Monthly Archives: September 2010

Reflections in Psalms – Day 6 – Chastening

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Psalm 9

To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.

1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 7 But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11 Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: 14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. 15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O Lord: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.)

David opens up explaining the reason for the chief Musician to play this Psalm. Easton’s Illustrated Dictionary gives this as one of the definitions of the word “Muthlabben”:

Others render the word, “on the death of the son;” i.e., of Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33). —Easton’s Illustrated Dictionary

In my research, I discovered that in Jewish tradition, this Psalm was used in times of grieving the loss of a loved one. So it stands to reason that Easton’s possible rendering of the word was probably accurate. As I re-read this Psalm with that reasoning behind it, it took on a different “flavor.”

I noticed David’s acknowledgement of his sin (verse 13). David doesn’t dwell on the sin as much as he dwells praising God for executing right judgment. Psalm 6 was filled with remorse. Now David is acknowledging God’s “right” to judge him for his sin. David is also acknowledging the repercussions as a result of his sin. The people knew of David’s sin and they hated him for it. It was not a sin done in secret – it had become public knowledge. David’s rebellion brought about judgment from God.

Not all are quick to acknowledge that some of their circumstances are a result of God’s judgment. Some are so prideful they do not see that the judgment is a direct result of their sin. However, as God’s child, I must recognize God’s judgment as His chastisement. I am not being judged for my salvation as Christ paid that penalty and my salvation is covered under His blood. However, I will be “spanked,” so to speak. Scripture says that God chastens His children:

~Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

I cannot be quick to judge David as I have been down similar paths of rebellion. But praise the Lord for this Psalm! I learned that David was quick to learn and quick to repent! He acknowledged His God and His judgment – and, as a result, David praised Him! What a wonderful Psalm and pattern for me to follow!

Reflections in Psalms – Day 5 – Excellence

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Psalm 8
God’s glory is magnified by His works, and by His love to man
To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

I can see David now – he’s laying in an open field at night and gazing at the skies! How can one do that without seeing God’s greatness in the heavens? Creation in its entirety reflects the nature of God! David recognized this and felt insignificant compared to what his eyes beheld! How can a wonderful and powerful Creator take time to be with me? How can He be interested in me? The Lord is interested even in the tiny baby! So much so, He has given us all of His creation to enjoy!

When I gaze into the skies at night, I feel what David felt at the moment he wrote this Psalm. I feel so small compared to all that is out there! It is a humbling feeling indeed! It keeps my thoughts focused on just who God is! I am so weak but He is so great. How can One so great take time to fellowship with me? This psalm puts me in my place before a mighty and Holy God! However, this psalm also shows me that as great as God is, He has time to be concerned for even the tiniest of babes!

Then David ends it all by praising the Lord! So I sing with David:

O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Reflections in Psalms – Day 4 – Consequences

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Psalm 6

To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? 6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

This morning’s Psalm is not only heartwrenching to me but what a beautiful depiction of repentant sinner! This Psalm was written when David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband, Uriah, killed! At this point in time, Bathsheba had given birth to the baby but the baby had yet to die. Today’s reading reveals a repentant David who is praying and seeking forgiveness. I think of Psalm 51 as well, another one of David’s beautiful Psalms of repentance.

I picture David on his knees pleading with God to forgive him! I see him crying and torn before his God and pleading to Him to save his son, even if it is the smallest possibility! I know that his son was not spared, yet David accepted God’s judgment and continued on. David truly repented of his sins and turned his life around.

I have been there right along with David. My sins have been forgiven but they also brought repercussions that will never go away. This is not the result of a merciless God, by all means. These repercussions are a result of my rebellion and my sins. God has forgiven me indeed but my sins have brought about an outcome that I cannot change.

Reader, are you wandering today? Maybe you are a woman who, like Bathsheba, has been unfaithful and is now expecting a baby. God has forgiven you but your baby will be a constant reminder of your sin. How about the believer who use to be a thief prior to salvation and in a moment of weakness steals again after salvation? If you are caught, you will suffer the legal ramifications and possibly have a criminal record. That record will follow you all your life and will affect your ability to get loans, jobs, etc. Repentance is a must but the repercussions of your sin will continue. It is no different with David’s situation in today’s text.

