Ephesians 4:4-6

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

 

Though the word trinity does arise until the Canon's, The Messiah himself says that the Father and he are one, he also speaks of a Comforter that will come in his place once he returns back to his Father. So what other word would you use than a Trinity?

Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus is surely one of the most profoundly doctrinal yet intensely practical books of the Word of the Heavenly Father.

 

More often, however, it appears not in a succinct formula like this, but rather in interconnected references to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, always implying that each is deity, but never that they are three different  deities'."He  prayed "unto the Father, that he would grant us to be strengthened with might by the Holy Spirit in the inner man; That the Messiah may dwell in your hearts by faith". Thus the believer is "filled with all the fulness of the God head", Father, son and Holy Spirit.

 

We are exhorted to "grieve not for the  Holy Spirit has knowledge of what we need,  even as our Heavenly Father for Christ's sake hath forgiven us". Giving thanks always for all things that are good and proper are from the Father.

 

There are others, but note especially our text, speaking of our unity in Him and His tri-unity in us. "There is one Spirit one redeemer,  One Heavenly Father, just as we are one body, though there are many members. But as our Father and the Messiah so are we one body with one single purpose which is to glorify the Father in all things.

Calvary Chapel Poulsbo Homeless OutReach Ministry

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John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

 

It is singularly appropriate that we look at this greatest of all on Christmas Day, for it records the greatest of all gifts. The theme of giving is very prominent in the Bible, with such words as "give," "gift," "gave," etc., occurring more than 2,100 times. The first is when God created the sun, moon, and stars "to give light upon the earth," and the last is when Christ will return with His rewards to "give every man according as his work shall be." "He gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons," as well as "life, and breath, and all things".

 

But the greatest gift, clearly, was when God gave Himself for a lost and undeserving world. It was the greatest gift because it met the greatest need, revealed the greatest love, and had the greatest scope and purpose of any gift that could ever be conceived in the heart of an omniscient Creator.

 

That was not the end of His giving, of course. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"  "Trust in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" .

 

This great gift of God is abundantly sufficient to provide salvation and everlasting life for the whole world. But a gift only becomes a gift when it is accepted, and the greatest of all tragedies is that this greatest of all gifts has been spurned and even ridiculed, or--worst of all--simply ignored by multitudes who need it so much. When they brazenly refuse God's free gift of everlasting life, they can only perish in everlasting death. God did all He could do when He gave His Son; for when He gave His Son, He gave Himself. 

Jeremiah 17:5

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." (Jeremiah 17:5)

 

Jeremiah provides for us a striking contrast between the selfassured humanist and the one who has placed his trust in God. The man who looks to his own abilities or those of others to save him in time of trouble is "cursed." His existence will be one of futility, just as is that of a parched desert plant. Why? Because his "heart departeth from the LORD"

 

Actually, Jeremiah uses a play on words here. The two words for "man" in our text are different: the first means "warrior" or "strong man," and the second a "normal man." The warrior who should be strong is cursed because he is trusting in one who is weak; in this case, any other man's wisdom or might, or even his own strength, when overestimated. What sense is there in that?

 

In contrast, "blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD". "He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and shall not be careful |i.e., anxious| in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit" . Why? Because his "hope the LORD is". Here again we see the warrior--one who might be considered strong--trusting solely in the true "strong man," the Lord.

 

It is a tragic fact that even many Christians fall into the mindset of the autonomous humanist and attempt to live their lives (even "the Christian life") under their own power. Do we trust in our own feeble power or in the Lord? Every heart, whether humanist or Christian, "is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Make no mistake! "I the LORD search the heart"; He knows our inner motives. Let us recommit ourselves to trust in the Lord and make Him our hope. 

Psalm 119:113-114

"I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." (Psalm 119:113-114)

The Bible is replete with military imagery. We are told to "wrestle" against the "spiritual wickedness in high places" and to be sure that we put on "the whole armour of God". As the good soldiers of the King, we are told to "endure hardness"  and expected, as His army, to be about the "pulling down of strong holds".

David was a warrior king, and many of his psalms contain battle terms used both literally and figuratively to show the way God protects and provides for us in spiritual warfare. The "hiding place" David often mentioned was a secret retreat that provided shelter from the enemy. The "shield" can refer to the same sort of retreat, but is most often used to describe a soldier's defensive buckler. Faith is our shield in spiritual warfare.

