“Soul Life”
Scripture:
Psalm 49:1, 8
Listen to this, all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world!
Redemption does not come so easily, for no one can ever pay enough
to live forever and never see the grave. (NLT)
Observation:
Our earthly death (which is inevitable) is not a subject that most people are inclined to discuss but it happens to be a reality in which all peoples throughout the world are concerned. Sadly, the world view has duped the vast majority of its population into believing and teaching that life came about by chance and like animals we are without a soul or a conscious; that our earthly life is all there is and death is our end. God’s absolute truth and wisdom about life are not attributes easily accepted by mankind, nor are they easily obtained.
Application:
Manmade truth and wisdom is utterly foolish when compared to the LORD’s, for all human truth and wisdom will eventually become obsolete with time. But the truth and wisdom from our Creator is not only absolute but is eternal as well, and will stand strong long after this world has passed away
(1 Peter1:23-25). It is easier to conform in a world that ends with your life, than it is to live against its grain by believing that this life is only the beginning. When we equal ourselves with animal and plant life it falsely becomes survival of the fittest. When you believe this life is all you have your teachable abilities are compromised and you become so prideful in your worldly view that your heart will harden and the distance between you and your Creator will grow until that day arrives (and it will) when His door will close forever and there will be no more opportunities to live in His Light forever. The conscious darkness of the grave will never end for those who turn their back on God in order to grab hold of all the false hope and happiness this world has to offer. We must remember, my friends, that anything and everything that is good comes from our God in heaven (James 1:17). All other things come from the evil heart of fallen mankind (Mark 7:21-23) with Satan, the father of lies and deceit, as its head. God created us, His beloved people, just a little lower than His angels, but for humans (unlike the angels who rebelled against God) He has offered us the gift of redemption and salvation—the eternal gift of life that is always available for anyone who is still alive and breathing the air of this earth. Your earthly life will soon end (maybe within the next few moments) but not so with our souls. This Truth, which is given in love, is the wisdom that has no end, and it is God’s unchanging and absolute truth and wisdom that this world needs most; not more foolishness from prideful mankind.
Prayer:
Please help us, dear LORD, to listen and believe Your voice and not that of this fallen world’s foolish voices. The heartless mindset of this fallen world’s view will rob us of any true joy and peace while we strive to survive in this dying world, and we need Your strength to fight the lies of the Enemy so that we can abide in Your Truth and Wisdom. Thank You, Father in heaven, for sharing Your Truth with us, so that we might live forever in Your Light.
Amen
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
“The Cure”
Scripture:
James 4:7-10
So humble yourselves before God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hears, you hypocrites.
Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done.
Let there be sorrow and deep grief.
Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him,
He will lift you up and give you honor. (NLT)
Observation:
If we are to escape the coming night of darkness and judgment we must first and foremost acknowledge that God exists and that He is the One who created the universe and everything in it, and that He has an ultimate plan for His creation. We must, if we are to share in God’s glorious plan, separate ourselves from the world’s view, which is man created and Satan directed.
Application:
It’s never easy to admit that there is One who is bigger and better than we are and that it is He who is in control and not ourselves. Many of us, like myself, who were shaped by the worlds take on life, failed to discover a valid and meaningful reason for life in this cruel and unforgiving world. And many, like myself, have had the joy and hope of living sucked right out of our very being; leaving us miserable and hopeless and barely hanging on. Without the hope our glorious God has given us through our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9,10), there is no hope. All this world has to offer you in the end, my friends, is death; not an unconsciousness type of death but an eternity of conscious darkness and hopelessness. God has been more than gracious since the dawn of creation, but in order to know how and why you must first believe God is real and that He has a wonderful plan in place. All of His creation will one day be restored to its fullest glory and you can share in His glory when you live by His terms and not that of the worlds. Even though God leaves this choice up to you, you can believe that He will never stop reaching out to save your life as long as you breathe and live in this world.
Prayer:
Thank You, O God, for the Hope You have provided. Thank You for never giving up on me. Since I have known You I can look back and see Your sovereign touch in my entire life. What a blessing it has been just knowing how much you love me and all Your children, no matter how many mistakes we have made. You are our Father, the only One who can shape us into the people You want us to be—not perfect, but holy as you are holy.
Amen
Scripture:
James 4:7-10
So humble yourselves before God.
Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hears, you hypocrites.
Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done.
Let there be sorrow and deep grief.
Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.
