward liberty – Mark 5:15

Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

5] To the palsied man, inward blessings –

Mark 2:5

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Mark 2:9

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

6] To Simon the Pharisee, inward love – Luke 7:47

Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

7] To the Pharisees, inward cleansing – Matthew 23:25-26

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

[Message No: 6489]

All are against Me

Genesis 42:36

Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more,  and now you want to take Benjamin.  Everything is against me!

Ephesians 1:17-20

“I pray ... also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know ... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead…”

I still don't understand resurrection. I get the concept. I believe God did raise Jesus. Every once in a while, I experience that power through the Spirit's work in my life strengthening me for ministry, helping me love others in tough situations, comforting me when I'm broken, giving me insight when I study the Word, and strengthening me in the face of temptation.

I am humbled, thrilled, and left longing for more. I want others I love to experience this awesome power. I'm sure it's the same with you. So let's join together today, thousands of us all around world, and let's pray for God to empower those closest to us to discover his power and to do great things through his Spirit who lives in them.

God has made me Forget

Genesis 41:51

Joseph named his firstborn  Manasseh  and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

Thoughts 

"Our valleys may be filled with foes and tears; but we can lift our eyes to the hills to see God and the angels, heaven's spectators, who support us according to God's infinite wisdom as they prepare our welcome home." -  Billy Graham

"Men can heal lust. Angels can heal malice. God alone can cure pride."
— John Climacus

[Message No: 6488]

Besides Still Waters - 17

The Hollow of His Hand / Fear Not
 
Isaiah 40:12
Who has measured the waters  in the hollow of his hand,
 or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
 Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
 or weighed the mountains on the scales
 and the hills in a balance?

I will strengthen you / I will help you
 
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear,  for I am with you;
 do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
 I will strengthen  you and help  you;
 I will uphold you  with my righteous right hand.

You are Mine

Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the Lord says—
 he who created  you, Jacob,
 he who formed  you, Israel:
 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed  you;
 I have summoned you by name;  you are mine.

I will be with you / Free from the Blood / Free from the Fire

Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters,
 I will be with you;
 and when you pass through the rivers,
 they will not sweep over you.
 When you walk through the fire,
 you will not be burned;
 the flames will not set you ablaze.

[Message No: 6487]

Prayer for of hunger for God - 2

Psalm 143:5-8

I remember the days of old;
 I meditate on all Your works;
 I muse on the work of Your hands.
  I spread out my hands to You;
 My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.
  Answer me speedily, O Lord;
 My spirit fails!
 Do not hide Your face from me,
 Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.
  Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
 For in You do I trust;
 Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
 For I lift up my soul to You.

Psalm 63:1-8

O God, You are my God;
 Early will I seek You;
 My soul thirsts for You;
 My flesh longs for You
 In a dry and thirsty land
 Where there is no water.
  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
 To see Your power and Your glory.
  Because Your loving kindness is better than life,
 My lips shall praise You.
  Thus I will bless You while I live;
 I will lift up my hands in Your name.
  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
 And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
  When I remember You on my bed,
 I meditate on You in the night watches.
  Because You have been my help,
 Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
  My soul follows close behind You;
 Your right hand upholds me.

[Message No: 6486]

Blessed beyond Measure

Genesis 22:17

I will surely bless you  and make your descendants  as numerous as the stars in the sky  and as the sand on the seashore.  Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,

2 Chronicles 7:14

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God told Solomon that the Temple would be a place his people could come and be assured that their prayers would be heard if they honestly and humbly would seek God. This promise is true still, to this very day, for while God's physical Temple isn't standing, his spiritual one is found in the gathering of his people (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Matt. 18:20).

What a great blessing and what a powerful gift for us today! We know that when we gather with believers and humble ourselves before God and seek his presence he will hear us. Rather than wait for a grandiose, world-wide effort to start, why not get together regularly with others who will join us in this prayer effort?

Thoughts 

"Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice. And we do not really love Christ unless we are prepared to face His task and to take up His Cross." - William Barclay
"If we wait upon God, there is no danger. If we rush on, He must let us see the consequences of it." - John Darby

Philemon 1:25

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Have you noticed how words of blessing are in such short supply? There is something about our fallen state that makes sarcasm and ridicule easier to use than blessing. But, in God's family, words are always to be used for the benefit and blessing of others. What simpler or kinder words do we need to use to bless others than these words Paul sent to Philemon? Let's find a way to say them ... and say them again ... and again ...

[Message No: 6485]

'A Great Have-To'

[Jesus said,] "So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.'"
— John 3:7

We sometimes fail to realize that Nicodemus is the ultimate good guy — he is the best of the best. He is a religious leader and teacher. He has come to Jesus out of darkness to find light. He has noticed what Jesus has said and done and believes the only way Jesus could do those things is that he has come from God. But knowing and saying the right things about Jesus are not what makes a person a true follower of Jesus, a disciple, a real Christian.

If Nicodemus, the best of the best, has to be "born again," then so do all the rest of us! Being born again is a great essential, a great "have to," that we all must experience. So where are you? Have you been "born of water and the Spirit" (John 3:5)? Have you been born of God? Have you been born again?

Romans 6:14

“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”

As we called on Jesus name in baptism and trusted him to be our Savior, we died to sin. In this death, we die to dying and pass from death to life because of our faith in Jesus and in God's power (John 5:24; Col. 2:12). Our life is joined to Jesus, and his glorious future becomes our own (Col. 3:1-4). We are not under law, but grace.