Thus, in this stanza, the psalmist visualized God in the role of Protector and Captain. He looked to God for his life while being upheld "according unto thy Word". Safety was no doubt prominent in his thoughts while affirming that he had continual respect for God's statutes.

The psalmist was also fearfully aware of God's take-no-prisioners attitude toward those who are against Him. While our gracious Lord and King is patient toward all sinners, His ultimate plan is to "put down all rule and all authority and power". Knowing this, the psalmist concluded: "My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments". Only a fool refuses to fear the Creator's wrath.

Come out of your sin closet oh men of God (Part 3)

What is done in darkness is always brought to the light. 


You do not  have to believe me, look at 2nd Samuel Chapter 11& 12.  Our Heavenly Father called David a man after His own heart and yet David once tried to keep a sin hidden. In the days when a king was to lead his army into battle, David decided to stay home. As he was resting on the balcony of his palace, he noticed a woman bathing. Instead of looking away, he let his eyes rest on her and he became enticed by her beauty. He decided he must have her. After inquiring about her he found out that she was Bathsheba the wife of Uriah one of his commanders who was away at war. Even so he sent for her and she soon became pregnant by him. David hoped to hide his sin bringing back Uriah from the war and telling him to go and stay with his wife. Uriah refused and said that as long as there was a war he would not sleep in his home. David then decided that the only other way was to cover up was to let Uriah die in battle. So he commanded that he be put on the front lines. When the news came that he had been killed David took Bathsheba in to his house as his wife. David thought it was over and that his sin would never be found out. One day the prophet Nathan came to David and to him the story of a poor man who owned a lamb. That little lamb meant everything to that man. It was like a member of his family. But there was a rich man who owned many sheep. The rich man one day entertained a traveler and instead of serving him one of his own sheep, he slaughtered the poor mans lamb. David was angry at this tale and wanted to punish the rich man for what he had done. At this, Nathan told David that David was the guilty one and what he thought he had hidden God saw. David repented but his child that was born by Bathsheba died as a consequence of his sin.  Do you have a sin which you keep secret?  Yes I know many of you might think wow Dr. H, what a silly question to ask, but sometimes it us who is silly to think that we can hide anything from our Heavenly Father our sins. We hope no one will ever find out about? In America one of the big problems is hidden sexual sin. Adultery, pre-marital sex, incest, pornography. All of these are rampant. Perhaps you have problems with alcohol, drugs or gambling? Maybe even what you don’t think is such a big sin as lying or theft? The only one who knows is you and your Heavenly Father. And it is because the Father knows that unless you do something to deal with that sin, He will be forced to deal with it in His way. The way He will deal with it is never pleasant. He usually exposes it to our embarrassment. A few well known tela- evangelists (Bishop Long, Swaggart etc..)  have had their sins exposed to the entire world. 


"For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."  (Luke 8:17)


Why would the Lord expose our sin? Because He loves us. Sin brings death and enslavement. When someone is suffering from cancer a surgeon must cut it out before it spreads. Surgery is never pleasant. But is necessary in order to save a life. So yes having our sin exposed hurts, but having it exposed and revealed can save our lives.  It's time we come to that place of repentance, for tomorrow is promise to no man. Our Heavenly Father is faithful and He will forgive us. We have pastors and elders and brothers and sisters in Christ  who are willing to help us get through it.  But key is to be able to come  to the Father and confess our sins for He is faithful and quick to forgive us.  So what are we waiting for?  I have reiterated to my children many times that if they have made a mistake or have an issue to come to me and let us together reason through it. I have learned the technic from my Heavenly Father who also invites each of us to come to him in the same manner. He stand there with His arms stretched out waiting.

Come out of your sin closet oh men of God (Part 2)

Sin committed in privacy, really do you actually think that our Heavenly Father does not see all that you do?  David said if I made my bed in hell also would you be, there is no where we can go or do that our Father is not able to see us. The only person you deceive is yourself when you think that your hidden in your sin closet.  Your wife may not know about you surfing those porn sites, the deacons might know about it, but the Father does, it is not His will that you or I should crawl around in the mud and filth of the pig pen.  Stand up on man of God, stand up!  You might have actually drunken the Kool Aide the enemy is tell you to drink, but remember this that If Christ can call the dead out of the grave. He is also  to set  men free of sexual sin, or anger, pride or even jealousy. For the Lord God sets free is free at last and is for eternity.

