Our Blessed Life in Christ

 “For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David sings this psalm of praise to the Messiah, “Rich blessings overflow with every encounter with You, and You place a crown of gold upon His head.  He wanted resurrection - You have given it to Him and more!  The days of His blessing stretch on one after another, forever!  Jesus is our True King and we worship Him from the depths of our heart with a song of praise.  For He alone is worthy, Who has made us righteous by His Blood.  Who is like Him, that He should leave the glory of heaven and come down to earth to identify as the Son of Man to take our sin upon Him?  He loves us more than His Life which is in His shed Blood.  Every spiritual blessing has come on us through His Resurrection Life. We receive it by faith and live the blessed life in Christ. Hallelujah!

Sowing the Good Seeds of Spirit-Life

 “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains, “The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.”  These good seeds include prayer, Bible Study, speaking wise words, giving, loving, and “sowing the good seeds of Spirit-life everyday, from a life lived in our new creation life.  The flesh cannot compete with the Spirit.  Just like with Adam, the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - the “do-it-yourself” tree - still produces death.  Faith in Christ’s Cross - the Tree of Life - produces the Spirit fruit of the life of the ages, the God-kind of Life.  Amen!

God Answers the Prayers of Those Who Love Him

 “Grant thee according to thine own heart, And fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: The LORD fulfil all thy petitions.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭20‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David knew his God, Who hears and answers, “May Yahweh give you every desire of your heart and carry out your every plan as you go to battle. When you succeed, we will celebrate and shout for joy. Flags will fly when victory is yours! Yes, God will answer your prayers, and we will praise him!”  David’s intimate relationship with God gave him confidence that God answers prayers.This was in the old covenant.  In the new covenant, entirely through faith in Christ we say, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” as we rejoice in our salvation!  God hears and answers and blesses us when we stand on His promises in the Word of God, which are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ Jesus.  Hallelujah!

Demonstrating God’s Love

 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains, “For all the law can be summarized in one grand statement: “Demonstrate love to your neighbor, even as you care for and love yourself.” But if you continue to criticize and come against each other over minor issues, you’re acting like wild beasts trying to destroy one another!”  Moses spoke on behalf of the LORD and taught the children of Israel, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”  Paul says that to “bite and devour one another” is like having critical attitudes that will destroy fellowship.  These terms were used to describe wild animals fighting each other in deadly conflict.  As new creatures in Christ, we surrender our soulish behaviour to the mighty Holy Spirit and ask His help to love the other with the love He sheds abroad in our heart.  That’s why Jesus said, “Love your enemies” because love never fails and always wins.  Amen!

The Gospel Declared in the Heavens

 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David saw the Gospel in the heavens, “God’s splendor is a tale that is told, written in the stars. Space itself speaks His story through the marvels of the heavens. His truth is on tour in the starry vault of the sky, showing His skill in creation’s craftsmanship. Each day gushes out its message to the next, night by night whispering its knowledge to all— without a sound, without a word, without a voice being heard, yet all the world can hear its echo. Everywhere its message goes out. What a heavenly home God has set for the sun, shining in the superdome of the sky!”  The heavens are continually rehearsing the glory of God and speaking its prophecy.  The constellations of the sky bring us the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  A message is being given without words, sound or a voice.  Job too saw this many years earlier, ““Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?”  Glory to God!

Grace is Faith in the Blood of Jesus

 “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬

Paul teaches, “But now that we truly know Him and are intimately known by Him, why would we for a moment consider turning back to those weak and feeble principles of religion, as though we were still subject to them? Why would we want to scrupulously observe rituals like special days, celebrations of the new moon, annual festivals, and sacred years?”  There is no requirement for gentiles to become like Jews and observe Jewish ordinances in order to draw closer to God.  Our approach to God is always on the basis of grace and faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Sabbath.  These terms also apply to following astrological signs, which though many celebrate are nothing more than superstitious religious sentiment.  Our faith is in the real God, not one of our imagination!  What is most significant is to discover that He knew us all along.  How can we then possibly feel attracted again to the pathetic principles of religious deception?  It does not matter in what disguise legalism comes, whether pagan or Jewish, it brings the same bondage.  Amen!