Let's respond to the gift of grace with passion and with zeal to be holy. Let's open ourselves to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, who changes us to be like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). We are grace-children. We are not in bondage to sin, but liberated by grace to be all that God ha! s made us to be — his craftmanship (Eph. 2:1-10). Sin will not be our master!

Evangelism

If baptizing into the Holy Spirit is His work, what does it mean? It means that everything to do with Him and with the Gospel should be characterized by fire. It should burn.

Jesus
Many know His name but don’t know Him.

Quote
"Satan watches for those vessels that sail without convoy." - George Swimnock

[Message No: 6484]

God’s Will

His will is for believers:

1] To be sanctified in Christ’s work.
Hebrews 10:10
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

2] To be chosen in His grace.
Ephesians 1:5
having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

3] To be separated from the world.
Galatians 1:4
Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

4] To be “Holy” in life.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

5] To suffer in silence.
1 Peter 2:15
For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

6] To be thankful in everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

7] To recognise Him in all thigs.
1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

[Message No: 6483]

Prayer for of hunger for God - 1

Psalm 42:1-2

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
 So pants my soul for You, O God.
  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
 When shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 61:1-5

Hear my cry, O God;
 Attend to my prayer.
  From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
 When my heart is overwhelmed;
 Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
  For You have been a shelter for me,
 A strong tower from the enemy.
  I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
 I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.
 Selah
  For You, O God, have heard my vows;
 You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
Psalm 84:1-2
How lovely is Your tabernacle,
 O Lord of hosts!
  My soul longs, yes, even faints
 For the courts of the Lord;
 My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 123:1-2

Unto You I lift up my eyes,
 O You who dwell in the heavens.
  Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
 As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
 So our eyes look to the Lord our God,
 Until He has mercy on us.

Psalm 130:5-6

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
 And in His word I do hope.
  My soul waits for the Lord
 More than those who watch for the morning—
 Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

[Message No: 6482]

Love Permits Pain

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. John 11:6

In the forefront of this marvelous chapter stands the affirmation, "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," as if to teach us that at the very heart and foundation of all God's dealings with us, however dark and mysterious they may be, we must dare to believe in and assert the infinite, unmerited, and unchanging love of God. Love permits pain.

The sisters never doubted that He would speed at all hazards and stay their brother from death, but, "When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."

The Winding Road of Life

As you follow Him, He will take you on a journey you never would have imagined and it probably won’t look like the journey you envisioned for yourself. We will never fully understand His mysterious ways and all the twists and turns in the paths we travel in relationship with the Lord. But I would rather travel the roads of life with Him than any other way.

Psalm 25:4-5

Show me Your ways, O LORD;
Teach me Your paths
  Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
  For You are the God of my salvation: 
 On You I wait all the day.

Spiritual Quote

"Not only does sin hinder prayer; prayer hinders sin. The two are always opposed. The more careless we are about sin, the less we will pray. The more we pray, the less careless we will be about sin. Both sin and prayer are powerful forces. Which one is moving you?" - Dr. Alvin Vander Griend

I know their Sorrows

Exodus 3:7

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen  the misery  of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned  about their suffering.

[Message No: 6481]

The Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

The following are parables that relate to how believers ought to be ready and prepared at the Second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1] The Parable of the Weeding Feast [Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:15-24

2] The Parable of the Home Owner [Matthew 24:42-44; Luke 12:39-40]

3] The Parable of the Steward [Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:41-46]

4] The Parable of the Ten Virgins [Matthew 25:1-13]

5] The Parable of the Doorkeeper [Luke 12:35-38; Mark 13:33-37]

6] The Parable of the Minas [Luke 19:11-27]

7] The Parable of Talents [Matthew 25:14-30]

8] The Parable of the Sheep and Goats [Matthew 25:31=46]

Love Permits Pain

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. John 11:6

In the forefront of this marvellous chapter stands the affirmation, "Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus," as if to teach us that at the very heart and foundation of all God's dealings with us, however dark and mysterious they may be, we must dare to believe in and assert the infinite, unmerited, and unchanging love of God. Love permits pain.

The sisters never doubted that He would speed at all hazards and stay their brother from death, but, "When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was."

Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.”

Our worship isn't confined to Sunday! Each day that we offer ourselves to Jesus as his servants, we also are offering him our worship. Every time that we consciously resist evil and choose good, we are offering pleasing and acceptable worship to God.

Isn't it exciting that worship doesn't happen just in a church building! Isn't it incredible that each day our decisions and actions are a crucial part of our worship to God!

[Message No: 6480]

Activities of Jesus - 2

9] The Weeping Compassionator. “Jesus wept”

Verse 35
Jesus wept

10] The Believing Son. “Jesus lifted up His eye and said, Father”

Verse 41
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

11] The Commanding Life-Giver. “He cried”

Verse 43
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

12] The Constant Worker. “Jesus did … done”

Verse 45-46
Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.