 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.  (Luke 8:17)

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.  (Luke 12:2:3)

 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:9-11)

Luke 12:51

Peace? On earth? Who are you kidding? Earth is filled with strife and violence. What were the angels talking about? What could their message mean, on that night so long ago, when they appeared to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem? Even the Messiah himself made it clear that His first coming to earth was not for the purpose of bringing peace on earth.


 "Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. (Luke 12:51)

Then what were the angels rejoicing about? What was the big deal that night in Bethlehem? They were speaking of peace between the Father and man, not peace among mankind.  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through the Messiah, And that is why we can rejoice and celebrate Christmas: The Messiah did everything necessary to erase all alienation between our Heavenly Father and mankind.
. The Heavenly Father is not against us He is not vengeful , but instead he is merciful . The Father loves us. Our Heavenly Father is not our problem instead He is the answer to our sin nature for only he can  redeem us from sin. So, turn to the Father, instead of
turning away from Him. That is the true message of Christmas. Everyone can be right
with the Father, because of our Heavenly Father's perfect gift His only begotten son came down from glory to suffer much for a sinner like me. The truth gift of the season is the Messiah coming down from glory to take our place on the cross. To pay the price for our sin, to die in our place. The Messiah is the true reason for the season.


Our Heavenly Father gave us the gift that never stops giving for through the Messiah's blood our children and their children can be saved if they accept Him as their redeemer and savior.

MEMO FROM GOD:

Yea, Yea Yea I know I posted this one before, but I had to repost it, something about this I just want to make sure that we all get it!!!!!

So did you get it???
 You know what !!!
Did you get the memo???
Okay just in case you didn't here it is :)


MEMO FROM GOD:

Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes you need
to make in your life. These changes need to be completed in order that I
may fulfill my promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in
this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. I know, I already gave you the 10 Commandments. Keep them. But follow these guidelines, also.

1. QUIT WORRYING
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you
forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for
you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes
your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR
list. Put it on MY to-do-list! . Let ME be the one to take care of the
problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to me. And although my
to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you
put into my hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take
care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME
Once you've given your burdens to me, quit trying to take them back.
Trust in me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs,
your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on my
list. Problem with finances? Put it on my list. Problems with your
emotional roller coaster? For my sake, put it on my list. I want to help
you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well,! I'm feeling much stronger now,
I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling
stronger now? It's simple. You gave me your burdens and I'm taking care
of them. I also renew your strength and cove! r you in my peace. Don't you
know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where
you started? Leave them with me and forget about them. Just let me do
my job.

5. TALK TO ME
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy.
Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But
there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please don't forget to talk to
me - OFTEN! I love you. I want to hear your voice. I want you to include
me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about
your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with
me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH
I see a lot of things from up here that you can'! t see from where you
are. Have faith in me that I know what I'm doing. Trust me, you wouldn't
want the view from my eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over
you, and meet you! r needs. You only have to trust me. Although I have a
much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just
doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

Come out of your sin closet oh men of God

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly," (Matthew 6:6).
 I have sinned as great a sin as has any person that has lived. I understand the mind of a loss man. I know the anguish of coming face to face with my own sinful nature. It is a difficult, humbling thing to do. The hurt that accompanies the acknowledgement of personal weaknesses can be overwhelming. Many times it seems easier to just live with it. But that only hides the pain for a little while. Rather than showing you how to take your sin into the open, true love cares enough to point the way into the closet of prayer. Oh men of God its time we destroy that closet of sin and build up a prayer closet. Not a closet of shame, but the closet where there is rest, peace and mercy for all that will enter into it.  There was a time when I too created my own laws, a time when I ignored the authority of both man and God. In the course of the passing, right became wrong and wrong became right such that I stepped beyond even my wildest imaginations of where I might go if left to my own devices. Sin, in all of its ugly false promises, nearly destroyed my home, my family, and my life. But then Jesus came into my heart, and that which Satan sought to devour has been returned in a multiple beyond my understanding. The sin that once owned me without my knowledge is now an open enemy to be battle with all my might through a power that exceeds my personal weaknesses. It is God who now indwells this earthly vessel, and is His strength that overcomes my shames, my failures, and my pride at victories.

Even as a Christian there are times when the man in me would cast away scriptures that do not fit my fleshly desires. It is a day-by-day battle, this mortifying of the flesh. Sometimes I desire to lay down the oars that perhaps the war would end. Jesus said that the laborer should come to him, that the burdened should also come. End your self efforts is His meaning. Lay down your shame is His gift.

