The Blessedness of Not Seeing

John 20:24-31 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. (25) The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (26) And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. (27) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (28) And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (29) Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (30) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name

. This was, of course, immediately following the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His first meeting with ten of the eleven remaining disciples. Thomas, refused to believe, in spite of how sincerely and adamantly his fellow disciples insisted that they had indeed seen the risen Christ. His stubbornness to hear and believe these whom he had come to know so well over the past three years, may seem strange to us. We must remember, however, that Thomas very likely had been an eyewitness of the crucifixion, death and burial of this dear friend whom he dearly loved and to whom he had committed his entire life. Would not most of us have reacted much the same? Then, as the scriptures tell us eight days later, as they were once again gathered together behind locked doors for fear of Jews, the Lord Himself suddenly appeared in their midst. Following his greeting of, “Peace be with you,” Jesus immediately turned His attention toward Thomas. Can you picture the Lord Jesus, looking tenderly into the fearful eyes of this young believer, as he reached toward him with his nail scarred hand and then opened his robe to expose the fresh wound that the tip of the spear had made in his side, and said:

Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

My Lord and my God.

I can imagine Thomas falling face down in awe and reverence before the Lord, as he uttered those four ever so true and powerful words:

Jesus’ answer was for you, for me, and all those who would not have the great blessing of acutally seeing him in His resurrected body Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Do you see that, Jesus told Thomas though he was blessed beyond belief, those who had not seen and yet believed were even more blessed! How could this be? How could you and I be more blessed than those who actually witnessed all of these wondrous events with their physical eyes? The Lord did not go on to tell us in this passage exactly what he meant, but there is one thing that God’s Word makes very clear from Genesis to The Revelation.

Galatians 3:8-9 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

No, we have not seen Jesus Christ with our fleshly eyes, we have surely seen Him ever so clearly with our hearts through eyes of God-given faith.

1 Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (8) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (9) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Do you know this blessedness of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you, though you have never seen Him, filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory? Do you know in whom you have believed and that He is able, even more than able, to keep you and bless you beyond measure for all eternity? Do you, by faith, know the blessedness of knowing. as surely as Thomas knew, that Jesus Christ is truly, your Lord and your God?

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The Transforming Power of the Gospel! (II)

February 20, 2022 Heritage Weekly Bulletin The Transforming Power of the Gospel (II)

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 (4) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (5) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (7) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. (8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. (9) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

We’ve been looking at what the apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was telling the saints in Thessalonica about the transforming power of this gospel that he preached. First, we noticed that he tells us that though it was communicated to them by the words he spoke, it was not merely good words of man’s wisdom, but the very words of God, Himself.

Secondly, neither were they words alone, but they were delivered and received by the miraculous, life-giving power which abides only in the triune Godhead.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Then we find that this message of good news, was transforming because of its’ messengers. The Apostle Paul was among the men who had been personally called and chosen by the Lord to take this glorious gospel to the world. Notice:

…and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

There was no question in Paul’s mind as to anything regarding the truth he was preaching. Therefore, he proclaimed it with absolute confidence and assurance, both by what he said, as well as how he lived. This apostle, as we well know, was one who had been convinced of the transforming truth and power of the gospel in a very personal and undeniable way.

Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, (2) And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. (3) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: (4) And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (5) And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (6)And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

This was not something he did in his spare time. This was his life. Nothing else mattered to Paul. He was telling these saints, that it was evident by the testimony Silas had brought back to him, that this same gospel had clearly had a life-changing effect in their lives, just as it had in his. He goes on in 1Thessalonians 1: 6-10, listing many examples of how this sincere faith in Christ was playing out in their lives. First, they began following Paul, as he followed Christ, even in the midst of much persecution. In so doing they became examples to all those around them. They were no longer pagan idol-worshippers, they were servants of the only true and living God. What a reward it was to the apostle Paul to see how God was doing such a great and mighty work in the lives of the people of Thessalonica.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Is it not an indescribable blessing to be able to look back in your life and remember the life and love that flooded in your heart when you first believed on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior! Lord help us to, by Your grace and mercy to glorify You as did these saints of old from Thessalonica. Let our lives and lips continually be proclaiming to those around us, the joy and truth of a life that has been and is still being transformed by the power of the gospel of God!