13] The Undisputed Witness. “This man doeth many miracles”

Verse 47
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

14] The Delivering Substitute. “Jesus should die”

Verse 51
Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
Verse 53
Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death

[Message No: 6479]

Conditions of Man as a Sinner

From the Book of Romans 5 –

1] helpless – “Without Strength” & Godless – “Ungodly”
Verse 6
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly

2] Sinful – “Sinners”
Verse 8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3] Rebels – “Enemies”
Verse 10
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

4] Dead – “Death passed upon all” & Deficient – “All have sinned”
Verse 12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

5] Condemned – “Judgement came upon all men unto condemnation”
Verse 18
Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

The Lord’s Presence

Genesis 28:16

When Jacob awoke from his sleep,  he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

The Lord your God

Leviticus 11:44

I am the Lord your God;  consecrate yourselves  and be holy,  because I am holy.  Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground.

[Message No: 6478]

Three Good Men

+ A Good Man – Right with God

Acts 11:24
He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit  and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

+ A Good Minister – Ready for God

1 Timothy 4:6
If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith  and of the good teaching that you have followed

+ A Good Steward – True to God – 1 Peter 4:10

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,  as faithful  stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Conceit Blinds You to Your Own Fault

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
 There is no fear  of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths  are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely  or do good. – Psalm 36:1-3

Prayer

Lord, help me to see myself as You see me. Open my eyes to my own faults so I can revaluate myself and be willing to change direction when I need to. Make me deaf to the whispers that come from evil sources, but open my ears to the truths from Your Word. Grant me a holy fear of Your power and holiness, and let that healthy fear guide my daily walk. Draw closer to me, Lord, and help me to draw closer to You each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Psalm 34:21

“Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.”
God has promised a closing time, a reckoning where human power and influence cannot buy out the truth and where each person will have to face up to what he or she has done. Evil will overtake those who have been partners with evil. Those that hate good people, righteous people, will be condemned in their own hate. God's righteousness, truth, and justice will not be short-circuited!

[Message No: 6477]

Activities of Jesus - 1

From the book of John 11
The Man of men, the greatest  Person who ever lived:

1] The Listening Friend. “Jesus heard”.

Verse 4
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

2] The Loving Lord. “Jesus loved”

Verse 5
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus

3] The Gracious Teacher. “Jesus answered”

Verse 9
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

4] The Wondrous Speaker. “Jesus saith” and “spoke”

Verse 13

However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.

Verse 23
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

5] The Timely Visitor. “Jesus came”

Verse 17
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

6] The Located Saviour. “Jesus was”

Verse 32
Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

7] The Seeing Helper. “Jesus saw”

Verse 33
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.

8] The Troubled Groaner. “He groaned and was troubled”

Verse 33
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.

Verse 38
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

[Message No: 6476]

Besides Still Waters - 16

The rain is Over

Song of Solomon 2:11
See! The winter is past;
 the rains are over and gone.

Led by a little Child
Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb,
 the leopard will lie down with the goat,
 the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
 and a little child will lead them.

A bitter Drink
Isaiah 24:9
No longer do they drink wine  with a song;
 the beer is bitter  to its drinkers.

Everlasting Strength
Isaiah 26:4
Trust  in the Lord forever,
 for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock  eternal.

Quietness and Confidence
Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign  Lord, the Holy One  of Israel, says:
  “In repentance and rest  is your salvation,
 in quietness and trust  is your strength,
 but you would have none of it.


Water in dry Place
Isaiah 32:2
Each one will be like a shelter  from the wind
 and a refuge from the storm,
 like streams of water  in the desert
 and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

[Message No: 6475]

Three “So Great Things”

1] Condemnation. “So great a death”

2 Corinthians 1:10
who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

2] Consolation. “So great Salvation”
Hebrews 2:3
how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

3] Compensation. “So great faith”.
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Waiting in Titus 2:13-14

“We wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”

We haven't arrived at our destination (cf. Philippians 3). We are in waiting! Jesus, who offered his own life for our redemption, will gloriously return to take us home. During our time of waiting, let's be eager to do what is right, good, and holy.

Prosperous Life

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.” -  Proverbs 16:20

Those who seek the instruction of God's wisdom and who trust in God for their life's blessings and values will find joyful prosperity. While this philosophy doesn't play well in the world of commercials, this understanding is the key to a blessed and prosperous life!

[Message No: 6474]

Conflict in the Temple' — John 2:13-16

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple.

He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"

Advice to Servants – Proverbs 17:2

A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

Two kinds of Crowns – Proverbs 17:6

Children’s children  are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Concerning fools and the Wicked – Proverbs 18:1-7

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. The words of the mouth are deep waters,  but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice.

The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating. The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare  to their very lives.

Ephesians 6:11

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. —

So often we are focused only on the things we like, we are good at doing, or we are interested in accomplishing. God wants us to use every piece of his spiritual armor. He wants us to be disciplined and grow in the areas of our spiritual weakness and the areas we don't necessarily find exciting or interesting. Our evil opponent is crafty and will try to attack us in the areas of our weakness and vulnerability. So let's not just commit to be diligent in the areas of our interest and strength, but especially in those areas where we are not.

[Message No: 6473]

Besides Still Waters - 15

All is Vanity

Ecclesiastes 1:2

“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
 says the Teacher.
 “Utterly meaningless!
 Everything is meaningless.”

A Time to Die

Ecclesiastes 3:2

a time to be born and a time to die,
 a time to plant and a time to uproot,

The House of Mourning

Ecclesiastes 7:2

It is better to go to a house of mourning
 than to go to a house of feasting,
 for death  is the destiny  of everyone;
 the living should take this to heart.