If We are In Christ, God Delights In Us

 “He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬

David foresaw the resurrection of our Lord Jesus as he said, “His love broke open the way, and He brought Me into a beautiful, broad place. He rescued Me—because His delight is in Me!”  The large, beautiful, broad place is the Throne Room of heaven where Christ has been raised from the dead as He conquered death.  This is the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Father reached down and kissed the Son with life and love, and raised Him from the tomb.  Peter wrote about this, “For when He was invested with honor and the radiance of the Shekinah glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the splendid Majestic Glory in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying, “This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”. God is delighted in us in whom the Son dwells.  Amen!

Jesus Christ is Grace

 “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains, “Since that’s true, should we consider the written law to be contrary to the promise of new life? How absurd! Truly, if there was a law that we could keep which would give us new life, then our salvation would have come by law-keeping.”  The law and the promise (grace) each have a distinct function.  The law brings conviction of sin, which unveils grace as the way to salvation.  The law moves us, even compels us, to reach for grace.  Grace causes one to soar even higher than the demands of the law.  The law does not oppose God’s promise, it emphasises the desperate need for a Redeemer to release righteousness in mankind as their life - something the law is incapable of!  Had it been possible for a person to be justified by the law, the promise would be unnecessary.  God’s timing was absolutely perfect; mankind was at their weakest when Christ died their death - we were bankrupt in our efforts to save ourselves. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  Thank You, Jesus!

The Apple of God’s Eye

 “Keep me as the apple of the eye, Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s priestly prayer, “Protect me from harm; keep an eye on me as you would a child who is reflected in the twinkling of your eye. Yes, hide me within the shelter of your embrace, under your outstretched wings.”  David asked God to protect as His cherished son or daughter those who sought His protection. Just as in the old covenant the children of Israel are God’s cherished sons and daughters so in the new covenant are those who have put their faith in Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection, the finished work of the Cross.  The mercy seat in the old covenant was where the sacred blood was sprinkled in the Holy of Holies and the golden cherubim overshadowed it.  In the new covenant the Sacred Blood of Christ is sprinkled by faith in the Holy of Holies in our hearts as our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and He dwells in us.  God’s divine protection is on us who believe the Word of God.  Hallelujah!

Living by the Faith of the Son of God

 “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.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains, “My old identity has been co-crucified with Christ and no longer lives. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives His life through me—we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that He gave Himself for me, dispensing His life into mine!”  Paul says on behalf of all of us that not only was he crucified with Christ in the past, but he was also existing in the same present condition, the verb being used is the perfect tense.  How can any human effort improve on this!  We are now fully released from any further association with a life directed by the rule of the law, we are dead to that which once held us captive, free to be slaves to the newness of being Spirit led spontaneity, rather than age old religious rituals!  Paul revealed this in another epistle that “now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.”  What joy to be led by the Holy Spirit as the new creation we are, rather than by the oldness of the law. Hallelujah!

God’s Presence in Us

 “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this Messianic psalm, “For You will not abandon me to the realm of death, nor will You allow Your Faithful One to experience corruption.  For You bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life, the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with You.”  When David wanted to speak of God’s Presence, there being no Hebrew word for it, he used the word for “face”.  In the old covenant, they were not allowed to see God’s face but in the new covenant, Christ has opened the way for God’s Presence to be in us.  The Holy Spirit now dwells in all who are new creation in Christ.  It is God’s Presence in us that changes us from glory to glory.  So Paul could say, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”  Let’s enjoy God’s Presence in us at all times and rejoice by singing a new song every time.  Amen!

Be Gracious and Kind to All

 “grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV

Grace was not a “message” that Paul taught, it was the way he dealt with deceived people, “May God’s undeserved kindness and total well-being that flow from our Father God and from the Lord Jesus be yours. He’s the Anointed One who offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins! He has rescued us from this evil world system and set us free, just as our Father God desired. May all the glory be to God alone, throughout time and eternity. Amen!”  Even over the confused churches that were mixing works and grace, Paul spoke words of blessing and peace.  Peace for the Hebrew mindset means “health, prosperity, peace and total well-being”.  The “evil world system” would include the religious system that is based on duty and performance instead of love and grace.  When we learn to release “undeserved kindness” and “well-being” over those who oppose us, perhaps then they will listen to us.  When Christ has shown us such limitless kindness, why shouldn’t we show the same to others?  Amen!

