Based on Psalm 76
The God of Jerusalem is great. He is greater than anything we can compare him to. He has overcome armies by his power and nobody will be able to stand against him when he comes in judgement.
Verse 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. There will come a time when Jesus will be vindicated (shown right) by the passionate anger of wicked men against his people. Jesus will not allow this passionate anger to come to it's end, he will destroy it, cut it short by the the destruction of the wicked. Jesus will also not allow anger that discredits him, he will restrain the passions of his people and help them to be righteous.
Because of all this it is wise to submit to Jesus, give your life to him and sacrifice everything he asks for. Nothing is worth more than a person; no sacrifice is too great for your own salvation and the salvation of others. Lord cause your Holy Spirit to help us to see value the way God sees it!
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Tuesday, 28 May 2013
Rising Ultimately Higher
Based on Psalm 75
Ultimately our thanks should be to God, because he is the source of benefits. Jesus will come soon to be with his people, vindicate (show right) his name and to bring justice. In the final execution of justice the Earth will melt but Jesus will enable the foundations of his city to remain.
Jesus is warning us already, justice is coming it is time to get ready. If you have been ignoring God; it's time for him to fill your thoughts. If you have been thinking about your own benefit; it's time to obey Jesus' word whatever the cost. Don't try to make yourself important and refuse to be convinced you are wrong. God whose temple was in the north of Jerusalem is the only source of ultimate importance or ultimate humiliation. Be on God's side; devote yourself to him and delight in him, start by prayer and reading the Holy Bible. All the things that make selfishness appealing are going to be destroyed, follow and trust Jesus; it will be for the best.
Ultimately our thanks should be to God, because he is the source of benefits. Jesus will come soon to be with his people, vindicate (show right) his name and to bring justice. In the final execution of justice the Earth will melt but Jesus will enable the foundations of his city to remain.
Jesus is warning us already, justice is coming it is time to get ready. If you have been ignoring God; it's time for him to fill your thoughts. If you have been thinking about your own benefit; it's time to obey Jesus' word whatever the cost. Don't try to make yourself important and refuse to be convinced you are wrong. God whose temple was in the north of Jerusalem is the only source of ultimate importance or ultimate humiliation. Be on God's side; devote yourself to him and delight in him, start by prayer and reading the Holy Bible. All the things that make selfishness appealing are going to be destroyed, follow and trust Jesus; it will be for the best.
Monday, 27 May 2013
How Long Will Jesus Be
Based on Psalm 74
Sometimes it seems like God has forgotten about his people. Why are we still waiting for Jesus to sanctify his people? All our institutions and our people are getting more corrupt, and further from the purpose God designed them for. We do not have a living prophet or anyone that can give us a sense of how long we have to wait. It could be a year, it could be a millennium (though I greatly doubt it will be long).
But God has worked wonders in the past, and he can do it again. God's enemies mock him because of the weakness of his people, but God will transform his people and put his enemies to shame. Bring the revival and reformation that we need Lord, so your enemies will be put to shame.
Sometimes it seems like God has forgotten about his people. Why are we still waiting for Jesus to sanctify his people? All our institutions and our people are getting more corrupt, and further from the purpose God designed them for. We do not have a living prophet or anyone that can give us a sense of how long we have to wait. It could be a year, it could be a millennium (though I greatly doubt it will be long).
But God has worked wonders in the past, and he can do it again. God's enemies mock him because of the weakness of his people, but God will transform his people and put his enemies to shame. Bring the revival and reformation that we need Lord, so your enemies will be put to shame.
Sunday, 26 May 2013
The Psalms of Asaph
Based on Psalm 73
Briefly; Asaph was a prophet (2 Chr 29:30) and a song leader (1 Chr 6:39) who wrote these next few psalms.
Read Psalm 73.
Not everybody seems to feel this way, but I have from time to time. It doesn't bother me that much though. Why do all the bad things happen to me? Why are the lives of people who disregard God so simple? Well, they are not really, they have their own problems, but don't usually show them. I don't show them either for that matter; so maybe others think my life is charmed. It is sinful to discourage God's people by talking this way to others. Really, my life is charmed; God is preparing me for an eternity of glory. In the sanctuary God's judgment can be seen, so we know that the wicked will not ultimately be well-off. In the sanctuary God's judgment can be seen, so we know that the righteous will be vindicated; all the slurs against us will be cleared.
We don't need to seek justice in this world; God will bring us justice, perfect justice. If he brought justice today it would not go well with me; God is also merciful, and he is making everyone righteous that will allow him so we will stand in the judgment. In our personal dealings, any injustice or oppression is evidence that we are not going to make it through the judgment.