Looking to the End

Ecclesiastes 7:8

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
 and patience  is better than pride.

Do it with your Might

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever  your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,  for in the realm of the dead,  where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

The banqueting House

Song of Solomon 2:4

Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
 and let his banner  over me be love.

[Message No: 6472]

Prayer for Revival - 3

Isaiah 59:12-13

For our transgressions are multiplied before You,
 And our sins testify against us;
 For our transgressions are with us,
 And as for our iniquities, we know them:
  In transgressing and lying against the Lord,
 And departing from our God,
 Speaking oppression and revolt,
 Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Isaiah 64:1-5

that You would rend the heavens!
   That You would come down!
 That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
  As fire burns brushwood,
 As fire causes water to boil—
 To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
 That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
  When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
 You came down,
 The mountains shook at Your presence.
  For since the beginning of the world
 Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
 Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
 Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
  You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
 Who remembers You in Your ways.
 You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—
 In these ways we continue;
 And we need to be saved.

[Message No: 6471]

The Song of the Harvest

And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me (John 11:41).
This is a very strange and unusual order. Lazarus is still in the grave, and the thanksgiving precedes the miracle of resurrection. I thought that the thanksgiving would have risen when the great deed had been wrought, and Lazarus was restored to life again. But Jesus gives thanks for what He is about to receive. The gratitude breaks forth before the bounty has arrived, in the assurance that it is certainly on the way. The song of victory is sung before the battle has been fought. It is the sower who is singing the song of the harvest home. It is thanksgiving before the miracle!

Who thinks of announcing a victory-psalm when the crusaders are just starting out for the field? Where can we hear the grateful song for the answer which has not yet been received?

God’s Love in our Hearts

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:8

Dear To Us

“He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” Genesis 22:5

All is Everything

 “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” .  Colossians 1:16-17

Are You Enjoying the Goodness of the Lord?

  Psalm 107:8-9

    “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

    For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

Thought 

"Only those whose souls have struck the deepest notes of penitence can reach the highest notes of praise." - Richard DeHaan

[Message No: 6470]

Prayer for Revival - 2

Isaiah 54:2-4

“Enlarge the place of your tent,
 And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
 Do not spare;
 Lengthen your cords,
 And strengthen your stakes.
  For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
 And your descendants will inherit the nations,
 And make the desolate cities inhabited.
  “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
 Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
 For you will forget the shame of your youth,
 And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.

Read - Isaiah 55:6-13

Isaiah  57:14-15

And one shall say,
 “Heap it up! Heap it up!
 Prepare the way,
 Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people.”
  For thus says the High and Lofty One
 Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
 “I dwell in the high and holy place,
 With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
 To revive the spirit of the humble,
 And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

[Message No: 6469]

Striving

The word in these Texts is the same through, and might be uniformly translated as agonize

In Prayer

Colossians 4:12

Epaphras,  who is one of you  and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you,  that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature  and fully assured.

In Conflict

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the race,  I have kept the faith.

In Ministry

Colossians 1:29

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Life-Giving Spirit

The Scriptures tell us, "The first man, Adam, became a living person." But the last Adam — that is, Christ — is a life-giving Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 15:45

Death, the immutable reality of our physical mortality, is an enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yes, there are times for those who follow Jesus that death is a blessing. The hard reality, however, is that death, and the decay of everything good and precious to us in this world, hold our world captive. They have done so since the sad rebellion in the Garden of Eden.

Adam brought this captivity to us, and we have compounded it by our own rebellions, big and small. This decay, and our dance with it, spread the vile smell of death to our relationships, our physical lives, and our dreams. But Christ Jesus, who is God's Messiah, faced death and triumphed. His bodily resurrection began the sure hope of our own escape from our world of decay. His Spirit is now alive in us.

The Spirit is our guarantee of ultimate victory over sin, death, and decay (Ephesians 1:13-14). Death no longer holds us captive. The antidote courses through us just as surely as our blood does. God's life-giving Christ is alive in us through the Spirit, and we are assured we will stand with him, redeemed and whole, alive and victorious.

[Message No: 6468]

Three Deaths

Dead to Sin – The Sinner

Ephesians 2:1

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

= Dead to Sin – The Saviour

1 Corinthians 15:3

For what I received  I passed on to you  as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins  according to the Scriptures,

= Dead to Sin – The Saint:

Romans 6:2

What shall we say, then?  Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
. The first is the natural condition of all men.
. The second is the Gospel of God for all men
. The third is the result in those that believe.

= Coming Wrath:

Job 36:18

Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe  turn you aside.

Romans 2:5

But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteous judgment  will be revealed.

Revelation 6:17

For the great day  of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

= Sudden Death:

Job 36:18
Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe  turn you aside.

Proverbs 29:1

Whoever remains stiff-necked  after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed —without remedy.

Job 21:13

They spend their years in prosperity  and go down to the grave  in peace.

= Eternal Punishment:

Job 36:18

Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe  turn you aside.

= Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe  turn you aside.

2 Thessalonians 1:9

They will be punished with everlasting destruction  and shut out from the presence of the Lord  and from the glory of his might

Matthew 25:46

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. ”

[Message No: 6467]

Characteristics of God’s Word - 3

13] The Faithful Word to instruct.