I know that my God stands ready to forgive me – He wants to forgive me! However, when I lead my life according to my own worldly desires, I will suffer the consequences as a result. God’s mercy comes shining through when one recognizes His judgment! How can one experience mercy if one doesn’t realize God’s judgment? There is a price to pay for sin for the believer. Yes, our sins are forgiven in a split second and remembered no more. But the results of a moment’s pleasure and weakness may last a lifetime.

Are you wayward today? Have you wandered far from God? Follow David’s footsteps and call on God for forgiveness and restore your fellowship with Him!

Reflections in Psalms – Day 3 – Desperation

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Psalm 4
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him. 4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. 6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

Picture if you will, King David, running from the battle rather than fighting a war with his own son! This is a continuation of Psalm 2. David’s own flesh and blood is waging war against him. What is a father to do? I try to put myself in David’s shoes and I can’t help but think that I would do the same thing. How can a parent enter a battle with his own child knowing that he could harm his child? I would rather run away from the situation than to chance killing my son! I can almost feel David’s pain as he penned these words, can’t you? What a broken heart David must have had!

~Psalm 34:18a The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;

I feel his pain and distress as he cries to his Heavenly Father! Can’t you feel it as well? He’s pleading with every fiber of his being, “Oh God, hear me, have mercy on me! But wait, look at what begins to happen after the first pause (Selah)! David begins to focus on God – he is remembering how the Lord has been there for him in the past and how God had never let him down. Notice his words: the Lord will hear when I call unto him! What confidence!  What results this Selah/pause had on David’s attitude!

~Psalm 37:7a Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

It doesn’t stop there – next David’s meditations begin. It’s as if he is reminded just who God really is!  Stand in awe, David,  of your God and do not sin the sin of doubt. There is nothing like meditating on God’s Word, His works in my life, and His goodness when I am laying on my bed waiting to go to sleep. What a beautiful way to enter into rest for the night!  And here again, another rest is added in the Word (Selah). Hmmmm, I am beginning to see a pattern!

~Psalm 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

David recognizes that God wants the sacrifices of righteousness, not the sacrifices of animals. God wants the sacrifice of obedience (1 Samuel 15:22b). When I obey, I can confidently trust in the Lord and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will help me through… yes, even in the darkest of hours in my life. What can be darker than my own child turning against me?  Conflict in my family can easily take my thoughts where they should not go!  I can easily become overwhelmed!  This is the perfect time for me to get a hold of myself, lay on my bed of meditation and focus my thoughts on my God.  I must remember that my God is the same God who created the universe, after all.

As a result of his meditation on God’s goodness, David was able to say that God had put gladness into his heart and finally, David had that peace that only God can give. David finally found rest in his God!

~Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

What does this beautiful Psalm have for me today? Am I confused? Am I at a complete loss as to what to do? Is my path foggy instead of clearly lit? Can I say with David that I have found rest in God? When I lay on my bed at night, what consumes my thoughts? Are they thoughts filled with worry and anxiety or are they thoughts focusing on what God has done for me up until this point? God has always “come through” for me. It may not have been in the timing that I had hoped for but it was always perfect! Why should this time be any different? From this day forward, I will lay on my bed at night and focus my thoughts on only those where my Heavenly Father held me in His arms. I will see only those events where I felt as though I could not walk one more step without fainting and yet there was my Father bringing me comfort and assurance! This is where my worries will be turned into faith and I will have songs in the night!

~Psalm 77:6a I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart:

Reflections in Psalms – Day 2 – Troubled Times

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Psalms 3
1-8 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

David had many enemies throughout his lifetime. My heart ached as I read these words because David was speaking of his own son, Absalom! How very sad indeed when a parent has to fear his own child! I can almost sense his fear and anxiety as he prayed this prayer!

As I meditate on this Psalm, I see David’s anxieties and fears turn into praise. His lips speak of his worries. He turns them over to his God and then he pauses to think on what he has just said. That is what Selah means – to pause and meditate on what has been said. After his contemplation over his complaint to God, I noticed that David stopped his complaints and replaced them with sharing his heart with the Lord. What beautiful words to convey to God just what He means to him. David acknowledged just what God meant to him. Not only was God his shield but he knew that his life existed because of God. God was his protector. David knew that God would hear him when he cried out to him. Furthermore, David was able to rest in those thoughts and sleep without worry because he knew that His God was on watch!

