Guide…

Guide…

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. ~ Exodus 15:13

What an indescribable promise our compassionate God and Father has given to His people! By His power and strength, we are led to His holy dwelling … His safe refuge … the place of His abiding Presence! When the Lord led Israel out of the darkness and bondage of Egypt,
by day He went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way … and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (Exodus 13:21)

Oh, yes! The Lord has promised to guide His people; and He is our God forever and ever. Indeed, He will be our guide to the end. (Psalm 48:14) The Lord will guide us always; He will satisfy our needs in the desolate wilderness and will strengthen our bodies. We will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11) As Jesus told the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)

The Lord bids us to seek His guidance through His Word. And there is much counsel there for us to consider. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. (Psalm 25:9) I love these words of the Psalmist Asaph as he contemplated the tender mercies of God:

Psalm 73:23-26 (NIV)

I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

My friends, the Presence of the Lord is His Spirit! And we receive Him when we place our faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus Himself affirmed: “When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15)

How blessed we are to abide in the Presence of the Lord! How blessed we are to have the Holy Spirit to guide us into all the Truth! Let us contemplate these riches of His grace this evening! Let us worship Him in Spirit and Truth!

Have a Blessed Day!

Presence…

Presence…

Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us; He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will restore us, that we may live in His Presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge Him. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” ~ Hosea 6:1-3

The Lord God has desired that human beings live in His Presence ever since He created us. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the morning. But when they transgressed His commandment, separation occurred. Indeed, when the Lord confronted Cain for his murderous act, Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence. I will be a restless wanderer upon the earth…. (Genesis 4:13-14) Oh, how deep is the chasm when we do not confess and repent of our sin … for we separate ourselves from the Presence of the Lord.

I am reminded of Moses who contended with the stiff-necked and wayward children of Israel. As they began their journey to the Promised Land, Moses implored the Lord, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here! How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (Exodus 33:15-16) Oh, friends of mine, do we not see that it is the Presence of the Lord that demonstrates His grace upon us and distinguishes us from those who are hidden from His presence?

In his great confession captured in Psalm 51, King David understood the magnitude of his iniquity and his desperate need to be cleansed and restored to fellowship with God. He affirms the sovereign holiness and righteous judgment of God. In deep, sincere repentance, David pleads: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your Presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Verses 10-11) Indeed, there is no light, life or redemption without the Presence of the Lord within us.

There is a quiet confidence to be found in the Presence of the Lord. Before Him, there is a heart of surrender and abandonment of any effort to ever leave His Presence. Oh, for the steadfast faith of David to inspire us this morning: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your Presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11) Yes, as Paul prayed: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the Presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

Have a Blessed Day!

Fasting…

Fasting…

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Fasting has been a spiritual discipline for people of faith for millennia. It was a common practice during the time when Jesus lived among the people of God; and when He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for a period of temptation, He fasted for forty days and nights. (Matthew 4:1-11) And I think this experience might have prompted His observation of those who made a ritual of fasting to demonstrate their religious piety rather than their sincere desire to draw closer to the Father in spirit and in truth….

We can read of instances in the New Testament where fasting and prayer were disciplines used before making important decisions for evangelism in the early church; but I think this stems as a continuation of the tradition well established in Old Testament during the life of the Prophet Samuel. Fasting continues to this day as a spiritual discipline to show submission to God and His sovereignty; however, I think we should consider what God spoke through the Prophet Isaiah:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to remove the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. (Isaiah 58:6-9)

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:12-13)

My friends, I pray we will always desire to do those things that will draw our hearts ever closer to God. Let us always hold fast to Jesus – our first love! But let us be mindful of His heart and what Father God defines as true acts of fasting. Remember, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Cf. Matthew 25:31-40) Indeed, in view of God’s mercy, let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— for this is our true and proper worship. (Cf. Romans 12:1)

Have a Blessed Day!

