Month: August 2024

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Your Spiritual Destiny…

God sees all

Romans 6 Sin or a new life—which shall it be?

This morning we were reading about the life of Jehoshaphat and this chapter in Romans speaks to what we saw. He was the rightful king of Judah that God had blessed but then in a strange way he ignored God’s blessing and allied himself with the wicked king of Israel. Why? 

Paul continues to explain why someone who has chosen the way of Christ should remove sin from their presence and embrace salvation. “Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.” [Rom 6:4] This is not rocket science! Paul is telling us that to choose Christ is to have a new life in Him. King Jehoshaphat had been blessed by God but then the allure of sin turned his eyes from God. 

What do you want to experience in your destiny? “For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” [Rom 6:5] This is what we should be focusing on now as we look forward to our eternal destiny, not what Jehosphat chose. He continues this same thought: “For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” That is what we call a WOW! 

So beloved, as you read this chapter and look at your life, where are you stumbling or wavering? Do you want to wallow in your sin or do you want to walk in newness of life? It is your choice. Do you want to walk with Jehoshaphat or Jesus? God blesses those who choose His way and not the way of the wicked. 

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Fruit of Justification

Romans 5 Justified 

Paul continues to explain to the Romans the fruit of justification. First, is the peace of God that He gives to all who are justified. Secondly, they have hope as they face tribulations because tribulations bring about perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. Each of these tribulations or trials are given to produce us as gold.  Thirdly, we are saved from the wrath of God. 

Paul expertly proves the reason why salvation is the ultimate gift that God prepared from the foundation of the world. God planned our path to righteousness and justification through the death of His precious Son. Thus we are justified and counted as righteous as we accept this gift. To ignore it and to reject is to our reject God. 

Where are you today on this path? Do you have peace? Do you see the fruit of your tribulations? Do you have the hope that only God can give? 

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Psalm 86: A Prayer of David

Psalm 86 Who I am & Who God is

King David is the author of this psalm; it is his prayer to God. David reflects on who he is: a servant of the Most High God. Then he reflects on who God is by extolling His character: ‘For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” Thus, David understands and speaks of the relationship between he and God. David is the servant ready to do God’s bidding and God in turn reveals that as Romans 1:20 says: His invisible attributes. How beautiful are the feet that bring the good news of the gospel message to those who do not know Him. 

How do you see yourself? Do you see that you are a servant? Or do you see yourself as one who seeks to be served? Jesus said He was a servant who is dressed and ready to meet the needs of His Father, the Holy God of Israel. 

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Oh to be a swallow!

Psalm 84 In the spring of each year, the swallows return to repair their nests of last year or build new ones. They find the highest point and the safest place to protect their young and are the acrobats of nature with their fast swooping in and out of their nest.  Just as the psalmist loves the Temple and yearns to be there, the swallow yearns to return in the spring of each year when their God ordained internal time clock says now is the time to rebuild, so too, the people of God have a spring calendar date to return for the solemn occasions for worship near the altar of God. 

As the psalmist is pondering these creatures of nature, he notes that just as they seek refuge, so does he. He knows that just like the swallow, those who live in the Temple as well as those who travel the roads to Jerusalem to come to the Temple are the ones who are blessed, because they trust in God. 

Oh to be a swallow high up in the eaves where you can witness the activities of the people of God. Are you like the swallow? Do you yearn to be near the altar of God? Is your ‘nest’ steadfast so it can weather the storms of life? 

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All are unrighteous

Romans 2 We are well aware of what Paul told the Corinthians, the enemy (satan) has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they cannot see the glorious image of Christ. Yet, to the unbelieving, they are unaware of what it means to be self righteous.However to the believing that term essentially means to elevate oneself above others. How often do we do that when we say things like; I am better than so and so. Jesus gave an example of this in his parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. Listen carefully to each.

The Pharisee says he is better than this publican because he fasts, he prays, he offers vows and offerings while standing to be seen of others.

The Publicans says, forgive me Father, for I am unworthy. He stands with head bowed ashamed and seeking mercy from God. 

Jesus asked the listeners, who went home justified? 

Now to the Romans, Paul uses that same logic by having listed those sins that are unacceptable in the sight of God, yet failing to see that they too have done similar sins. Thus he says, you are without excuse. You will never go home justified as the Publican. Why? Because, like the man in the mirror of James, you see what you are  in the eyes of God but continue to think God will absolve you because you are not like the publican. It is in the end like the prevailing logic of unbelievers: all go to heaven ignoring the truth: all are unrighteousness, no not one. [Rom 3:10]

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ThePower of the Gospel

ROMANS 1 Lovingly, Paul expresses his feelings for the church at Rome. “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.”[Rom 1:8] It wasn’t just that Paul was thankful for them, but he was thankful that they had embraced the faith that saves, and beyond that they shared it with others or as Paul noted “the whole world!” Have we shared beyond our neighborhood into the “whole world?” It is just as the gospel writers had said in another place; they turned the world upside down!  No wonder Paul was thanking God for them, because when salvation came to that corner of Rome, it shattered all the false ideas and pretenses that had gone before them in ages past. 