We are soldiers in  God's army, which though the battle is already won. There is a peace in the mist of the war that no Christian can explain to the lost. It is a peace that can never be gained through "Hiding out in your sin closet" while retaining the sin. It is a peace that surpasses all that this world can ever offer such that when full of all earthly needs I have within me the presences of Christ, and when lacking of all but the essentials of earthly survival I still have within me the presences of Christ.

There is only 1

Just last night I was up at 2 am which most of you know that is my normal hours, as I was flicking through channels I came across the Religion and one of the speakers were explaining that black could not enter into heaven until they went through a transformation of skin color. They would have to look like the white race all races would have to become white before entering into heaven. Now I do consider myself, to be somewhat intelligent, but no where in my studies did I read or see that there was one race and only the white race would enter into heaven. 
What does the bible say about race?  What about the origin of races? One searches the Bible in vain for this information, for neither the word nor the concept of "race" appears in the Bible at all! There is no such thing as a race--except the human race! Skin color and other supposed racial characteristics are mere recombinations of innate genetic factors, originally created in Adam and Eve to permit development of different family characteristics as the human race was commanded to multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28;  Genesis 9:1).

 

"Race" is strictly an evolutionary concept used by Darwin, Huxley, Haeckel, and the other nineteenth-century evolutionists to rationalize their white racism. But from the beginning it was not so! "God that made the world and all things therein; . . . hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth". "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?". Bottom line is we are one body one race one family. If you serve the Lord God then you are my brother or sister. My best friend Don likes to say, your going to spend eternity with me so you might as well start to love me now cause your going to have live with me forever and ever. One Family,for we are children of the living God.

Acts 20:24

 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)

Some believers are tempted to give up on their faith in God whenever the least thing seems to go wrong in their lives. The apostle Paul suffered many things: beatings, stoning, and shipwreck -- yet he called them "light afflictions."  Hmm light afflictions being stoned and bitten by a viper light afflictions, this a man who knew whom he served and where he was going. Here is a man that did not look for fortune here in this world, nor did he consider this world his home. Where is your home?  Where are you storing up timber??? If this life was all there was, this would not be a wise way to live. But there is a life in heaven and a future world. We would be foolish to live as if this life is all there is.

So we should not forget eternity and focus only on the present. We must hold on to our faith in God, no matter how things seem to be going at the present. Because of our limited understanding, our ability to evaluate things accurately is limited. Our wonderful Lord Jesus can be trusted. He loved us enough to die in our stead, so we could go free. Why would He lie to us? We must be determined not to be moved by things our enemy does to get us off our faith in God's Word.

 Please keep my brother Matthew in prayer and my brother Mike also in prayer. Also pray for us on the 31st as the body steps out on faith and prepares a meal and serves and ministers to those that do not have a physical address. Sometimes most of us forget that we are just one pay check away from being homeless. It is by his grace and mercy. When my decided to get get the kids a Play station 3  last year, the kids thanks me, but I reminded them that everything that their earthly parents have is because of their Heavenly Father.  Let us count it all as glory whether God says yes to our desires or no. For sometimes His know is his ways of saying I love you to much to see this thing that you want hurt you.

Even after all that Job lost he still believe in the Father, we loose a lot less and feel like our Father is punishing us or has forgotten us, He knows you by name and loves so dearly that he gave his only begotten son as a witness of his great love for us.  So tell me what is that we can suffer in this world that could be greater than the rewards of spending eternity with God. The book of Revelations reminds us that their will be no more dieting there!!!! Did you hear me , okay did you read that, since you can't really hear me, unless your Yordon, Yeshua or Elizabeth or Dee or Don then can have heard me say this before. But to be serious for a moment if I might, There is much suffering that we must endure in this world, but we are told a time will come when there will be no more pain.  That our Father will wipe away ever tear.  I can't wait for that day, but for now I must strive to continue on in this race and not be distracted for I must continue my march forward never looking to the sides or behind me. But focused on the goal at hand.  Well done my true and faithful servant, that is my goal to hear those words from my Heavenly Father, nothing else matters.

Cast your Worries on the one who is able

Worrying can't accomplish anything. So why do it?


 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your
body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  (Matthew 6:25-34)




Our Heavenly Father is so concern without worrying to much about things that we can not change that it is actually mentioned  over  11 in the bible.  