Strong…

Strong…

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

When we think of being strong, the idea of having the power to move heavy weights or perform physically demanding tasks probably comes to mind. But for the Christian, we more readily identify with the ability to withstand great force or pressure being exerted against us. And so, it is of great importance for us to be trained and equipped in those spiritual disciplines which strengthen our resolve and determination to triumph; that is, to overcome the world through victorious faith in Christ Jesus. (1 John 5:4)

In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul instructed:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 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.

Note the key premise: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood; rather, we must come to terms with the spiritual warfare going on around us. As Paul explains: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

My friends, I am praying for spiritual awakening within the Church to break forth in 2024! I am praying the people of God will prepare themselves for the battles already in sight on the horizon. Yes, let us begin with a time of fasting and prayer … to seek the power and presence of the Lord.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) Indeed, let the weak say I am strong!

Have a Blessed Day!

Love…

Love…

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

Happy New Year!

As we embark on another circuit around the sun today, I thought it best to remind us of the most important command that we have received from the Lord Jesus – to love one another as He loved us! Love is how others will know that we are His disciples … His followers. It is the message that we have heard from the beginning. (1 John 3:11) Love is what should distinguish a Christian first and foremost!

Peter attested:

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. ~ 1 Peter 1:22-23

Paul affirmed:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ~ Romans 12:9-10

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:2-3

Oh, how masterful and powerful John wrote and proclaimed the necessity of love as evidence of our fellowship with the Father and the Son:

1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)

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. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

I pray that we will begin this New Year with a renewed awareness of the excellence of love! I pray that we would see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! As Paul instructed: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Let us follow the Law of Love!

Have a Blessed Day!

Good…

Good…

As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on His knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. (Mark 10:17-18)

As I read this story, I wondered why Jesus asked the man a question before He responded with any answer. I do not think our Lord Jesus made His response to the man to rebuke him; rather, I think Jesus was trying to determine if the man thought that He was God? Notice that the man had fallen to his knees before Jesus. Perhaps, it appeared to be a gesture of worship. So, it was a valid question … similar to when Jesus had asked His disciples: “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)

As we read further in the story, we see more detail of the interchange between this ruler and Jesus. Observe how Jesus answered the question:

Mark 10:19-22 (NIV)

“You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

What a powerful statement! Jesus loved the man for his effort to please God through obedience; however, something was lacking. In what had the man ultimately placed his confidence? In his self-perceived goodness through keeping the relational commandments? Note the absence of the first four commandments to love, serve, and worship God? Yet, Jesus brings these into view when He explains what is lacking and urges: “Come, follow Me.” Indeed, the time had come for true worshipers to worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth. (John 4:23)

It is clear that goodness has escaped us since the trespass of Adam. “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5) Moses understood this spiritual issue. Indeed, in spite of our greatest intentions for goodness or our utmost desires for holiness, our sin nature still reflects this verdict: “There is no one who does good – not even one.” (Psalm 53:3) King David confirmed it…. And later, the Prophet Isaiah observed:

Isaiah 64:4-6 (NIV)

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

My friends, Jesus has told us what we must do to receive eternal life. We need to understand that our righteousness has not been received through the Law because none of us has been careful to obey all the commandments. (Cf. Deuteronomy 6:25) But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-24) A person is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law; and this is the Good News!

Have a Blessed Day!

Follow…

Follow…

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

I never cease to be fascinated with the stories of people who encountered Jesus as captured for us in the New Testament Scriptures. Jesus invited ordinary people to come to Him first; and then, He told them to follow Him. In Luke 5:1-11, this encounter with Jesus is shared in greater detail, but the outcome is unchanged: They pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed Jesus!

How intriguing and compelling Jesus must have been to them! How irresistible His captivating presence must have felt! These fishermen immediately left everything – their very lives as they had known them up to that moment – to follow Jesus. What a testimony of their conviction and faith! I scare know anyone who has immediately left everything to follow Jesus; and yet, that is what He expects of us….