Titus 1:9

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

14] The engrafted Word to save.

James 1:21

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

15] The sincere Milk to feed.

1 Peter 2:2

as new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

16] The Shepherd of Prophecy to enlighten.

2 Peter 1:19

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

Thoughts 

"Trials are not enemies of faith but are opportunities to prove God's faithfulness." - Author Unknown
"The noble love of Jesus impels a man to do great things, and stirs him up to be always longing for what is more perfect." - Thomas à Kempis

"To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world." - Author Unknown

Romans 6:15

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”
This matching verse to Romans 6:1-2, is the great reminder that sin is no longer our master and no longer our choice. We choose to live for God with every fiber of our being and loathe the life of sin that once held us in bondage to death and defeat.

[Message No: 6466]

Prayer for Revival - 1

Psalm 85:6-7

Will You not revive us again,
 That Your people may rejoice in You?
  Show us Your mercy, Lord,
 And grant us Your salvation.

Isaiah 43:18-19

Do not remember the former things,
 Nor consider the things of old.
  Behold, I will do a new thing,
 Now it shall spring forth;
 Shall you not know it?
 I will even make a road in the wilderness
 And rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 44:2-3

Thus says the Lord who made you
 And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
 ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
 And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
  For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
 And floods on the dry ground;
 I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
 And My blessing on your offspring;

Isaiah 51:9

Awake, awake, put on strength,
 O arm of the Lord!
 Awake as in the ancient days,
 In the generations of old.
 Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart,
 And wounded the serpent?

[Message No: 6465]

Characteristics of God’s Word - 2

8] The Word of Faith to assure.

Romans 10:8

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

9] The Word of Truth to arm.

2 Corinthians 6:7

by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

10] The Word of Righteousness to feed.

Hebrews 5:13

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
11] The Word of Life, to attract.

Philippians 2:16

holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

12] The Word of exclusiveness.

Matthew 13:19-23

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

[Message No: 6464]

Stay in Touch with Jesus

.. and all who touched it were healed. - Mark 6:56c

We should stay in touch with Jesus because:

1] He is the source of our strength
2] He knows our needs even before we pray
3] He acts on our behalf even if we don’t deserve it.

Led

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. Matthew 4:1
We sometimes miss part of the significance of this verse because some of the wording is different from Mark and Luke. Notice carefully that Jesus was LED INTO the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED by the devil. Jesus' temptations were no accident. Clearly, the evil one wanted to derail Jesus' ministry before it began. But Jesus defeating the devil in his temptations was part of God's plan just as Jesus' crucifixion was part of God's plan (Acts 2:23). In both situations — Jesus' temptations and his crucifixion — the evil one was involved, and in both, even the devil was beaten.

Jesus was tempted like we are so that we can be assured that God knows what it is like to be tempted. Yes, God knows all things. Nevertheless, for our sake, he chose to experience things in Jesus so that we can be sure he knows what it is like to be hungry, alone, abandoned, betrayed, tempted, belittled, mocked, ridiculed, denied, treated unfairly, and even murdered. We know that God not only knows, but that he also felt, what it was like to be in our world and face these horrors. Thus, we can go to him knowing we will receive grace, help, and a sympathetic ear in our times of trouble (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16).

Thoughts 

"Don't trust to hold God's hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting." - Hammer William Webb-Peploe

"God's gift to us is who we are and our gift to God is who we become."
— Author Unknown

"I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joy and riches of the world, even if it lasted for thousands and thousands of years." - Martin Luther

[Message No: 6463]

'The Power to Lay It Down'

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” - John 10:17-18

Jesus didn't just die; he died with power and authority. His life wasn't taken from him; he laid it down willingly to die for our sins. His crucifixion was an apparent defeat for him, but it was turned into a lasting defeat for the evil one who sought to use Jesus' death to win a victory over God. No one could take Jesus' life. He gave it willingly to save us and purchase us from death. The cross is God's power demonstrated in humanity's worst forum. The cross is our glory!

Thoughts 

"A comprehended god is no god." - St. John Chrysostom

"We must shift our interest from the seen to the unseen. For the great unseen Reality is God." - A.W. Tozer

"It is easier to ridicule than commend." - Thomas Fuller

"Lord revive Your church and begin with me." - Chinese Christian

Surrendering to the Holy Spirit

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.” – 1 John 2:27

When we became Christians, we were not only cleansed by the Holy Spirit, we were also filled with the Holy Spirit. John speaks of this as our anointing. The Spirit helps us hear the truth about Jesus and keeps us from surrendering that truth to false teaching that would diminish either side of Jesus' identity — Jesus, God with us and God like us. We abide in Jesus when we hold on to both of these incredible truths.

Prayer

. Almighty and victorious King of the Ages, you are the only rightful ruler of my heart. I pledge my allegiance to you. Please help me as I seek to lay aside my struggles with sin and empower me to live for you in unwavering loyalty. In the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

[Message No: 6462]

Characteristics of God’s Word - 1

1] The Word pf God – to reveal.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
 marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

2] The Word of the Lord – to command.

1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything

3] The Word of Christ to inspire.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

4] The Word of the Gospel to gladden.

Acts 15:7

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

5] The Word of Salvation to deliver.

Acts 13:26

Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.

6] The Word of Reconciliation to preach.