Let’s Be Holy as God is Holy

 “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There is a protocol of how to dwell in God’s Kingdom in His holy Presence, and David here previews it in this psalm.  “Yahweh, who dares to dwell with you? Who presumes the privilege of being close to you, living next to you in your shining place of glory? They are passionate and wholehearted, always sincere and always speaking the truth— for their hearts are trustworthy.”  Jesus gave the principles that govern the dwelling in God’s Presence in the Sermon on the Mount.  The sanctuary where God’s Presence dwells is a shining place.  If we will dwell in the Holy Place, there must first be a holy place in our spirits where God dwells.  God’s guests must submit to the holiness that lives there.  There is a protocol to be observed in God’s Presence.  May we enjoy the Presence of God and submit to the holiness of God.  Amen!

Being In-Christ and Walking the Talk

 “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul concludes this epistle with discipline, “This will be my third trip to you. And I will make sure that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be confirmed. Since you are demanding proof that the Anointed One is speaking through me, I will give you proof by exercising discipline among you. For just as I told you the last time I was there—and now, though absent, I say it again—that when I come I will not go easy on those whom I’ve already warned and those who continue to persist in their sin”. Jesus Himself had said while talking of discipline in behaviour, “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’”  When believers don’t submit to the Word of God and insist on doing their own thing, it brings divisiveness.  Paul confronted this disunity and handled every accusation by the fruit of his life.  The authority that comes on the under shepherds that God has assigned under Him, the Chief Shepherd, comes only by living a life of righteousness and purity, submitting to the Holy Spirit and following Jesus’s example.  Many church leaders today fall because they think they can lead a double life!  But God exposes the things done in darkness.  May we live in the fear of God because there is wisdom in that.  Amen!

Impossible to Know God without Faith

 “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, And seek God.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David knew intimately his God, so he could say, “Only the withering soul would say to himself, “There is no God.” Anyone who thinks like this is corrupt and callous, devoid of what is good. Yahweh looks down in love, looking over all of Adam’s sons and daughters. He’s looking to see if there is anyone who acts wisely, any who are searching for God and wanting to please him.”  The word for “fool” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “withering”.  If we make no room for God, we have withering hearts, our moral sense of righteousness is put to sleep, and the noble aspirations of the heart shrivel up and die.  The goodness of our God is such that He loves all mankind and is looking to see who desires to please Him.  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Amen!

Christ Alone be Exalted Forever

 “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul makes clear that “The extraordinary level of the revelations I’ve received is no reason for anyone to exalt me. For this is why a thorn in my flesh was given to me, the adversary’s messenger sent to harass me, keeping me from becoming arrogant.”  The true character of spiritual revelations is that they exalt Christ, not people.  It is a paradox that the greater our understanding of God, the less we truly know and the more humble we become.  Paul refused to be exalted in the eyes of others.  Of course Paul did not have a demon, but  it was possible that a demon followed him to harass and hinder him, because of the constant misunderstanding and persecution that came to him because of his faith in Jesus.  There is no indication that this “thorn” was a sickness.  When he gave a list of hardships earlier, he didn’t mention a sickness or disease.  Paul knew Christ intimately and therefore knew that only Christ is to be exalted and no one else.  We too, in our relation with Christ know that only He is exalted and He alone, no human!  Amen!

Jesus was Forsaken so We are Accepted

 “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David cried, “I’m hurting, Lord—will you forget me forever? How much longer, Lord? Will you look the other way when I’m in need?”  This is the psalm that describes the journey from self to God, from despair to delight, from feeling abandoned to feeling affirmed.  It begins with pain and ends with praise.  Moaning gives way to music.  We each can take comfort in what David experienced.  David feels as though God is hiding His face from his cries, and is left alone to wrestle with his doubts feeling as if his patience will hold on no longer.  Most of us have been there, haven’t we!  This is what Jesus Christ experienced on the Cross for all humanity,  when at about the ninth hour He cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  So we can come to Him, all of us who labor and are heavy laden, and He gives us rest.  Amen!