Rather than take matters into his own hands and rush into a battle that would not be blessed by God, David made sure to take these matters before his God. He shared with God his need for justice and vengeance. But in the end, David submitted and said that salvation belongs to God. It was as if he was saying, “OK, now that I’ve vented, let it be your way Lord.”

Oh how many times I have seen injustices! Maybe not in a real battle as David, but in spiritual and physical battles. I have cried out to my Heavenly Father and He heard me, just as He heard David! It’s not wrong to express our displeasures or fears to God. After all, Christ spoke to His Heavenly Father about the work of the cross at hand. But in the end, it was His Father’s will that He wanted (Luke 22:42). We are truly blessed in this day and age in America where we do not suffer the persecutions that our forefathers did. There are those believers in countries today that die for their beliefs. The most we suffer is ridicule for the cause of Christ but there is coming a day in our country when all of our freedoms of speech will be taken away and this will no longer be the case. Will we turn to David’s Psalm and be able to lay down at night and sleep without worry as David did?

Praise the Lord that we are not left thrashing about in water deep over our heads but have a compassionate God who loves us and is there to help us at exactly the right time!

Reflections in Psalms – Day 1 – Blessed

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Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

What wonderful instructions for daily living for the child of God! The Lord does not leave us in darkness when it comes to His will for us. He makes His will known in great detail. The Bible as a whole is a beautiful depiction of His love toward us. From the beginning where He creates man to share in His beautiful creation all the way to Revelation where He cleans up the mess man has made through the centuries and returns us to His beautiful peace and rest!  I’m so thankful to have God’s Word to guide me!  Each morning, I find something to encourage me and to feed my spirit!

Today’s reflections show me that we can receive blessings in this lifetime if we follow God’s wisdom.   Every area of m life is affected if I choose to follow counsel from His Word! The unsaved will not give me spiritual advice. Their thoughts revolve around “the world” and will not guide me to the Word of God or provide me with Godly counsel. We should not allow the lost to be our closest friends or to have the most influence in our lives. When you hang around a skunk, you will smell like a skunk. When your closest friends are unsaved, you begin to take on their habits. It’s easy to do.

~2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Noah Webster defines “scornful” to be:

Holding religion in contempt; treating with disdain religion and the dispensations of God.

What is a born-again believer doing with people who treat our faith with disdain (hatred)? A person who hates Jesus Christ and all that He stands for will not listen to the Gospel. He will strive to make a mockery of Christ and you. Granted we are not to back down when confronted and we must be ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all who cross our path. But there are those who will mock God at every chance.

~Job 12:4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

How many of us actually delight in reading the Bible? Is it a chore? Is it a routine? Do you read it because it’s the right thing to do? Or do you look forward to your Heavenly Father revealing Himself to you in the Bible’s precious pages? This exhortation is to meditate on what we have read both day and night. Mulling over what we’ve read will keep our heart and mind focused on the things of God. It will keep us from sin!

~Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

As a result of following God’s instructions in today’s Psalm, the Lord tells me that I will be rooted and firmly planted in His Word. God will not leave me in the dark when He has a child who wishes to learn from Him. It is up to me to read the Word and heed God’s instructions. He has provided us with the instruction manual of life! How great is that?

Should I Worship on Saturday?

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A few years ago, I was approached by someone who tried to convince me that Christians should honor the Sabbath, just as the Jews do, on Saturday and not on Sunday. I prefer to go to God’s Word than man’s. In my findings, I discovered this about the Sabbath:

1. God rested at the end of the six days of creation, not man. I could not find one single solitary verse about people keeping the Sabbath before it was given to Israel in the wilderness.

2. Once this occurred, it was given to Israel by God as a sign to them that they would be His people.

~Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.

This sign was for Israel, not the rest of mankind. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not keep the Sabbath but yet they were righteous.

If the Sabbath is to be kept by Christians, the New Testament would be strewn with verses regarding it.   There would be as many comments on the Sabbath in the New Testament as there were after the Law was given to Moses in the Old Testament.  However, instead of seeing verses that support Christians keeping the Sabbath, we find verses that claim that Christians are not bound to keep the Sabbath.