When someone is unfair to you, do you feel you need to make it right? Take that to Jesus, he will make it right one day. Don't try to make it right yourself, ask Jesus to help you forgive.
This takes great faith, the kind of faith you need. Ask and you will receive.
Briefly; Asaph was a prophet (2 Chr 29:30) and a song leader (1 Chr 6:39) who wrote these next few psalms.
Read Psalm 73.
Not everybody seems to feel this way, but I have from time to time. It doesn't bother me that much though. Why do all the bad things happen to me? Why are the lives of people who disregard God so simple? Well, they are not really, they have their own problems, but don't usually show them. I don't show them either for that matter; so maybe others think my life is charmed. It is sinful to discourage God's people by talking this way to others. Really, my life is charmed; God is preparing me for an eternity of glory. In the sanctuary God's judgment can be seen, so we know that the wicked will not ultimately be well-off. In the sanctuary God's judgment can be seen, so we know that the righteous will be vindicated; all the slurs against us will be cleared.
We don't need to seek justice in this world; God will bring us justice, perfect justice. If he brought justice today it would not go well with me; God is also merciful, and he is making everyone righteous that will allow him so we will stand in the judgment. In our personal dealings, any injustice or oppression is evidence that we are not going to make it through the judgment.
When someone is unfair to you, do you feel you need to make it right? Take that to Jesus, he will make it right one day. Don't try to make it right yourself, ask Jesus to help you forgive.
This takes great faith, the kind of faith you need. Ask and you will receive.
Saturday, 25 May 2013
Romans 3:27-31 // Faith Establishes the Law
Based on Romans 3:27-31
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Because all are guilty of breaking God's law and all need Jesus to be saved by his blood which is beyond them to purchase we can conclude a few points. Can any of us boast about our spirituality? No, because although we might have room to boast in terms of conscientiousness in keeping the law; the fact that we are alive and able to become law-abiding is entirely by faith in Jesus. So the deeds of the law themselves have no power to save, they are an end of salvation not a means.
Is Jehovah the God of the Jews and the Gentiles? Yes, both; one God that works in each of us to make our character like his by our faith whether we are circumcised or uncircumcised; born into the church or born out of the church.
Does the fact that faith is the source of our law-keeping make the law itself useless? That is a ridiculous proposition; the law tells us right and wrong but does not empower us to do it. Knowing right and wrong is not enough; we must do right and reject wrong. Only by faith will we be able to keep the law; faith establishes the law in our souls. That does not change the law itself; but our way of striving to keep it.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Because all are guilty of breaking God's law and all need Jesus to be saved by his blood which is beyond them to purchase we can conclude a few points. Can any of us boast about our spirituality? No, because although we might have room to boast in terms of conscientiousness in keeping the law; the fact that we are alive and able to become law-abiding is entirely by faith in Jesus. So the deeds of the law themselves have no power to save, they are an end of salvation not a means.
Is Jehovah the God of the Jews and the Gentiles? Yes, both; one God that works in each of us to make our character like his by our faith whether we are circumcised or uncircumcised; born into the church or born out of the church.
Does the fact that faith is the source of our law-keeping make the law itself useless? That is a ridiculous proposition; the law tells us right and wrong but does not empower us to do it. Knowing right and wrong is not enough; we must do right and reject wrong. Only by faith will we be able to keep the law; faith establishes the law in our souls. That does not change the law itself; but our way of striving to keep it.
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Romans 3:24-26 // Sacrifice for Future/Past
Based on Romans 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Though as we have learned, we have sinned, and do not match God's standard; he is ready to declare us righteous (sinless) without us earning it at all because of the work Jesus did in his life, on the cross and is still doing in the heavenly sanctuary interceding for us.
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God (the three divine persons in counsel) has decided on Jesus as the mercy seat; the sign of mercy which is obtained by faith in his death. This sacrifice justifies God's forgiveness of sins in the past that he forgave in his mercy for those that had faith. Also to justify God's forgiveness of sins to this day of those that have faith in Jesus.
Jesus sacrifice was effective for the future and the past, it is effective for today. Trust in Jesus and however bad the circumstances seem he will work things together for the best possible result.
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Though as we have learned, we have sinned, and do not match God's standard; he is ready to declare us righteous (sinless) without us earning it at all because of the work Jesus did in his life, on the cross and is still doing in the heavenly sanctuary interceding for us.
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
God (the three divine persons in counsel) has decided on Jesus as the mercy seat; the sign of mercy which is obtained by faith in his death. This sacrifice justifies God's forgiveness of sins in the past that he forgave in his mercy for those that had faith. Also to justify God's forgiveness of sins to this day of those that have faith in Jesus.
Jesus sacrifice was effective for the future and the past, it is effective for today. Trust in Jesus and however bad the circumstances seem he will work things together for the best possible result.