With that as a backdrop, Paul goes on to explain the depths of sin’s effect upon the masses of unbelievers still waiting to hear the gospel. Thus Paul said, he was unashamed of the gospel for it is, not was, but is, present tense, the power to change lives and if one should ignore it, it is to their own detriment! They are without excuse! The Roman’s testimony and changed lives should have been as the light like the beam of a lighthouse into the very souls of men. 

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Think about it

Psalm 81 “So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices.”[Ps 81:12] is echoed in Romans 1. As a last resort, God steps aside from the disobedient to allow them to experience the fruit of their ways. This verse echoes Romans 1 where God says the same words: I gave them over…

The long suffering and patience of God and His mercy is revealed in this psalm. God loves His people but if they refuse to obey, He will do as the father of the Prodigal, give them what they want until they come to their senses. 

How do you relate to this verse  in Psalm 81? Is life troublesome? Are you experiencing difficulties? Perhaps it may be that God has stepped aside and allowed you to experience these challenges so you will return to Him so He can bless you. Think about it. 

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The Sin of Envy

Matt 27  I have sinned, so said Judas before the religious counsel. They said in response: what is that to us revealing the hardness of their hearts. When Pilate questioned Jesus he marveled that here stood before him a man who had been threatened, questioned, beaten, and yet stood dignified. Listening the leaders and Jesus, he ascertained that this whole charade was all because of the sin of envy. 

What does envy do to us when we let it fester and grow? It  brings a harvest of sin and that is where both Judas and the religious leaders stood before the world and  God. Luke records that he found no fault in Jesus so why did he allow the crucifixion to take place? There is no other reason than that Jesus was going to fulfill scripture to pay the penalty of our sin and Pilate could not understand that. 

Many today find themselves in this same box of envy. One author wrote: “Envy and jealousy are fruits of pride (and false humility) that intimidate you and lead to offenses. It will cause you to mistreat people who could have been a blessing to you. If you don’t take the ax to the root when envy or jealousy reveals themself, it hurts you and others. Envy and jealousy lead to slander and is a relationship and character ruiner.” [https://uncaggedbird.com/envy-jealousy-are-fruits-of-pride-steps-to-evict-the-green-eyed-monster/] 

The fruit of envy destroysthat which God had placed before you and the evil one uses that as a temptation. Judas was remorseful but not repentant. The religious leaders were neither. Beware of the sin of The fruit of envy destroy that which God had placed before you and the evil one uses that as a temptation. Judas was remorseful but not repentant. The religious leaders were neither. Beware of the sin of envy which is the big “I” in the word pride. It was the downfall of Judas, the religious leaders and it will be yours.

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The Significance of Communion

Matt 26 Honoring Jesus 

As we read this chapter we are overjoyed at the blessing of the communion service but saddened by the events that follow it. How often do we rejoice in our communion services but then leave and betray Him as Judas and Peter did? Where is our heart? Why do we fail to honor this time and its message? We are so time oriented and task oriented that we fail to identify the significance of this precious time. We live moment to moment but not Jesus. He could foresee the future for these men and He can foresee the future of our lives as well. 

This week as you go to worship and prepare for communion, stop and consider what each element means and how it should impact our lives. Be humbled to remember that Jesus established this for us as our reminder of His death, burial and resurrection and our future in His kingdom where He will once again observe the Passover with us in His kingdom. 

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Sharing the Gospel Message

study the scriptures that speak of Jesus

Ps 78 Instructions

Always as we read this psalm we are reminded of our responsibility to share the love of God with those who are in need of a Savior. The Psalmist writes : “We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts,about his strength and the amazing things he has done.” [Ps 78:4] Have you taken time to share with the ones you love most yet have not yet accepted Christ…even if you are repulsed. This verse reminds me that as a teacher of little ones I was reminded of this truth. What do we share but the love of God and all of his attributes. Romans reminds us that “For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.”[Rom 1:20] Clearly the psalmist and Paul as he wrote to the Romans that God has revealed His power, His majesty and His eternal qualities so that we might know Him. 

Today, stop and consider what you may want to share with your unsaved family, your unsaved neighbors and others. 

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