2 Corinthians 5:19

that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

7] The Word of Grace to build up.

Acts 20:32

Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.

[Message No: 6461]

Candles

1] A Lighted Candle. “Light a candle

Matthew 5:15

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house

2] An Essential Candle. “The light” of the body is the eye”

Matthew 6:22

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light

3] A Useful Candle. “Light a candle, and sweep.”

Luke 15:5

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing

4] A Shining Candle. “He was a burning and a shining light.”

John 5:35

He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.

5]  A Burning Candle. “Your lights” burning.

Luke 12:35

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;

6] A Necessary Candle. “sure Word…a light” that shineth.

2 Peter 1:19

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

7] A Glorious Candle. “The Lamb is the Light” thereof.

Revelation 21:23

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

Thought 

"'Thinking Christianly' is thinking by Christians about anything and everything in a consistently Christian way — in a manner that is shaped, directed, and restrained by the truth of God's Word and God's Spirit." - Os Guinness

[Message No: 6460]

Relationship With God - 5

Jude 1:21

keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait  for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

1 John 4:7-8

Dear friends, let us love one another,  for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God  and knows God.    Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Ephesians 2:4-5

But because of his great love for us,  God, who is rich in mercy,   made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved

Pridefulness - Not Needing God

 Atlas was condemned to carry the weight of the entire world on his shoulders. That was as harsh a punishment as the ancient Greek mind could conjure up. Today, it seems, we have volunteered to play the role of Atlas. We have not offended God, we have dismissed him, told him we were grown up enough not to need his help any more, and offered to carry the weight of the entire world on our shoulders. The question is, when it gets too heavy for us, when there are questions too hard for human knowledge to answer and problems that take more time to solve than any of us have, will we be too proud to admit that we have made a mistake in wanting to carry this world alone?

Prayer 

. Wondrous Father, LORD God Almighty, thank you so much for your generous blessings. O LORD, please make us a more joyful and happy people. For my Christian brothers and sisters in hardship, I pray for your deliverance, victory, and blessing. For those of us who have been richly blessed, I pray for us to have more appreciative and thankful hearts. Thank you for always hearing my prayers. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thoughts 

"God does not waste suffering; if he ploughs it is because He purposes a crop."
— J.O.Sanders

"God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them." - Max Lucado

[Message No: 6459]

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs  according to the riches of his glory  in Christ Jesus.

1.    The Gracious Promiser – “My God”

2.    The Gracious Promise – “Shall”

3.    The Good Supply – “Supply”

4.    The gift that is Abundant – “All”

5.    The gain that is personal – “Your”

6.    The gladdened Patient – “Need”

7.    The Granary of Plenty – “According”

God of Surprises!

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on  Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” - Acts 9:17

Acts 9 tells the story of one of the church's greatest enemies becoming one of its most passionate leaders. No one could have expected this complete turnaround to happen, especially not Saul of Tarsus. (Saul later becomes known as the apostle Paul, using his Roman name when his mission was primarily among Gentiles.) Emboldened by the Holy Spirit and seeing the evidence of the Spirit in Saul's life, the early followers of Jesus overcame Satan's barriers to see grace triumph over their enemies.

For Saul (Paul) to become a great leader in this movement of grace and good news, he had to be filled, inspired, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is exactly what our verse today tells us was about to happen: Saul was about to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and the world would be changed by the Spirit's work through him!

Thoughts 

"It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ. My hosanna is born of a furnace of doubt." - Fyodor Dostoevsky
"There is a Moment in each Day that Satan cannot find." - William Blake

"God gives us just enough to seek him, and never enough to fully find Him. To do more would inhibit our freedom, and our freedom is very dear to God."

[Message No: 6458]

Relationship With God - 4

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
  “I have loved  you with an everlasting love;
 I have drawn  you with unfailing kindness.

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.    “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—   “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Proverbs 18:24

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
 but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother,  so that you may live long  in the land  the Lord your God is giving you.

Matthew 23:37-39

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,  how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,  and you were not willing.   Look, your house is left to you desolate.    For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 Peter 3:7

Husbands,  in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

2 Corinthians 6:14

Do not be yoked together  with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

[Message No: 6457]

Three Looks

1] Inward look of Examination – “Look to yourselves”

2 John 8

Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.

2] Up word look of Expectancy -  “I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up”

Psalm 5:3

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
 In the morning I will direct it to You,
 And I will look up.

3] Outward look of Exercise – “Look on the fields”

John 4:35

Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

John 17:4

“I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
One of the most amazing things that Jesus ever said, he said to his Father in heaven: "I have completed the work you gave me to do..." In fact, when he breathed his last, he said; "It is finished." Let's live with the glory of God our highest priority!

This is our purpose as God's children (cf. Eph. 1:6; Eph. 1:12; Eph. 1:14; 1 Pet. 2:9-10). The more we live by Kingdom priority (Matt. 6:33), the more we can rest assured that we can finish our lives with a line similar to Jesus!