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The Transforming Power of the Gospel!

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 (4) Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (5) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (7) So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. (8) For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. (9) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

This is the apostle Paul’s first correspondence to the saints of the church of Thessalonica. It was written from the city of Corinth around the year a.d 51. This was among the cities the apostle Paul, Silas, Timothy and perhaps others with them, visited during his second missionary journey. I tend to think of these ancient biblical cities as quiet, little fishing villages of perhaps a few hundred fishermen, tradesmen and, merchantmen along with their families. Well, not so with Thessalonica. It was the capitol city, as well as, one of the busiest centers of political and commercial activity in Macedonia. In Paul’s day, it is estimated to have had a population of around 200.000 people. That would mean it was about twice the size of Tyler Texas, which tells us that Thessalonica was no doubt neither small nor quiet.

Acts 16:9-10 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. (10) And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Reading on in Acts we see Paul, being led by the Holy Spirit, entering Thessalonica and heading straight to the synagogue, preaching the gospel first to the Jews, as he faithfully followed in the steps of His Lord. Knowing personally the transforming power of God’s message to sinful men and women, Paul opened the scriptures and boldly proclaimed the “good news” of Jesus Christ, to all that would listen.

Acts 17:1-4 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (3) Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (4) And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

Therefore, we see in 1Thessalonians 1:4 the four things which made Paul’s gospel a transforming message. The Message, the power, the Holy Ghost and the assurance.

First, we see the message, which Paul states is something far more than just words. Why was this not merely another mind-intriguing philosophy that was so appealing to the Greeks of the day? What was it that made it so very different?

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. (20) Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Paul’s gospel was not his own, nor was it some composition put together by the minds of great men.

Galatians 1:11-13 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. (12) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (13) For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

This came directly from the Almighty, Himself. This was God’s gospel. This was the life-giving, word of the living God.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Has God transformed you with the truth of His gospel, His precious, Holy, infallible Word?

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The Greatest Love

John 15:9-17 As the Father hath loved me, so have I you: continue ye in my love. (10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (17) These things I command you, that ye love one another.

There is but one Way, one Truth and one Life by which the full essence of infinite and eternal LOVE was clearly manifested to mankind. His name is Jesus Christ, the God-man. If we need a perfect definition of divine love, He is it. We need no more. I thought this written in the Cyclopedia of Biblical Theology…was worth sharing:

The New Covenant is therefore the full revelation of the spirit and object of the divine love. The incarnation of the Son of God is the revelation of God himself, and leads to his self-impartation by the Holy Spirit. Hence the eternal love discloses itself as being, in its inner nature, the love of the Father for the Son, and of the Son for the Father by the Holy Ghost, which proceeds from both, and is the fullness of the love that unites them, whence we can say that. God is love; as also, in its manifestation, it is the divine love towards fallen creatures, which is the will to restore their perfect communion with God by means of the all-sufficient expiatory sacrifice of the God-man, and the communication of the Holy Spirit, by which both the Father and the Son come to dwell in the hearts of men, thus forming a people of God’s own, as was postulated, but not yet realized in the O.T. The love of God in man, therefore, is the consciousness of being loved by God (Rom_5:5), resulting in a powerful impulse of love towards the God who has loved us first in Christ (1Jn_4:19), and an inward and strong affection towards all who are loved by God in Christ (1Jn_4:11); for the divine love, even when dwelling in man, remains all- embracing. This love takes the form of a duty (1Jn_4:11), but at the same time becomes a gradually strengthening inclination. And this is the completion or the ripening of the divine love in man (ἐν τούτῳ τετελείωται), that it manifests itself in positive results for the advantage of others.

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.

The selfless and sacrificial love and mercy from God to sinful man was shown to us in the gift of His Beloved Son.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The selfless and sacrificial love and mercy from God the Son, Jesus Christ, to sinful man was shown to us in the giving of Himself in order to reconcile us to God.

Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The selfless and sacrificial love and mercy from the God the Holy Spirit to sinful man was the giving of Himself to dwell within every believer. Because God is love, there is therefore nothing He has done nor anything that He can ever do that is not a manifestation of His perfect love. Without question, He has manifested the GREATEST OF ALL LOVE! He has laid down His life, not for those who loved Him, but for those who hated and despised Him. What is it then, that Christ so rightfully commands of those whom He so loves? Is it not a day by day laying down of our lives for Him and for others? Is it not the sacrificing of our wants and the yielding of our wills to first and foremost please Christ and secondly by our sincere, sacrificial love for one another? Lord, help us to love You, and our dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with the Greatest Love. 1 John 4:9-12 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

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Every Good Path

July 12, 2020

Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

            You certainly don’t have to be as old as I am to realize that this life we live is a life full of paths.  There are good paths and not so good paths, some bad paths and some paths which are absolutely horrible.  I’m sure you can remember times in your travels whether on a trip in the car or a hike in the woods, that you have come to a crossroads and were not sure which way to go. I’m just as sure, that if you are anything like me, you have at least on occasion, chosen the wrong direction.  I find it quite frustrating when I have to drive an extra 30 minutes in traffic because I have taken the wrong exit.  I am ever so thankful that the Lord gave someone the knowledge to come up with the GPS system.  However, if you have used it as much as I have, you know it does not always get you on that “good path.”

            When you stop and think about it, we are faced with these crossroads every day of our lives.  How many choices have you had to make today?  Probably many more than you realize.  According to “Psychology Today,” the average person makes mor than 35,000 choices every single day of his or her life! Therefore, that means we face 2,000 decisions per hour and within a year this adds up to an incredible total of twelve million seven hundred and seventy-five thousand of those crossroads in just a single year!  Now this of course includes everything from “will I get up when the alarm goes off,” to, “will I pray and read my bible this morning?”

            The amazing thing about all of these crossroads is that everyone one of them, from the very simplest to the very most crucial has a direct effect not only on our own lives, but the lives of those around us.

Romans 14:7-8 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

            Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

            So then, every day we wake up we find ourselves faced with the dilemma of having to make decisions on an extremely large number of crossroads. Now if you are truly one of God’s children, your heart’s desire is to always choose the “good path,” right? I mean, no one wants to suddenly find themselves confused, distressed and headed in the totally wrong direction, do they?  I have been there far too often in my life and I can assure you, it is no fun!  You don’t have to look very far into the scriptures before you find examples of this, as well.  It all started with Eve, then Adam in the garden.  You see what I mean when I say which path we take affects more than just us?  In the case of Eve, Adam was directly affected and because of the path Adam chose to take, the entire human race was directly affected!

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

            “How in the world can we always know which the right path is to take?” you may be asking.  The simple answer is, “WE CAN’T!”

But guess what, we know WHO DOES!  Not only does our Heavenly Father know the exact location of “every good path,” in His wonderful mercy and grace, He has made a way for us not only to know, but to know how to choose “every good path!”

            Notice what he tells us there in Proverbs chapter 2.  He makes it clear that He is the source of all wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  But the Lord doesn’t stop there.  He tells us that if we will receive His words and hide His commandments; if we will cry after knowledge and lift up our voice to Him for understanding; if we seek for them as we would for hidden treasure, then would we understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  Then ultimately, His promise is that HE, Himself would preserve or keep the way of all of His saints and we would be able to understand “EVERY GOOD PATH.”  What a blessing!

Proverbs 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

            Praise God, He loves us too much, not to give us all we need in Christ and His word to help us to choose EVERY GOOD PATH!

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“In Christ Jesus.”

2Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

  Being “in Christ,” simply means, that you have been saved by the grace and mercy of God. Oh, but if we can take hold of just a fraction of ALL that it means to be “in Christ,” I am confident that we will find ourselves filled with a love and joy and peace which can only be found, “in Christ!”

What is it, that God tells us, that He has given us “in Christ Jesus?”

1. In Christ, we have LIFE:

1Cor 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

2Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

 Yes, praise God we were dead in our sins but now, “in Christ,” we have been given the gift of life!  The Holy Spirit breathed into us the breath of life and now we live! Not only do we now have life “in Christ,” but we have ETERNAL LIFE, “IN CHRIST!” John 3:16

2Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2. In Christ, we have LIGHT:

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We were dead in the darkness of sin and Satan.  It was only after the Holy Spirit shined the glorious “light” of the gospel, the good news, of salvation by Christ, through Christ, of Christ and ONLY, “IN CHRIST,”

 Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

3. In Christ, we have LOVE:

Romans 8:38-39For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love, and no, not just any love, but the only true love, the love of God! The love of the one true and living God who is the essence of “LOVE!” It is this love which is found in one place and in no other. This eternally glorious, indescribable, infinite, holy, merciful love is found only “IN CHRIST JESUS!”