When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him,
He will lift you up and give you honor. (NLT)
Observation:
If we are to escape the coming night of darkness and judgment we must first and foremost acknowledge that God exists and that He is the One who created the universe and everything in it, and that He has an ultimate plan for His creation. We must, if we are to share in God’s glorious plan, separate ourselves from the world’s view, which is man created and Satan directed.
Application:
It’s never easy to admit that there is One who is bigger and better than we are and that it is He who is in control and not ourselves. Many of us, like myself, who were shaped by the worlds take on life, failed to discover a valid and meaningful reason for life in this cruel and unforgiving world. And many, like myself, have had the joy and hope of living sucked right out of our very being; leaving us miserable and hopeless and barely hanging on. Without the hope our glorious God has given us through our Lord, Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9,10), there is no hope. All this world has to offer you in the end, my friends, is death; not an unconsciousness type of death but an eternity of conscious darkness and hopelessness. God has been more than gracious since the dawn of creation, but in order to know how and why you must first believe God is real and that He has a wonderful plan in place. All of His creation will one day be restored to its fullest glory and you can share in His glory when you live by His terms and not that of the worlds. Even though God leaves this choice up to you, you can believe that He will never stop reaching out to save your life as long as you breathe and live in this world.
Prayer:
Thank You, O God, for the Hope You have provided. Thank You for never giving up on me. Since I have known You I can look back and see Your sovereign touch in my entire life. What a blessing it has been just knowing how much you love me and all Your children, no matter how many mistakes we have made. You are our Father, the only One who can shape us into the people You want us to be—not perfect, but holy as you are holy.
Amen
“Be Still and Listen”
Scripture:
James 1:19-22
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. So get rid of all the filth and evil
in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong
enough to save your souls. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to.
If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. (NLT)
Observation:
Living in this fallen world, which teaches people to focus first on themselves and what is pleasing to them, comes directly from Satan himself; the greatest deceiver this world has ever known. And because this world is under the domain of Satan’s rule and the fact that everyone is born with a rebellious and sinful nature, it is very difficult for many of us to hold our tongue and listen without getting angry and obstinate. For when we let our sinful nature control the way we think and speak and act the results are anything but godly or pleasing to the Lord; instead our ungodliness will not only please the Enemy of our souls, but it will also draw us further away from God. And the further we are from God the more likely we are to fall into the grips of hell, for without God we are definitely headed into an eternity of darkness; forever separated from God and everything that is good (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). And we will not only suffer the eternal consequences from our self-seeking, sinful habits, but our immediate life on this earth will be miserably empty and out of control as well.
Application:
If we are to live a life that has true meaning and lasting value, we the creatures, must rely on our righteous Creator to teach us how it is done. It is by reading, understanding, and applying what God teaches us through His Word that anyone can find true joy and peace in this unfair world (Psalm 119:105). As members of God’s family we must be kind and supportive and gracious and forgiving and help one another draw closer to God for His protection, for our only hope of escaping the Lake of Fire is found in Christ Jesus, our gracious Lord; our Mighty God; our Loving Savior. And if you, my friends, are reading God’s Word and not listening, or listening to God’s Word and not applying it to all areas of your life, you are deceiving yourself and allowing the Enemy a foothold on your life which will, sooner or later, destroy you if you’re not mindful (James 2:12-13).
Prayer:
Teach me, O Lord, how live this life in victory and how to rely on You; the Creator of life, for I know that you will always lead me down the path that leads to victory and everlasting life with You. You, dear Lord are the only One we can entrust our entire life to. Thank You for the Hope You have so graciously given Your people.
Amen
Scripture:
James 1:19-22
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight. So get rid of all the filth and evil
in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong
enough to save your souls. And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to.
If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. (NLT)
Observation:
Living in this fallen world, which teaches people to focus first on themselves and what is pleasing to them, comes directly from Satan himself; the greatest deceiver this world has ever known. And because this world is under the domain of Satan’s rule and the fact that everyone is born with a rebellious and sinful nature, it is very difficult for many of us to hold our tongue and listen without getting angry and obstinate. For when we let our sinful nature control the way we think and speak and act the results are anything but godly or pleasing to the Lord; instead our ungodliness will not only please the Enemy of our souls, but it will also draw us further away from God. And the further we are from God the more likely we are to fall into the grips of hell, for without God we are definitely headed into an eternity of darkness; forever separated from God and everything that is good (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). And we will not only suffer the eternal consequences from our self-seeking, sinful habits, but our immediate life on this earth will be miserably empty and out of control as well.