~Colossians 2:16-17 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Jesus kept the Sabbath because He was born a Jew under the Law and He kept all the Mosaic laws!

~Gal 4:4-6 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

I found an interesting comment made in Warren Wiersbe’s Bible Commentary on this subject:

The sabbath relates to the old creation and was given expressly to Israel; the Lord’s Day relates to the new creation and belongs especially to the church. The sabbath speaks of law as six days of labor which are followed by rest, but the Lord’s day speaks of grace, for we begin the week with rest that is followed by works” (Wiersbe’s Old Testament Outlines).

There are countless verses depicting worship and special events occurring on Sunday.  Here are a few verses supporting why a Christian sets aside Sunday as their day of rest – each of these occurred on Sunday:

~Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

~John 20:19, 22 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

~Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (Pentecost was always on a Sunday)

~Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Sunday is the day that the Lord rose from the dead. Since then, Christians have observed this day to worship, the Lord’s Day. It is in honor of His resurrection, not in honor of the sun god as was told to me by Sabbath keepers.  There is historical proof of early Christians worshipping on Sunday. The earliest I found in my research on the web was around A.D. 100 when Barnabas wrote:

Wherefore, also we keep the eighth day with joyfulness, the day also on which Jesus rose again from the dead.

There were a few more in that second century:

Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish Law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace … If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord’s Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and by His death. The Epistle of Ignatius (about A.D. 107)

He, in fulfillment of the precept, according to the gospel, keeps the Lord’s Day … glorifying the Lord’s resurrection in himself.Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 194)

Again, I repeat myself from previous posts. Read the Word of God for yourself. Galatians is filled with verses about Christians not being under Jewish Law. Why would we want to entangle ourselves with this?

~Galatians 5:1-6 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Why Are Fundamental Christians Misled?

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It has been man’s desire from the beginning to “get to Heaven” on his own terms. Yes, we have choices but the born-again believer does not have to make the wrong choices in life. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to successfully live separated lives. Again, it is choice! Today’s preaching from the pulpit rarely speaks of living a separated life. Instead, today’s preaching concentrates on God’s love and goodness (which is all true) but leaves out His judgment and chastisement. This type of preaching has been going on for quite some time and we are seeing the effects of this preaching in the lives of Christians.

~Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

I’m currently reading Sacred Betrayal by James R. Beller. It is an excellent book on Baptist history – and not only Baptist history but the decline of separated living. How sad to see where biblical doctrine has been watered down throughout the centuries. Is it any wonder that the believer is weak? Granted, we are responsible for our own spiritual growth. It is not up to the preacher to spoon feed us, Christian! Even a baby learns to feed himself, after all. As believers, we should be growing in the Lord at a steady pace. The preaching of God’s Word should be enforcing what we have already learned from the Word. The preaching should be the glue that binds all that we’ve learned together!

~2 Corinthians 2:11-15 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:

So why then do we see so many misguided and weak Christians? If they are truly born again, they are failing in a few areas. You can read your Bible until the cows come home. But if you are merely reading for the sake of reading, you won’t glean a thing. The Holy Spirit may have brought out a couple of verses for you to glean from but you have ignored His prodding. The Apostle Paul exhorts us not to quench the Holy Spirit.

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

Jesus called believers to a higher standard, don’t you see that? He didn’t give believers an open door to sin! This is what is being taught in churches today! How sad is that?  Baptists are looked upon with disdain because it is said of them that they claim salvation but live like the world!  Christ must be looking down from His Heaven and shedding tears at the perversions being taught in the Church today – all under the guise of “freedom” and “grace”!  Is it any wonder that some believers look to other “religions” that will help them to “feel” saved?  One will doubt their salvation if one is not in God’s Word being fed by the Master.  One will doubt their salvation if one isn’t led by the Holy Spirit.  How can you doubt your salvation when you are being obedient to God’s Word?  You are only as “spiritual” as the amount of time you work at listening to God and obeying His Words. The truth from God’s Word sets us free. We no longer live in doubt, shame, and bewilderment. We are secure in God’s love because of what Christ did. As a result of our salvation, we desire to follow after Him and do what pleases Him – not what pleases man!