Why is so important that our Father warns us off worrying?  What can we change by worrying?  Example in my own life for a  while there I worried that my wife would never finish the nursing program, because of my career and the moves the demands of work and raising children and  church  endeavoring to go to school and my own health issues.  With all my worrying not changing, till I gave it to the Father. She has completed the program and is working and now I see it was all for nothing.  As men we worry about everything what shall I do when I retire?  Can we afford to send our daughter to the college she desire  etc .... If you believe that you serve a living God and our Father is own the throne then should we not cast our cares and fear before the Father and say Daddy, I'm trepidated please grant me the strength to hold onto you and trust you even when I can see no hope, my brothers and sisters the Lord God did not bring us this far to leave us. There is no issue that you could ever encounter that is to great for the Lord our God to get you through . Its time we stop talking the Christian talk and start walking the Christian walk.  Our test are just testimony in the making, another chance for us to give glory to the Father, Rejoice for your storm are not to great, remember what Christ did when he was awoken because his followers were fearful of the storm he calmed it with just his voice, let him calm your storms. If you worried about finding a job, if your worried about keeping your home, worried about your spouse, or getting a divorce or your children. Give to him and trust him to work it all out. He might not come when you want him to, but he is always on time. For my Father is an on time God.

Be gentle

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient." (2 Timothy 2:24)

 

One of the plagues of modern-day Christendom is that many take up side issues and deem them all-important--a point of separation between them and other Christians. Health, foods, dress codes, and church constitutions are not unimportant, but Christians can hold different opinions and still be walking with God. Note the scriptural admonitions: "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace and love; not with meats  or material things for those things shall pass away but the works of those that follow God shall give forth good fruit,  our number one concern should be doing the will of our Heavenly Father, not which denomination you attend , whether having long hair or an ear rings is right before the Lord God.  Let us be more concerned with the hearts of men and more concern with our brothers who are struggling daily on the front line with drugs, porn, alcohol, etc.  For those things have no place in the house of the Lord.  Let us not be like Job's friends but instead let us, abound in love and greet each other in love and deal with each in love. For if we do not dwell in love then how will the world truly know that we are the children of God. Let us deal with us with the same gentleness and grace and mercy that we expect and pray for with our Heavenly Father.

Psalms 119:105

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

 

One of the more beautiful metaphors in the Bible, "light" is used either metaphorically or literally to stress understanding, knowledge, or truth. When inaccurate interpretations of God's Word are taught, Isaiah said it is "because there is no light in them". Peter noted that prophetic insight is like "light that shineth in a dark place".

 

One of the Lord's most memorable statements was: "I am the light of the world". Little wonder, then, that in this majestic psalm centering on the Word of God, this stanza acknowledges the role executed by the Scriptures "as the light that goeth forth".

 

The psalmist again mentioned his affliction and that his soul was constantly "in my hand", a Hebrew idiom for constant danger; see. But nonetheless, his instant reaction was to focus on the "righteous judgments" of God and a promise to "not forget thy law". He begged for the Lord to teach him God's "judgments" and promised not to err "from thy precepts".

 

Thus, woven throughout the stanza are the constant paradoxical tensions of supplication for relief from the wicked efforts to "snare" him and the confidence that whatever conditions may develop, the written Word of God would provide answers. Those words are "the rejoicing" of his heart, much like when David sang, "Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord".

 

Finally, in the last line of this stanza, the psalmist challenged us embrace his own commitment to the Word of God as he wrote, "I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end"

Psalm 56:13

7"For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13)

Once a person receives Christ as Savior, he must begin, then continue, in the Christian life. There will be many temptations along the way, however, as well as many pressures to recant, many sorrows, many difficulties. How is the "babe" in Christ to keep from stumbling and falling?

The answer, of course, is that we are kept by the same grace that saved us in the first place! The Lord Jesus died to save us from eternal death in hell; surely we can "be saved by his life" from falling while living. Our beautiful text verse anticipates this great New Testament truth. If the Lord can deliver my soul from death, surely He can keep my feet from falling! Other wonderful verses in the psalms give the same assurance. For example: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand".

It is important, of course, that each person professing faith in Christ be sure that his faith is real, founded in our Savior, which is Christ , Redeemer, and Lord, not a sentimental faith in "another Jesus or another gospel". As Peter urges: "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall".

