Some things to consider:
1) Where is our trust ?
a. in the proud or those who lapse into falsehood
b. or in the Lord God Almighty
2) Have our ears been opened to His truth and righteousness and lovingkindness ?
a. do we seek to hear the wisdom of man and follow his leading
b. or do we delight to do His will and have His law within our heart
3) Have we/are we proclaiming His glad tidings of righteousness ?
a. do we proclaim the wiles of the world’s ways
b. or do we proclaim Him to all those around us as well as to those in the congregation
4) Can we say that we:
a. have NOT hidden His righteousness within our hearts
b. have spoken of His faithfulness and His salvation
c. have NOT concealed His lovingkindness and truth
For the Lord will not withhold His compassion nor His lovingkindness.
His truth will continually preserve us.
Let all who seek after Him rejoice and be glad…
Saturday, July 18, 2009
a famine of truth and righteousness
2 Kings 6:33
While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"
The evil referred to in this verse was a great famine that had come upon the land. The King wanted to take matters into his own hand. He wanted Elisha killed because he blamed Elisha (the man of God) for all of their problems.
At this time in our country there is also a great famine – a famine of truth and righteousness in the land. The people of our country want ‘change’ but we want it by man’s hand and man’s wisdom (why should I wait for/believe on the Lord any longer?).
The truth and righteousness of God is no longer worth ‘waiting’ for – our leaders don’t even want to acknowledge it any longer!
As we proceed through this time the famine will become worse and a time will come when a man of God will 1) be blamed for all the problems and 2) there will be an attempt to silence the truth.
I believe we are beginning to see the early seeds of this already germinating within our country.
While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him and he said, "Behold, this evil is from the LORD; why should I wait for the LORD any longer?"
The evil referred to in this verse was a great famine that had come upon the land. The King wanted to take matters into his own hand. He wanted Elisha killed because he blamed Elisha (the man of God) for all of their problems.
At this time in our country there is also a great famine – a famine of truth and righteousness in the land. The people of our country want ‘change’ but we want it by man’s hand and man’s wisdom (why should I wait for/believe on the Lord any longer?).
The truth and righteousness of God is no longer worth ‘waiting’ for – our leaders don’t even want to acknowledge it any longer!
As we proceed through this time the famine will become worse and a time will come when a man of God will 1) be blamed for all the problems and 2) there will be an attempt to silence the truth.
I believe we are beginning to see the early seeds of this already germinating within our country.
a word of exhortation
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16
What a word of exhortation for those who love the Lord and know His name.
Because we love Him therefore the Lord -
- will deliver us
- set us securely on high
- will answer us when we call upon Him
- will be with us in times of trouble
- will rescue us
- will honor us
- will satisfy us with a long life
- will allow us to see His salvation – the living Lord Jesus Christ
Lord, we love You and we know Your name – draw us ever closer to You for our trust shall be in You all the days of our lives.
Blessing and honor and glory to Your Holy Name.
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16
What a word of exhortation for those who love the Lord and know His name.
Because we love Him therefore the Lord -
- will deliver us
- set us securely on high
- will answer us when we call upon Him
- will be with us in times of trouble
- will rescue us
- will honor us
- will satisfy us with a long life
- will allow us to see His salvation – the living Lord Jesus Christ
Lord, we love You and we know Your name – draw us ever closer to You for our trust shall be in You all the days of our lives.
Blessing and honor and glory to Your Holy Name.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
bondage
Bondage…it is prevalent all around our world today – people’s lives bound up, their freedom usurped whether forced or voluntarily. Bound physically, bound mentally, bound economically but most of all bound spiritually.
Even those within the body of Christ have been bound up with the things of this world. The trend toward placing man’s wisdom above God’s in most everything that we do is one of the sources of this bondage. Our freedom comes only in Christ - not in the wiles of the world or in the wisdom that the world promotes. Yet, we seem to be so desirous of what the world has that we forsake the true and real freedom and liberty that comes in Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to set us free from bondage in all of its forms. But it is our own foolishness and desire to rule our own lives that keeps us bound. The life in the flesh struggles continuously with sin and temptation and evil. Whether we recognize it or not we also wage war in the heavenlies against the principalities and powers of this world (the devil) and we can become bound by his oppressive attacks on our lives.
And yet, in Christ we are told that our struggle against bondage has been overcome in Him, by His atoning sacrifice and victory over sin and death: His finished work – we must take hold and stand victorious in this truth.
The world and its ways will never set you free.
The wisdom of this world will never grant liberty.
Only Christ can break the shackles that bound man’s mind, body and soul.
And only by trusting completely in Him, surrendering our whole life to Him, can we be free to live without the bondage that is perpetrated by this world.
Redemption and deliverance are Mine saith the Lord God Almighty, in Me you will find freedom and liberty.
Even those within the body of Christ have been bound up with the things of this world. The trend toward placing man’s wisdom above God’s in most everything that we do is one of the sources of this bondage. Our freedom comes only in Christ - not in the wiles of the world or in the wisdom that the world promotes. Yet, we seem to be so desirous of what the world has that we forsake the true and real freedom and liberty that comes in Christ and the power of His Holy Spirit.
Jesus came to set us free from bondage in all of its forms. But it is our own foolishness and desire to rule our own lives that keeps us bound. The life in the flesh struggles continuously with sin and temptation and evil. Whether we recognize it or not we also wage war in the heavenlies against the principalities and powers of this world (the devil) and we can become bound by his oppressive attacks on our lives.
And yet, in Christ we are told that our struggle against bondage has been overcome in Him, by His atoning sacrifice and victory over sin and death: His finished work – we must take hold and stand victorious in this truth.
The world and its ways will never set you free.
The wisdom of this world will never grant liberty.
Only Christ can break the shackles that bound man’s mind, body and soul.
And only by trusting completely in Him, surrendering our whole life to Him, can we be free to live without the bondage that is perpetrated by this world.
Redemption and deliverance are Mine saith the Lord God Almighty, in Me you will find freedom and liberty.
Abide
As we walk through these times of concern and anxiousness let us ponder upon these two verses in Psalm 91 and be encouraged.
May our desire be to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in His shadow.
For in His shelter there is rest and peace and understanding.
And when we abide in His shadow He will provide protection and deliverance from the wiles of this world.
Let us be encouraged knowing that the Lord is our refuge and our fortress acknowledging that to Him –
‘and I will say to the Lord, You are my refuge and You are my fortress…and because You are my God in You will I trust’.
For I long to be in Your presence Lord, to sit at Your feet – for there I shall find grace and comfort and joy and peace and restoration
and a lovingkindness that the world does not understand.
And that touch of heaven and eternity’s bliss shall exhort my soul.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
Psalm 91:1-2
May our desire be to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide in His shadow.
For in His shelter there is rest and peace and understanding.
And when we abide in His shadow He will provide protection and deliverance from the wiles of this world.
Let us be encouraged knowing that the Lord is our refuge and our fortress acknowledging that to Him –
‘and I will say to the Lord, You are my refuge and You are my fortress…and because You are my God in You will I trust’.
For I long to be in Your presence Lord, to sit at Your feet – for there I shall find grace and comfort and joy and peace and restoration
and a lovingkindness that the world does not understand.
And that touch of heaven and eternity’s bliss shall exhort my soul.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
Psalm 91:1-2
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