Trust God for Everything

 “Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul tells the church at Corinth, “Have I committed a sin by degrading myself to dignify you? Was I wrong to preach the gospel of God to you free of charge?”  Paul received financial support for preaching the Gospel and could have asked the Corinthian church to support him.  But while among them, he refused to receive their gifts and relied on other churches to support him.  He did this to set himself apart from the “super-apostles” in Corinth, and to demonstrate that his ministry would not be bought.  Jesus had taught the disciples, “Travel light, and don’t even pack an extra change of clothes in your backpack. Trust God for everything, because the one who works for Him deserves to be provided for.”  Let’s not be influenced by the ways of this world but trust God for providing for us.  Amen!

The Pure Words of God

 “The words of the LORD are pure words: As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭12‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As David received this revelation of the Word of God, “For every word Yahweh speaks is sure and reliable. His truth is tested, found to be flawless, and ever faithful. It’s as pure as silver refined seven times in a crucible of clay.”  The clay furnace is the heart of man.  We are the earthen vessels inside which God has placed His flawless words.  His words test us, they try us, and they refine us, seven times over, until they are purified and assimilated into our spirits.  The fire of testing purifies us as vessels to carry the Word within our hearts.  As Paul explained that we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.  Jesus said that His words are spirit and they are life.  God’s Word quickened by the Spirit, brings life in us.  Hallelujah!

Bringing Every Thought to the Obedience of Christ

 “(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that “our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide. We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.”  Paul calls these strongholds as demonic centres of opposition to the light of the Gospel and describes the areas of our warfare as: we are empowered by grace with the Gospel to dismantle strongholds; we demolish arguments, opinions, theories and philosophies; taking every thought captive, we insist it becomes obedient to the mind of Christ; we stand ready and willing to wage war to defeat the enemy.  Hallelujah!

The Righteous God Has Face to Face Encounters with those Made Righteous

 “The LORD trieth the righteous: But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬, ‭7‬ ‭KJV

As David worshipped, “Yahweh tests both the righteous and the wicked. God’s very soul detests lovers of violence. But remember this: Yahweh is the Righteous One who loves justice, and every godly one will gaze upon his face!”  David understood the trials of the righteous. In the new covenant it is important for the righteous to encounter trials.  These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.  The trials of the righteous happen because God made Jesus Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  What a great and glorious God.  Amen!

Give Hilariously - God loves It!

 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Paul explains, “Let giving flow from your heart, not from a sense of religious duty. Let it spring up freely from the joy of giving—all because God loves hilarious generosity!”  Even Proverbs declares, “Sin is a seed that brings a harvest; you’ll reap a heap of trouble with every seed you plant. For your investment in sins pays a full return— the full punishment you deserve! When you are generous to the poor, you are enriched with blessings in return.”  God loves it when we are generous and give cheerfully!  He provides for our needs with blessings overflowing.  Let’s give as God gives.  Amen!

God Chooses the Weak & Oppressed to Release His Strength

 “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may no more oppress.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭18‬. KJV

“Yahweh, you have heard the desires of the humble and seen their hopes. You will hear their cries and encourage their hearts. The orphans and the oppressed will be terrified no longer, for you will bring them justice, and no earth-dweller will trouble them again.”  This was the psalmist cry and God is the same unchanging God.  In the old covenant He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. In the new covenant it says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”  God lifts up the weak and gives grace to the humble. God’s way is that He has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  May we follow Christ our God and His Way always.  Amen!

God Empowers Us to Live By His Will

 “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬

Paul is teaching the Corinthian church and all of us, the features of godliness that must be seen in our lives and ministries. “You do well and excel in every respect—in unstoppable faith, in powerful preaching, in revelation knowledge, in your passionate devotion, and in sharing the love we have shown to you. So make sure that you also excel in grace-filled generosity.”  All true believers whose life’s purpose is to manifest Christ in us the hope of glory, should have these features according to this verse: 1) we excel in everything; 2) we have unstoppable faith; 3) we have an anointing of faith to speak the Word; 4) we have revelation knowledge; 5) we have passionate devotion; 6) we show love; 7) we are generous.  These are the graces that God empowers us to live in accordance with His will.  Amen!