And then, in the last words of the New Testament before the book of Revelation, we are directed again back to He who has redeemed us from death into life. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen". What a blessed assurance is this to know that !

Love demonstrated

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ( ROMANS 5:8)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
The devil tries to make people think God does not love them because of their sins. But nothing could be further from the truth. God loves sinners! Jesus died to save sinners. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. God is against sin because it is harmful to people, but He is not against sinners. If God could not or would not help a sinner, then He would
never help any human. The Bible tells the opposite story. We have all missed the mark of perfection so we all need a Savior. And we all have a Savior if we will but receive Him. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient to deal with all sin. You
have been forgiven. Accept that forgiveness..

Are you washed

It is said that when God was done and saw his works and said it was finished it was good. Christ said Father when man's sin I will go down there and die for him. Not if man sin but when man sins.  Now this not a factorial doctrine but in fact more of a story shared by an old southern minister.


 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

Many people let sin separate them from God. But the devil is the one who tells us God does not love us when we sin. Jesus paid a great price so you can be forgiven and freed from sin and its penalty. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God is against sin because it harms people, but God loves sinners! When we sin, it does not make God hate us. We should not run away from God, but run to Him for help and cleansing, so that our fellowship with Him will not be hindered in any way.
We confess our sins to shut the door on the devil so he has no place in our affairs. We don't confess our sins to convince God to forgive us. God has already forgiven! We confess our sins to get rid of them, and keep the devil out.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
God loves people, including you. His ultimate plan is to have a family of people who do not sin, but voluntarily choose the way of love, which is God's perfect way. But just as a good parent does not throw their baby into the
street because they are not perfect yet, but still mess their pants, so God does not discard His children when they sin. God loves you more than any good parent ever loved their child. So look to Him for help in overcoming sin, instead of expecting condemnation from Him. When you sin, confess it to get rid of its influence in your
life and to keep the devil from having any place. I don't mean begging God to forgive you and promising to never do it again. Instead say, "That is wrong. I should not have done that. Lord, I need your help to overcome it. Please continue working your will in me." The price of sin has already been paid for with the precious blood of Jesus.
Because of his blood we are no longer estranged to the Lord, so we are united back to the Father by Christ's blood. Your sins are forgiven, you simply have accept the gift that is offered to anyone who will receive and accept Christ as their savior and confess to him that your inability to get through this life without him. For he is the only way that mankind can enter into heaven, for it through him and by him that we can enter into heaven only him. For without him our sins are not covered nor are they forgiven. But in Christ Jesus we are washed by the blood and saved.


Are you washed???

Proverbs 25:21-22

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. (Proverbs 25:21-22)



When people do us wrong, not taking revenge is difficult. It seems natural to fight back when someone attacks us. Does the Word of God tells us to let God judge them. This is not saying you should never defend yourself, or what belongs to you. But do not seek revenge after you have been wronged. Instead, let God handle it. People who try to take revenge, usually end up committing more injustice. Often a deadly cycle develops. Instead of taking revenge, God's Word tells us to bless our enemies. "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, God is aware of every injustice. And God promises to right every wrong, eventually. God is a righteous judge, but all judgment is not instant, or even in this life.  For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten
revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

Undeserved Mercy

The following was written by a very young Matthew Henry, one of the earliest memorials we have of him after leaving seminary. He wrote it on his 20th birthday, thanking God for the manifold mercies he'd recieved up to that point in his young life:

1. That I am endued with a rational, immortal soul, capable of serving God here, and enjoying him hereafter, and was not made as the beasts that perish.

2. That the exercise of my powers and faculties has not been obstructed by frenzies, lunacy, etc., but happily continued in their primitive (nay, happily advanced to greater) vigour and activity.

3. That I have all my senses, and that I was neither born, nor by accident made blind, or deaf, or dumb, either in whole or in part.

4. That I have a complete body in all its parts. That I am not lame or crooked, either through original or providential want, or a defect, or the dislocation of any part, or member.

5. That I was formed, and curiously fashioned by an All-wise hand in the womb, and kept there, nourished and preserved, by the same gracious hand, till the appointed time.

6. That, at the appointed time, I was brought into the world, the living child of a living mother, and though means were wanting, yet He that can work without means, was not.

7. That I have been ever since comfortably provided for with bread to eat, and raiment to put on, not for necessity only, but for ornament and delight, and that without my pains and care.