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Romans 3:21-23 // All Have Sinned
Based on Romans 3:21-23
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The coming of Christ was predicted by the law and the prophets, along with many aspects of his life and ministry. These give evidence that Jesus was really the Christ, the older scriptures give evidence that the newer scriptures are true. The law itself can only have effect on one that reads, hears or thinks about it, the law is dependent on human interest to be effective. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). The law cannot save because of human weakness, Jesus manifested/demonstrated the righteousness of God (obedience to the law), which we can also have by faith. Jesus Christ has won this ability to have saving faith for us, it is the kind of faith we need in order to trust God when everything seems to be going against faithfulness. This faith is available for all that believe the word of the gospel, the same, regardless of ethnicity or class. There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, cultural Christians and profligates where the gospel is concerned; because all have sinned and come short of the glorious standard of character and behaviour that God has detailed in his law.
I find it interesting to read this verse in context now, I have always heard it used to say that every single individual person has sinned, including unborn infants, the mentally disabled and... Jesus? Obviously it can't be taken to mean every person ever without exception, because Jesus has to be the exception. It is interesting that in context it is talking about how Jews and Gentiles (verse 9) are both sinful and need a Saviour. So although it is generally true that all have sinned, the context is addressing the issue of whether the Jews are the exceptions who have not sinned. It is saying that Jews (and cultural Christians) are sinners too, it is not specifically discussing those that do not have the mental capacity for faith. I am not saying that sin does not affect us at every mental state (I think it does) but rather that this verse should not be taken as the final word on this issue.
When it comes to those who are still-born or mentally disabled, it would be best to follow the advice God gives us in 1 Corinthians 4:5 that we should not try to determine people's salvation before judgment is given to us (Dan 7:22; Rev 20:4). God is just, and will not condemn any man for any sin but his own (Deut 24:16). The one who has never known anything is better off than the average sinner (Eccles 6:5). One believing parent makes all his or her children holy, (1 Cor 7:14) we know they do not become well behaved just because of their parent's conversion, so what does it mean that they are made holy? If you believe that God cannot destroy the soul (Mat 10:28) and therefore (of necessity) consciousness (which is part of the soul) you will struggle to reconcile these things. Some may be saved by the faith of those who love them, others may be as if they never knew any thing.
Jesus life is our perfect example of how to live, read about his life in the Bible, reflect on it through the day. You need it more badly than you think.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The coming of Christ was predicted by the law and the prophets, along with many aspects of his life and ministry. These give evidence that Jesus was really the Christ, the older scriptures give evidence that the newer scriptures are true. The law itself can only have effect on one that reads, hears or thinks about it, the law is dependent on human interest to be effective. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3). The law cannot save because of human weakness, Jesus manifested/demonstrated the righteousness of God (obedience to the law), which we can also have by faith. Jesus Christ has won this ability to have saving faith for us, it is the kind of faith we need in order to trust God when everything seems to be going against faithfulness. This faith is available for all that believe the word of the gospel, the same, regardless of ethnicity or class. There is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, cultural Christians and profligates where the gospel is concerned; because all have sinned and come short of the glorious standard of character and behaviour that God has detailed in his law.
I find it interesting to read this verse in context now, I have always heard it used to say that every single individual person has sinned, including unborn infants, the mentally disabled and... Jesus? Obviously it can't be taken to mean every person ever without exception, because Jesus has to be the exception. It is interesting that in context it is talking about how Jews and Gentiles (verse 9) are both sinful and need a Saviour. So although it is generally true that all have sinned, the context is addressing the issue of whether the Jews are the exceptions who have not sinned. It is saying that Jews (and cultural Christians) are sinners too, it is not specifically discussing those that do not have the mental capacity for faith. I am not saying that sin does not affect us at every mental state (I think it does) but rather that this verse should not be taken as the final word on this issue.
When it comes to those who are still-born or mentally disabled, it would be best to follow the advice God gives us in 1 Corinthians 4:5 that we should not try to determine people's salvation before judgment is given to us (Dan 7:22; Rev 20:4). God is just, and will not condemn any man for any sin but his own (Deut 24:16). The one who has never known anything is better off than the average sinner (Eccles 6:5). One believing parent makes all his or her children holy, (1 Cor 7:14) we know they do not become well behaved just because of their parent's conversion, so what does it mean that they are made holy? If you believe that God cannot destroy the soul (Mat 10:28) and therefore (of necessity) consciousness (which is part of the soul) you will struggle to reconcile these things. Some may be saved by the faith of those who love them, others may be as if they never knew any thing.
Jesus life is our perfect example of how to live, read about his life in the Bible, reflect on it through the day. You need it more badly than you think.
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