~John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

In kind, one will look to other doctrines if one isn’t grounded in what he has been taught by God – not by man, but by God!  Why does a Christian stray and try to live by religious laws again?  For example, if a person is born again, why would he want to go back to the Catholic church and see his Saviour being sacrificed in the mass day after day?  Why would a person who is born again want to follow  Levitical laws that placed burdens from which Christ freed us?  Why would a person who is born again be side tracked into a religion that requires you to not have electricity or phones.  Is it just so they can say they are separated?  Is it because they need this “extra” doctrine to prove to themselves that if they keep it they are truly saved?  God knows the heart, Christian!  God wants obedience to His Word.  If we are truly living according to His Word, we won’t need the religious bondage to make us “feel” saved.  If we are truly living according to His Word, we won’t doubt our salvation.  Obedience brings peace and leaves no room for doubt.

~2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

Furthermore, following after false teaching brings burdens that cannot be carried.  Christ gave us freedom with our salvation.  It is a freedom from sin and an ability, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to say no to sin.  This is where Christians have dropped the ball.  They have become so complacent to sin and not living a separated life that they feel as though they can not conquer sin.

~Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

We are held to a higher standard, not an open ticket to sin.  Do Christ’s words sound like an open ticket to sin?  Does this sound like an open door to enjoy the things of the world?  The Christian is called to live with higher standards than the Ten Commandments!  These higher standards cannot be done in the flesh. They cannot be upheld by unbelievers. Only a yielded Christian can live by these standards – yielded to the Holy Spirit of God. But it takes a committed believer! It takes a believer who seeks after God’s will and applies what he has learned.  The Jews could not keep the Law and that is why our Lord and Saviour came to save them from their bondage of sin!  But here in Matthew, Jesus is adding that not only should they NOT commit adultery but they in fact commit adultery just by looking on a woman with lust in their hearts!

Christ taught separation. When a believer says he loves the Lord, then let him live like he does. The more a Christian dabbles in the world, the harder it will be for him to stay away from sin.  Eventually, that Christian will smell and act like the world.  Is it any wonder Christians are weak today? They are being fed man’s garbage, not God’s Word!  Whatever happened to comparing God’s Word to what the preacher says?  Whatever happened to the Christian spending quality time in his Bible and learning at the feet of Christ?  There are too many Martha’s and not enough Mary’s!  The more we separate ourselves, the closer we get to our Saviour and the less we love the things of this world.

Sit at Christ’s feet and learn from Him.  After all, the Holy Spirit penned His words for us to be able to glean from its blessed pages!  We are to study for ourselves (2 Tim. 2:15), not be spoon fed by the preacher!  We are to learn from Jesus, not from man! Man can deceive us but God will not.

~Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

No where in the Bible does it encourage to be of the world. No where in the Bible does it say that it’s OK to act like the world. No where in the Bible does it say to live like everyone else does. We are suppose to be (Titus 2:14 and 1 Peter 2:9) different, not like the rest of the world.

This is what is preached in today’s church: “We have to go into the world to win them.”  True, we do. However, no where does the Word say to be like the world – quite the opposite – we are to be “peculiar.” Christians who are not living separated lives are going to doubt their salvation and seek to find that peace within from something. Christians who are not living separated lives are going to be looking for “more” out of their Christian walk because they are not at peace in their spirit. They’re not at peace because the Holy Spirit is trying to convict them and guide them but they are quenching Him.  Be at peace by being in the Word and obeying what the Holy Spirit points out to you.  He’ll clean you through and through and you will never have to seek confirmation of your salvation.

My Everything

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~Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Picture this in your mind’s eye as you read about the Psalmist’s description of his God. Mind you, David had just been delivered from the hands of Saul and he knew exactly Who had helped him!

1. God is his rock. David didn’t say that God was “a” rock but “his” rock. That’s personal – that says that David knew that his ground was solid – his ground was sure because of his personal relationship with God. God was David’s rock and his God was unshakable – solid – unwavering!  The Word says that Christ is our rock.

~1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Our Rock, Jesus Christ and His work on the cross, is unshakable, solid and unwavering as well.  Hallelujah!

2. God is his fortress. Again, David personalizes this statement. God wasn’t just any fortress, but “his” fortress. Have you ever seen pictures of biblical fortresses? A fortress sat upon a hill so the people could see whatever was coming their way from far off. What a beautiful depiction this is! We see that nothing takes God by surprise as He sees everything!  He is omniscient and omnipresent, therefore He knows what is coming in ten years from now and He will protect me!  I picture a mother hen in my head as she sees the enemy afar off and gathers her chicks under her wings to protect them. Just as the people would run to the fortress for protection!

~Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Our God desires that we run to His fortress, Jesus Christ.  The prophets of old penned time after time warnings to the Jews but instead they killed their prophets.  In Christ, we can hide and He will protect us!  It is His salvation that has been given to us and it is safe in His care!

3. God is his deliverer. Once again, another personalized characteristic of God from David. Do you remember when Moses delivered the Jews out of Egypt? They called Moses their deliverer. Moses saved the people from slavery and bondage at the hand of Pharaoh! David’s God delivered him from the enemy as well. God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, delivered us from eternity in Hell through His work on the cross!

~Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

This same Rock and Fortress is our Deliverer!

4. God is his strength. David recognized that his own strength was nothing. His enemies were many and they were indeed strong. He needed God to take charge here and provide him with exactly what he needed for that moment.  David knew his weaknesses and was well aware that he had no power over his enemies.  David believed this so much so, that he trusted in the Lord. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that his God would come to the rescue and strengthen him at the time he needed it most.  Just as God did for David, Christ does for us!

~Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

There is nothing we can’t do for the work of Christ that He won’t equip us with!

5. God is his buckler. Just what is a buckler, anyway? Noah Webster defines it as:

A kind of shield, or piece of defensive armor, anciently used in war. It was composed of wood, or wickers woven together, covered with skin or leather, fortified with plates of brass or other metal, and worn on the left arm. On the middle was an umbo, boss or prominence, very useful in causing stones and darts to glance off. The buckler often was four feet long, and covered the whole body.

I absolutely loved this! David compared his God as a buckler! His God was David’s defensive armor and shield in the time of war. We battle a spiritual warfare every day. But God is the one who protects us! Just as the mother hen noted above, He covers us under His wings just as the buckler covered the whole body. The devil does not have power over the believer because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit!

~Ephesians 6:12-13 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Who knows, maybe the day is coming where Christians may have to fight a physical battle against the enemy. We know the end times are here and our time on earth is short.  In the mean time, we can trust God to strengthen us in time of need and to be our Buckler!

6. God is his horn. Have you ever seen a Texas Long Horn? Oh my word! A full grown bull is as tall as I am when he stands erect! The horns can have a seven-foot spread from tip to tip! You wouldn’t want to mess with those horns, that’s for sure! The horn is a sign of strength and David used that comparison in this verse. There’s nothing that would be able to defeat his God. Christ is our horn of salvation! The devil cannot defeat the born-again believer! Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost as the time he made the statement that Jesus would be the horn of salvation for His people.

~Luk 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

How wonderful!! David knew that his God was his own “personal” horn of salvation. I immediately thought of my upbringing where I was taught that salvation came from the “church.” Salvation can only come from God and then we are added to His church. Salvation is of the Lord (~Psalm 37:39), not of man or of a “church.”

7. God is his high tower. I picture a high tower to be an extremely inaccessible place – one protected from the enemies of life. David personalized this characteristic of God as well. Again, his God was so high and so mighty that nothing could reach Him and pull Him down or defeat Him. When I think of this high tower, I think of Christ being in Heaven awaiting His return in the clouds to rapture His children to be with Him!

~Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

These seven characteristics of God, our Saviour, are so potent to me! They comfort me because I know that my salvation is not dependent upon me – it is all about God through Jesus Christ! My salvation cannot be taken away from me because He purchased it and keeps it safe. He guards my salvation – He is my buckler. He is my fortress and protects my salvation! He is my strength and my high tower and one day I will meet Him face-to-face and sit with Him in that Heavenly place!! Praise the Lord!

Gleanings from Psalms

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As the grass doth wither and the flowers fade away
Thy Word shall stand forever as a light upon my way
Quicken thou me this day, O Lord, according to Thy Word
So I may share Thy glorious hope to a dying world.

Thy Word is hidden in my heart to shelter me from sin
Each word is breathed upon my soul and rooted deep within
Springing forth in times of need to freshen day by day
This manna doth feed me and molds this lump of clay

©Kate Plourde
September 8, 2010