Application:
If we are to live a life that has true meaning and lasting value, we the creatures, must rely on our righteous Creator to teach us how it is done. It is by reading, understanding, and applying what God teaches us through His Word that anyone can find true joy and peace in this unfair world (Psalm 119:105). As members of God’s family we must be kind and supportive and gracious and forgiving and help one another draw closer to God for His protection, for our only hope of escaping the Lake of Fire is found in Christ Jesus, our gracious Lord; our Mighty God; our Loving Savior. And if you, my friends, are reading God’s Word and not listening, or listening to God’s Word and not applying it to all areas of your life, you are deceiving yourself and allowing the Enemy a foothold on your life which will, sooner or later, destroy you if you’re not mindful (James 2:12-13).
Prayer:
Teach me, O Lord, how live this life in victory and how to rely on You; the Creator of life, for I know that you will always lead me down the path that leads to victory and everlasting life with You. You, dear Lord are the only One we can entrust our entire life to. Thank You for the Hope You have so graciously given Your people.
Amen
“Mourning to Morning”
Scripture:
Psalm 30:4-5
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (NKJV)
Observation:
For those who honor and love the LORD our God, especially those of us whom He has rescued from the depths of despair, will never be able to praise and thank Him enough for His incredible mercy and grace (Romans 6:17). And this is reason enough to sing our praises with joy-filled gratitude all the days of our lives. In this psalm David could not personally praise God enough, so He reached out and made an effort to enlist others to do the same in order to glorify the Creator for His great compassion and resolve. And David is not calling the reprobates to sing along in the praise that is due, rather he calls on the sanctified, whom he knows will sing from their indebted grateful hearts.
Application:
As God’s people, we are His beloved saints, carefully chosen, blood bought, personally called, and divinely set apart for God (Ephesians 1:5-7). As His flawed children it is inevitable that we will displease our Father, and although His discipline is just, it lasts only for a moment. We die as withered flowers when the Lord’s frown is rightly upon us, but when His favor returns our life is refreshed and our joy renewed. Never loose sight that your nights of sorrow will always end, you saints of His, for the Sun of Righteousness will rise to wipe away your tears and shine His Light (John 8:12) once again upon your saddened heart. So remember, dear friends, that your mourning only lasts to morning, for when the night is gone; so too, will the gloom. So sing from deep within your hearts and let your voices be heard, for when you do it will reach God’s ear and bring a sweet smile of favor upon His Face.
Prayer:
Just as I know there will always be sorrow in this darkened fallen world, so I know, too, that Your Light, my dear Lord, is always on the horizon ready to shine the Light of life; giving reason to sing for joy, giving praise to You by glorifying Your mighty deeds of mercy and grace. And to know Your anger lasts for only a moment and Your favor for eternity makes living this difficult life worth living. Thank You for the peace you bring to all our troubled hearts in the midst of sorrows that living in this world brings.
Amen
Scripture:
Psalm 30:4-5
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (NKJV)
Observation:
For those who honor and love the LORD our God, especially those of us whom He has rescued from the depths of despair, will never be able to praise and thank Him enough for His incredible mercy and grace (Romans 6:17). And this is reason enough to sing our praises with joy-filled gratitude all the days of our lives. In this psalm David could not personally praise God enough, so He reached out and made an effort to enlist others to do the same in order to glorify the Creator for His great compassion and resolve. And David is not calling the reprobates to sing along in the praise that is due, rather he calls on the sanctified, whom he knows will sing from their indebted grateful hearts.
Application:
As God’s people, we are His beloved saints, carefully chosen, blood bought, personally called, and divinely set apart for God (Ephesians 1:5-7). As His flawed children it is inevitable that we will displease our Father, and although His discipline is just, it lasts only for a moment. We die as withered flowers when the Lord’s frown is rightly upon us, but when His favor returns our life is refreshed and our joy renewed. Never loose sight that your nights of sorrow will always end, you saints of His, for the Sun of Righteousness will rise to wipe away your tears and shine His Light (John 8:12) once again upon your saddened heart. So remember, dear friends, that your mourning only lasts to morning, for when the night is gone; so too, will the gloom. So sing from deep within your hearts and let your voices be heard, for when you do it will reach God’s ear and bring a sweet smile of favor upon His Face.
Prayer:
Just as I know there will always be sorrow in this darkened fallen world, so I know, too, that Your Light, my dear Lord, is always on the horizon ready to shine the Light of life; giving reason to sing for joy, giving praise to You by glorifying Your mighty deeds of mercy and grace. And to know Your anger lasts for only a moment and Your favor for eternity makes living this difficult life worth living. Thank You for the peace you bring to all our troubled hearts in the midst of sorrows that living in this world brings.
Amen
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