Thoughts 

"Many times disillusionment comes simply because our circumstances don't fit our concept of who God is and how He works." - Mark Wiley

"If God led you to it, He will lead you through it." - Author Unknown

[Message No: 6456]

Relationship With God - 3

Ephesians 6:14-20

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,  with the breastplate of righteousness in place,    and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.    In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,  with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.    Take the helmet of salvation  and the sword of the Spirit,  which is the word of God.
    And pray in the Spirit  on all occasions  with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying  for all the Lord’s people.   Pray also for me,  that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly  make known the mystery  of the gospel,   for which I am an ambassador  in chains.  Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

1 Peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.    Cast all your anxiety on him  because he cares for you.

1 Corinthians 6:18

Flee from sexual immorality.  All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

1 John 3:1

See what great love  the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Psalm 86:15

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious  God, slow to anger,  abounding  in love and faithfulness.

John 3:3

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives,  just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

Hebrews 10:24

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,

[Message No: 6455]

Beholding the Risen One – Transformation

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Flow – from Christ

John 4:14

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Revelation 22:1

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

No more Remembrance of Sins

Hebrews 10:17

then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Isaiah 44:22

I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
 And like a cloud, your sins.
 Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

The inspiration of the Scriptures

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Fulness of Time – The Incarnation 

Galatians 4:4

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

[Message No: 6454]

Relationship With God - 2

John 6:55-59

For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.   Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.    Just as the living Father sent me  and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.   This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”    He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

James 4:8

Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands,  you sinners, and purify your hearts,  you double-minded.

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death,  but the gift of God is eternal life  in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also suffered once  for sins,  the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body  but made alive in the Spirit.    After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits —   to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently  in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.  In it only a few people, eight in all,  were saved  through water,   and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you  also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience  toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,    who has gone into heaven  and is at God’s right hand —with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Acts 3:19

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,  that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

John 14:23

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

[Message No: 6453]

An Exhortation to Praise

Psalm 100

1] Make  a joyful noise unto the Lord
2] Serve the LORD with gladness
3] Come before his presence with singing
4] Know ye that the LORD, he is God
5] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving

Let’s live for God

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” – Romans 6:11-12

If we have been cleansed from perversity, if we have died with Christ in baptism and have been cleansed thoroughly and completely by the Holy Spirit, then let's live for God! Let's resist sin, and our inclination to sin, with all our might, knowing that as we do, the Holy Spirit will empower us to a much greater righteousness than we could ever live on our own. Let's begin each day with a conscious decision to be dead to our sinful past and alive to the goal of the holy character of God!

Prayer 

. Lord, I stand in need of Your forgiveness—not for what I’ve done this time, Lord, but for what I haven’t done. Many times in the past, Lord, I’ve chosen the pathway of least resistance; the easy way out. I have chosen silence and disengagement when I should have chosen action and encouragement. I have kept my mouth closed when my Brother or Sister needed me to help or needed me to speak up in their defense. I didn’t want to get in the middle of someone else’s problems, Lord, when I needed to act and help. Forgive me and help me to do better with this in the future. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Two blessings of diligence

Proverbs 22:29

Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.

[Message No: 6452]

Relationship With God - 1

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans  I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper  you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him  must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am  the way  and the truth  and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins  and purify us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:16

For God so loved  the world that he gave  his one and only Son,  that whoever believes  in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

James 4:6-10

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
  “God opposes the proud
 but shows favor to the humble.”
     Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,  and he will flee from you.   Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands,  you sinners, and purify your hearts,  you double-minded.    Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.    Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

John 15:5

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;  apart from me you can do nothing.

1 Timothy 6:12-16

Fight the good fight  of the faith. Take hold of  the eternal life  to which you were called when you made your good confession  in the presence of many witnesses.   In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate  made the good confession,  I charge you    to keep this command without spot or blame  until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,    which God will bring about in his own time —God, the blessed  and only Ruler,  the King of kings and Lord of lords,    who alone is immortal  and who lives in unapproachable light,  whom no one has seen or can see.  To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

[Message No: 6451]

Results of Backsliding

+ God’s name blasphemed

Romans 2:24

For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

+ Denying the Lord

Matthew 26:70

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.

+ Shipwreck of faith

1 Timothy 1:19

holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,
+ Many get stumbled

Malachi 2:8

But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

+ Going astray from God

1 Kings 11:3-4

He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart.  For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

John 17:26

"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Jesus reveals God to us. One of the reasons he does this is so that we can know who God is and what is important to him. Clearly, the most important thing on Jesus' heart in this prayer is that we share his love for us with each other. In this way, Jesus comes to life in us.

[Message No: 6450]

God won’t Let You Down

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward  Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees  and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. – Daniel 6:10

God won’t let you down when you:

1] Take a stand for righteousness

2] Place all of your trust in Him

3] Keep the prayer line open

4]Live before open windows

The Spirit Is Given to Samaritans'

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria  had accepted the word of God,  they sent Peter and John  to Samaria.   When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit,    because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;  they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    Then Peter and John placed their hands on them,  and they received the Holy Spirit. - Acts 8:14-17

the earth with the good news of the kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). But these followers had kept this good news bottled up with Jews in Jerusalem and Judea. Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses in Samaria also. We see this expansion into Samaria dramatically happen in ways that the apostles can't deny. The Message of Jesus will reach the ends of the earth, and the Holy Spirit will be the unmistakable power that enables this spreading of the gospel to occur!