8. That I have had a very great measure of health (the sweetness of all temporal mercies), and that when infectious diseases have been abroad, I have hitherto been preserved from them.

9. That when I have been visited with sickness, it hath been in measure, and health hath been restored to me when a brother dear, and companion as dear, hath been taken away at the same time, and by the same sickness.

10. That I have been kept and protected from many dangers that I have been exposed to by night and by day, at home and abroad, especially in journeys.

11. That I have had comfortable accomodation as to house, lodging, fuel, etc., and have been a stranger to the wants of many thousands in that kind.

12. That I was born to a competency of estate in the world, so that, as long as God pleases to continue it, I am likely to be on the giving, and not the receiving hand.

13. That I have had, and still have comfort, more than ordinary, in relations; that I am blessed with such parents as few have, and sisters also that I have reason to rejoice.

14. That I have had a liberal education, having a capacity for the knowledge of the languages, arts, and sciences; and that, through God's blessing on my studies, I have made some progress therein.

15. That I have been born in a place and time of gospel light; that I have had the scriptures and the means of understanding them, by daily expositions, and many good books, and that I have had a heart to give myself to and delight in the study them.

16. That I have been hiterto enabled so to demean myself, as to gain a share in the love and prayers of God's people.

17. That I was in infancy brought within the pale of the visible church in my baptism.

18. That I had a religious education, the principles of religion instilled into me with my very milk, and from a child have been taught the knowledge of God.

19. That I have been endued with a good measure of praying gifts, being enabled to express my mind to God in prayer, in words of my own, not only alone, but as the mouth of others.

20. That God hath inclined my heart to devote and dedicate myself to him, and to his service, and the service of his church in the work of ministry, if ever he shall please to use me.

21. That I have had so many sweet and precious oppurtunities, and means of grace, sabbaths, sermons, sacraments, and have enjoyed, not only the ordinances themselves which are the shell, but communion with God the Kernel.

22. That I have a good hope through grace, that, being chosen of God from eternity, I was in the fullness of time called, and that a good work begun in me, which I trust God will perform.

23. That I have had some sight of the majesty of God, the sweetness of Christ, the evil of sin, the worth of my soul, the vanity of the world, and the reality and weight of invisible things.

24. That when I have been in doubt I have been guided; in danger I have been guarded; in temptation I have been succoured; under guilt I have been pardoned; when I have prayed, I have been heard and answered; when I have been under afflictions they have been sanctified, and all by divine grace.

25. That I am not without hope, that all these mercies are but the earnest of more, and pledges of better in the kingdom of glory, and that I shall rest in Abraham's bosom, world without end.

26. Lastly, thanks be to God for Jesus Christ, the fountain and foundation of all mercies. Amen, Hallelujah.

Jude 1:24

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 1: 24)

 

There are three wonderful doxologies in three New Testament epistles extolling the transcendent ability of God to accomplish and perfect our eternal salvation. One  can be found in  the book of Jude, assuring us that are  "looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" that He is fully able to bring us joyfully into the presence of God in glory.

 

 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." Furthermore, His power is able to keep us forever. "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began".

 

Little wonder that the apostles exhort us to praise our Heavenly Father  for He is worthy of the praise! But in addition to the three doxologies, the Word of God contains many other testimonies to the omnipotent ability of the Lord on behalf of His people. "He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day". "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto  Him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us". Knowing that our Father loves us so much that he sacrificed His only begotten son for us, he was forced to turn his back on His son so that he would never have to be separated from us. This the Father that is worthy of our praise this is the Father that we deserve one who loves us more than we can even image.

 

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Every promise -- old or new testament -- is yes in Christ. Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.While God's blessing may be in spiritual form, as we appropriate it by faith it will be manifest physically on earth. I praise God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ because He sent Christ to bless us. And Christ has blessed us with heaven's every blessing. One translation of this verse says "has blessed us with every blessing that Heaven itself enjoys." The idea is that God gave His best -- without holding back any good thing from us. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? God gave His best when He gave us Jesus. What does God's best cover? Everything!  By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for
living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.  Do you really believe it is God's will for any of His children who love Him to be poor and lack basic necessities? If you do, you don't know God very well.

Then why are so many believers struggling with so many unmet needs? There may be many reasons, but the primary one is not knowing the will of God in the matter. If we don't know God's will, we can't have faith. Without
faith, we will not receive God's blessing.