1John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 In Christ, we have LIBERTY:

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

 No more are we held fast in the bondage of sin and Satan! No longer are we condemned by the law of sin and death, which is that holy, just, and righteous judgement of God our Creator.  HALLELUJAH, we are FREE and UNCONDEMNED “IN CHRIST!”

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

4. In Christ, we have LORDSHIP:

Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

 Yes, this same Jesus, who has given us life, light, love and liberty is our Lord and King!  We are His servants.  We are in a great spiritual warfare, with enemies far more powerful than we are on our very best day.  There is no way we could ever resist the lures of the lusts of the flesh nor the temptations of the ways of the world, nor certainly the wicked wiles of Satan himself, if we were not ‘IN CHRIST,” The KING of kings and LORD of lords!

Revelations 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 Glory to God, the battle is the LORDS!

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His Glorious Truth!

Psalms 91:1-4 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

                       Praise God for His truth!   Praise the God of all truth, who according to His wonderful mercy and grace, gave us the gift of Life, through His Word of Truth!

 Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 Yes, it was His precious Word of Truth, which is the eternal source of all Truth!          .

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

 It was this glorious Word of Truth which has given us the Witness of His Truth!

John 5:32-33 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.

We are given not only the witness of men and angels, we are given the very witness of the Heavenly Father, Himself!

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

 It is the glorious Word of Truth which has given us the Wisdom of Truth!  We don’t have to stumble around in blindness and ignorance, we can navigate through this old wicked world with the wisdom of our omniscient Creator God shining in us and through us!

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

            It was the glorious Word of Truth which has given us the Way of Truth!  A way that will, by His grace and mercy, open our eyes to every false way and every deceitful path.

Psalms 119:103-105 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.   Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

             It is the glorious Word of Truth which has given us the Wonder of Truth!  There is nothing in all creation that can open our eyes and hearts and reveal to us the very depths of our souls as does His Truth!

Hebrews 4:12 -13 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

             Finally, it is the glorious Word of Truth that calls us to True Worship of Him who is the infinite, eternal God of all truth!  There is but one way and one way alone to truly worship the magnificent and majestic Creator and Ruler of all the universe!  It is to worship Him in Spirit and in TRUTH!

John 4:22-23 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 Psalms 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.

             Oh Lord help us, by the wisdom of the Word of Your Truth, to walk in the way and the wonder and worship of your holiness.

 

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What Am I Doing?

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Acts 9:1-5 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

             I find myself cringing and having to ask the Lord to forgive me and have mercy on me, when I have to honestly answer this question.

“What am I doing?”

If we read and consider the scriptures above, we discover an amazing truth.  In reality, our actions and attitudes toward our brothers and sisters in Christ are, our actions and attitudes toward our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself!  How we treat them is how we are treating Him! Our attitude toward them, is our attitude toward Him!  I can speak for no one but myself, of course.  Personally, this is an extremely sobering thought.

Now, you may be saying, but that must surely be just figuratively speaking, because actually, Jesus is in heaven with the Father.

You are partially correct.  God’s Word does clearly tell us that Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of the Father.

 Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Praise God, He is there always interceding on our behalf! However, we always remember in our studying of the scripture, that God’s word never contradicts itself, otherwise one or the other of the statements would have to be false. We know that can never be the case.  I know that you are already way ahead of me on this.  You know, we are talking about the omnipresent Creator of all things.  Not only can our God be in two places at one time, He is in all places at all times!  Now, that is a thought that will stretch your mind beyond its’ limits, and you still won’t be able to comprehend it.

Therefore yes, our Lord is at the right hand of the Father and yet, He is also present in the life of every true believer of the Gospel.

John 17:20-23 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

We may not be able to understand how all of this works, but nonetheless, that does not keep it from being true.  We are truly, one body in Jesus Christ. Therefore, here in Matthew 25, the Lord is letting us know that how we treat our fellow believers is how we treat Him.