Trust God that He Never Forsakes Us

 “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: For thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This was David’s experience in his relationship with YHWH, “All who are oppressed may come to Yahweh as a high shelter in the time of trouble, a perfect hiding place. For everyone who knows Your wonderful Name keeps putting their trust in You. They can count on You for help no matter what. O Lord, You will never, no never, neglect those who come to You.”  Because of what God did on the Cross for all humanity, this promise is not only for the Jews but for all of us non-Jews who have tasted the goodness of God when we believed on what Christ did on the Cross for us personally.  Christ has been our refuge when we were oppressed of the devil.  Christ has sheltered us in trouble and delivered us.  The power of the Blood of Jesus’s sacrifice has spoken on our behalf because we put our trust in Him.  This is the testimony of our relationship with Him that He never leaves us or forsakes us, just as He said.  Amen!

An Example of Blameless Ministry

 “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬

Paul exhorts, “Again, I urge you, make room for us in your hearts, for we have wronged no one, corrupted no one, and taken advantage of no one.”  Paul says he has hated no one, nor led people astray from the right doctrine, nor corrupted anyone’s faith, nor cheated anyone for financial gain.  Every minister of God should set these goals for his or her calling: 1) do no wrong to another nor to ‘hate’ anyone; 2) to not corrupt or lead anyone astray; 3) to never use his or her authority to take advantage of anyone by cheating for personal gain.  Paul had a blameless history in ministry.  We need to follow this example.  Every church and denomination riddled with legal cases needs to turn away from their wicked ways, repent and turn to God for mercy.  Amen!

Perfect Praise is Child-Like

 “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.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

King David’s melody of worship to YHWH, “You have built a stronghold by the songs of children. Strength rises up with the chorus of infants. This kind of praise has power to shut Satan’s mouth. Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you.”  There may be a vast difference between the glory of the heavens and the little mouths of children and babies, yet by both, the majestic Name of the LORD is revealed.  It is amazing that perfect praises do not rise to God from the cherubim or seraphim, but from the children and babies, the weakest of humanity.  Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Let’s trust God like a child and perfect His praise with our mouth.  Amen!

Being Christ’s True Servants

 “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains the true characteristics of the believer in Christ, “We may suffer, yet in every season we are always found rejoicing. We may be poor, yet we bestow great riches on many. We seem to have nothing, yet in reality we possess all things.”  What an amazing list of true apostolic ministry.  These are the virtues that endeared Paul and his ministry companions to the churches and validated his authority as an example to them of God’s true servant.  Whatever Paul suffered, he only rejoiced in Christ.  Always a cheerful giver and generous to all who needed, yet never lacked anything. The authority with which he disbursed help, healing and honour to all who needed, as unto God.  May we choose to be God’s true servant doing all we do as doing to Christ Himself.  Amen!

We are Made Righteous Only Through Jesus Christ

 “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: For the righteous God Trieth the hearts and reins.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭7‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Once and for all, bring to an end the evil tactics of the wicked! Establish the cause of the righteous, for you are the righteous God, the soul searcher, who tests every heart to examine the thoughts and motives.  As the psalmist declares, YHWH alone is righteous and just in all His ways.  He judges righteously and His Word is powerful and quick, sharper than a two edged sword, dividing asunder the soul and the spirit, the joint and the marrow, discerning the thoughts and intents of our heart.  God alone knows are inner motives and what weighs in our conscience.  So when we bring it under the Blood of the Cross, we are made as righteous as He is through faith.  This is the good news of the new covenant for the Blood of Christ was shed for all humanity to be made righteous through faith.  Amen!

Rewards for Believers in Christ

 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on His throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.  This is for believers for our time spent on earth in the body.  The judgment for our sins fell upon Christ on the Cross, and we believers will never be judged for our sins.  This judgment or scrutiny is for our rewards.  There will be different levels of reward given to believers after death.  For some, there will be no reward, yet they will be saved.  Paul said clearly that we don’t qualify to judge others or show contempt for them as we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of ourselves to God.  Let’s do what God has already ordained for us to do, in our time on earth.  Amen!