In Matthew 19:16-30, we read about another encounter. A rich young man met with Jesus to question Him about obeying the Law and eternal life. Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Oh, there is no doubt that to follow Jesus will require sacrifice on our part. Indeed, Jesus has affirmed to us all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

In spite the cost and self-denial required to follow Jesus, there are great blessings for doing so! Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Whoever follows Jesus will know His voice and never follow a stranger. (John 10:4-5) Whoever follows Jesus will serve Him; and where He is, His servants will also be. (John 12:26) These are just a few of the innumerable riches of grace Jesus imparts to us. Indeed, to follow Jesus is to love Him wholeheartedly … withholding nothing within our beings from Him….

My friends, there is an incredible life to be received and experienced when we come to Jesus Christ and follow Him. He redeems us from the old-self … the old way of life. He empowers us walk in newness of life! (Romans 6:3-5) We become new creations; old things pass away; behold, all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Yes, come to Jesus! Follow Him! He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6)

Have a Blessed Day!

Come…

Come…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Never have there been any kinder, more gentle words than this invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a deep longing within each of us to hear His voice … calling us to draw close to Him and to surrender every wearisome burden of life. His appeal, “Come to me”, is the heart of the Gospel! Jesus assures us: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” And, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:35; 37-38)

Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ (Quoting Isaiah 54:13) Therefore, everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45) And Jesus declared, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

My friends, there is an abundance of grace to be received in His offer to Come! There are benefits to be enjoyed. When we come to Jesus and place our faith in Him, we receive His gifts of salvation and eternal life. Whoever comes to Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! (John 8:12) Indeed, Jesus pleads: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him!

So, I urge everyone to come to Jesus! He is waiting with open arms to embrace and betroth you! Yes, come to Jesus, and joyfully serve Him in love! One day, Jesus is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done. Indeed, we will hear that precious word again: “Come!” For the King will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)

Have a Blessed Day!

Redeemed…

Redeemed…

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Is there anything better for believers than the knowledge they have been redeemed? Do we truly understand redemption – the redeeming love of God in Christ? We have been redeemed from the wages of sin and death! We have been redeemed from the power of sin and its empty life! We have been released from the shackles of guilt and the chains of darkness! Indeed, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Let us understand the significance of the redemption He accomplished! “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23)He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised Holy Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14) Yes, we who trusted in Jesus, after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation; in Him, having believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory! (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Let us understand the necessity of the redemption He accomplished! In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace! (Ephesians 1:7) For God rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Indeed, we have been freely justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. So, let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we have been sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) Rather, let us praise the One who paid our debt and raised us from the dead!

My friends, do you understand what it means to be redeemed? If so, then by faith, wrap yourself in the white linen that is to be our everlasting garment and give Him all the glory! Yes! Let us worship Christ Jesus, who entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood, and obtained for us eternal redemption! (Hebrews 9:12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Slumber…

Slumber…

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— (Proverbs 6:10)

I find it interesting that a lazy person only asks for a little sleep … a little slumber. Perhaps he would be offended if he were accused of outright laziness. A little is all that is desired. Perhaps he thinks “a little” is easier to conceal…. But let us see the outcome of “a little” over the span of time:

Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIV)

Go to the ant, you lazy person; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34 (NIV)

I went past the field of a lazy person, past the vineyard of someone who has no wisdom or discernment. Thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

Charles Surgeon observed: “It is by little procrastinations that people ruin their souls! They have no intention of delaying for years. They hope that it will be more convenient for them to seek God in a few months. They will get around to serious matters tomorrow.” And little by little, time eludes their attention. Indeed, life is wasted in small amounts! Opportunities for grace to be encountered are often taken for granted. And in the end, that person comes to spiritual poverty because of a little sleep … a little slumber … along their journey of faith.

As poverty will come to the idle, so ruin will come to those who remain undecided about Jesus. Yes, death will come to the unrepentant; and the unbeliever will miss salvation! For as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment; so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, Jesus will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. (Hebrews 9:27-28)

My friends, there will come a solemn day when it will be too late to repent and believe. I urge you to do so today: because the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, and our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here! Therefore, put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of His light. (Romans 13:11-12)

Have a Blessed Day!