Though asking ourselves, “What am I doing?”, regarding my brothers and sisters may be a very difficult question.  The blessing is that, as long as we have breath to breathe, we by the grace of God, still have time to repent, ask the Lord to forgive us, and ask for grace and strength to love the brethren in sincerity and truth.

1Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

                 I must say however, and I know you will agree, that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the sincere love of Christ can clearly be seen in our family here at Heritage Baptist Church!  There are many who are great examples of the “sheep,” who are always seeing and taking care of those in need.  What a blessing you are to all of us! How we praise God for you!

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

             Lord, please help me to be more fervent and faithful in allowing You to use me to be more active in showing my sincere love for my brothers and sisters in Christ; wherever they are and whatever they are doing!

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“All To The Glory of God!”

1Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

             I’m sure you will agree that our greatest desire as blood-bought, born again, children of God should be to glorify God in everything that we do. Pastor John MacArthur says that God is glorified by the manifestation of His attributes. In other words, when the love of God, or the holiness of God, or the truth of God, or the forgiveness of God, is put on display, God is thereby glorified.

           John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God the Word or Son, glorified God the Father by manifesting in the flesh, all the fullness of His grace and truth!  He then continued to glorify Him, by finishing every detail of the work that the Father had given Him to do.

 John 17:1-5 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

God allowed, and yes even ordained, the situations and circumstances during His Son’s earthly ministry in order that He might be able to show forth His attributes to the world.  Jesus Christ was God in the flesh on display in the world. In Him we see the love, wisdom, holiness, power, mercy, truth, along with all the other characteristics of the one true and living God of the Holy scriptures.  Remember the story of Lazarus? How Jesus purposely delayed His arrival after Mary and Martha had sent the message telling Him that their brother was sick?

John 11:4-5  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

             There was also the healing of the blind man.  The disciples asked him who had sinned.

John 9:1-5 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 So, now that the Son has returned to be by the Father’s side, who has been left behind to carry on the all-important work of glorifying God?  Yes, you already know the answer to that question, I’m sure.  It is us, the church, the redeemed, who else?

1Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 Matthew 5:15-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

                Throughout the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations, God has done all things according to His good pleasure, in order to manifest to all creation who He is!  We see Him today, continuing His great and perfect work throughout the whole earth.  His ways and His thoughts are, of course, infinitely beyond anything we can comprehend. Nonetheless, in all of His wisdom, He is working His perfect plan in your life and mine, that even in us, praise God, He may be glorified!

Ephesians 3:8-11 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

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“Turned into Joy…”

John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

             “Joy,” who doesn’t love “Joy?” What exactly is it, anyway?  Well, Brother Webster defines it this way: Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.

Since, this definition seems simple enough and this “joy,” obviously is something to be desired by all, why is it then, that this “delight of mind,” seems to be so elusive?

Well, let’s look at it bit more closely and see if we can find the key.  Notice with me that this “joy,” is based not our situation nor our circumstance, but on our “consideration.” Meaning that it is not truly a result of what we are experiencing physically at any given time.  It is rather the result of what we are considering or thinking about, at any given time.

Notice what our Lord said in the gospel of John.

John 15:9-11 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

He said I am speaking this to you so that your “joy,” might be full.   Then in Epistle of first John, He tells us:

1John 1:3-4 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 He said I’m writing these things to you that your “joy,” may be full. In other words, the Lord has given to us and preserved for us the precious truths of His Holy Word, so that we might not only have “joy,” but better yet, fullness of joy!

He is telling us that the source of all true “joy,” is His Truth!

           Isaiah 61:10-11 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

 Brothers and sisters, when the storms of life darken the skies above us, if only we would remind ourselves that the glorious Truth of God, that He has revealed to us in His Word, has not changed in the tiniest degree.  The Mighty, Sovereign God who created all things is our heavenly Father!  In His wondrous grace and mercy, He has set His love on you and made you one of His children.  You and I are bound to Him with an infinite, eternal, omnipotent, immutable love!

 1John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            Temptations, trials and afflictions are not something any of us look forward to. But what a blessed promise, that with the suffering comes the “Joy!”  No matter what we are now enduring or will endure in the days ahead, God tell us, if  we will stop and consider all the WONDROUS GOOD we have in JESUS CHRIST, even in the midst of great tribulation we can know all the FULLNESS of HIS UNSPEAKABLE JOY!

1Peter 1:6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 

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