Prayer

. Father, I ask you to conform my attitude toward others to match the redemptive grace you have for them. I want to be more patient with the failures of others, just as you are patient with mine. Forgive me for not being more of an encouragement to those who are weak and struggling and open my eyes to the ways I can be a blessing to them. Forgive me for those times I have been a hindrance to others and open my heart to share your blessings with them. Please use me to be an instrument of grace. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank You Lord

The Lord has a purpose for every circumstance He allows in our life, and thankfulness motivates us to seek His purpose. In God’s perfect time, the divine plan is revealed, and then we can tell Him with sincere hearts, “Lord, thank You!”

[Message No: 6449]

Prayer and Worship – 5

[Use Scriptures in your Prayers]

Revelation 4:8

Each of the four living creatures  had six wings  and was covered with eyes all around,  even under its wings. Day and night  they never stop saying:
  “‘Holy, holy, holy
 is the Lord God Almighty,’
 who was, and is, and is to come.”

Revelation 8:11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
 to receive glory and honor and power,
 for you created all things,
 and by your will they were created
 and have their being.”

Revelation 5:12-13

In a loud voice they were saying:
  “Worthy is the Lamb,  who was slain,
 to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
 and honor and glory and praise!”
     Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth  and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
  “To him who sits on the throne  and to the Lamb
 be praise and honor and glory and power,
 for ever and ever!”

Revelation 7:12

saying:
  “Amen!
 Praise and glory
 and wisdom and thanks and honor
 and power and strength
 be to our God for ever and ever.
 Amen!”

Revelation 15:3-4

and sang the song of God’s servant  Moses  and of the Lamb:
  “Great and marvelous are your deeds,
 Lord God Almighty.
 Just and true are your ways,
 King of the nations.
    Who will not fear you, Lord,
 and bring glory to your name?
 For you alone are holy.
 All nations will come
 and worship before you,
 for your righteous acts  have been revealed.”

[Message No: 6448]

By repenting you can receive God’s Forgiveness

Acts 2:38

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized,  every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the

forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

By Confession you can receive God’s Forgiveness

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins  and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 27:1

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” --
Humility about the future! We don't control tomorrow. At other times in our lives we may have taken tomorrow for granted; not so anymore. Tomorrow may not come. Tomorrow something horrible could happen. Tomorrow everything we possess could be gone. In the face of these discouraging possibilities, is there anytning positive we can hold onto? Absolutely! We know that God holds tomorrow in his hands.

We know that because our life is hidden with Christ in God (cf. Col. 3:1-4) our tomorrow is secure. It might not be what we expect. It might not go as we planned. But, it will go as God determines and it will end up with us sharing in his comfort, victory, and glory.

By Humbling, you can receive God’s Forgiveness

2 Chronicles 7:14

if my people, who are called by my name,  will humble  themselves and pray and seek my face  and turn  from their wicked ways, then I will hear  from heaven, and I will forgive  their sin and will heal  their land.

Thought 

"If the mind of God as discovered to us in His word and works is so vast and deep, what must His mind be in all its undisclosed resources in the infinity and eternity of its existence?" - John Bate

[Message No: 6447]

Simon’s Testimony

Matthew 27:32

As they were going out,  they met a man from Cyrene,  named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

1. I stood in the presence of Jesus

2. I helped Jesus bear his cross

3. I accepted God’s plan for reconciliation.

God's Spirit Will Be with God's People, Forever!'

As for me, this is my covenant  with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit,  who is on you, will not depart from you,  and my words that I have put in your mouth  will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever,” says the Lord. - Isaiah 59:21

The book of Isaiah furnishes so much language and imagery of the Messiah and the coming new covenant of God with his people. One of the great promises God makes through Isaiah is of the coming of the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit will never be taken away from God's people. This promise lies behind Jesus' promise to his followers before his death that he would not leave them as orphans, but would send the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who would be with them forever (John 14:16-18 ASV). God's Spirit will never abandon us or leave us or forget us, but will be with us forever!

Thoughts 

"Zeal without knowledge is fire without light." - Thomas Fuller

"Only he who flings himself upward when the pull comes to drag him down, can hope to break the force of temptation. Temptation may be an invitation to hell, but much more is it an opportunity to reach heaven. At the moment of temptation, sin and righteousness are both very near the Christian; but, of the two, the latter is the nearer." - Charles H. Brent

Be Courageous

Joshua 1:7

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey  all the law  my servant Moses  gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,  that you may be successful wherever you go.

[Message No: 6446]

Prayer and Worship – 4

[Use Scriptures in your Prayers]

Isaiah 25:1

Lord, you are my God;
 I will exalt you and praise your name,
 for in perfect faithfulness
 you have done wonderful things,
 things planned  long ago.

Jeremiah 32:17-21

“Ah, Sovereign Lord,  you have made the heavens and the earth  by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard  for you.   You show love  to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps  of their children  after them. Great and mighty God,  whose name is the Lord Almighty,    great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.  Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind;  you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.    You performed signs and wonders  in Egypt  and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown  that is still yours.   You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand  and an outstretched arm  and with great terror.

Romans 11:34-36

“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
 Or who has been his counselor?”
    “Who has ever given to God,
 that God should repay them?”

    For from him and through him and for him are all things.
 To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Revelation 1:5-6

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,  the firstborn from the dead,  and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

 To him who loves us  and has freed us from our sins by his blood,    and has made us to be a kingdom and priests  to serve his God and Father —to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

[Message No. 6445]