The Resurrection of Christ Scattered the Enemies of the Cross

 “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: Let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭68‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s psalm of triumph, “God! Arise with awesome power, and every one of Your enemies will scatter in fear! Chase them away—all these God-haters. Blow them away as a puff of smoke. Melt them away like wax in the fire. One good look at You and the wicked vanish. But let all the righteous be glad! Yes, let them all rejoice in Your presence and be carried away with gladness. Let them laugh and be radiant with joy!”  When Christ rose from the dead with resurrection power, all His enemies were scattered!  This is the Gospel, for the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.  The Lord Jesus Christ disarmed the powers and authorities, and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the Cross.  Every enemy of the Cross has been scattered forever.  We rejoice with exceeding great joy at the victory of the Cross.  Hallelujah!

God Always Keeps His Promises

 “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Explaining about our new life, “we come closer to God and approach Him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from Him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with Blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps His promises!”  We are free to approach God with absolute confidence, fully persuaded in our hearts that nothing can any longer separate us, we are invited to draw near now!  We are thoroughly cleansed, inside and out, with no trace of sin’s stains on our conscience or conduct.  The sprinkled Blood purges our inner thought-patterns; our bodies are also bathed in clean water.  His integrity inspires our confession, His faithfulness backs His promises.  Amen!

Shining with God’s Joy

 “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; And cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭67‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The psalmist says, “God, keep us near your mercy-fountain and bless us! And when you look down on us, may your face beam with joy! Pause in his presence”.  God’s face shines on us with the light of joy as He revealed  to the priest to bless the people. “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”  Jesus called us His brothers and sisters with a smile!  “His gaze swept across those gathered close, and Jesus smiled., ‘You, here, are My mother and My brothers!’”  Our God is full of joy and He smiles!  He wants us to be happy people.  When the King smiles, there is life; His favor refreshes like a spring rain.  Let’s be happy people who serve our joyful God even when He endured the Cross.  Let’s look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.  Amen!

Christ’s Cross Transcends Karma, Kismet, Luck or Chance

 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As explained, “Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment. But when we die we will be face-to-face with Christ, the One who experienced death once for all to bear the sins of many! And now to those who eagerly await Him, He will appear a second time; not to deal with sin, but to bring us the fullness of salvation.”  With the Lord Jesus Christ there is no “karma”, nor “kismet” but only one life and as Jesus said, “If you truly want to follow Me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share My Cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to My ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for My glory, you will continually discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will forfeit what you try to keep. For even if you were to gain all the wealth and power of this world—at the cost of your own life—what good would that be? And what could be more valuable to you than your own soul? I, the Son of Man, will one day return with My messengers and in the splendor and majesty of My Father. And then I will reward each person according to what they have done.”  There is no “luck” or “chance” with Christ, salvation which is forgiveness of sins comes by surrendering our life to Him, that gains us eternal life.  The finished work of Christ through the Cross put paid to all other kind of ideology and world view.  Amen!

Christ’s Sacrifice Paid for All Mankind

 “Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion: And unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, Unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me: As for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭65‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David sang, “O God in Zion, to You even silence is praise! You Who answers prayer, all of humanity comes before You with their requests. Though we are overcome by our many sins, Your sacrifice covers over them all.”  David prophesied of the Messiah.  Therefore, just as through one man, that is Adam, sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned, so then, as through one offense the result was condemnation to all mankind, so also through one act of righteousness the result was justification of life to all mankind.  Therefore, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Amen!

The New Covenant and the Newness of Life

 “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Christ announces the new dispensation to confirm that the old shadow system has been rendered redundant.  “This proves that by establishing this new covenant the first is now obsolete, ready to expire, and about to disappear.” This is the explanation of the old covenant’s worth in the new covenant era.  Our old life and its old ways of pleasing flesh, the sinful disposition of our hearts, are disappeared in the new covenant.  Isaiah had prophesied for God, “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”  Paul confirms this, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  This is the new covenant, relevant to all who are born again and live in newness of life.  Amen!

Declaring the Risen Christ Makes the Righteous Glad

 “And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭64‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David had enemies, vicious and determined to silence him and he turned to God.  “Then all will stand awestruck over what God has done, seeing how he vindicated the victims of these crimes. The lovers of God will be glad, rejoicing in the Lord. They will be found in his glorious wraparound presence, singing songs of praise to God!”  After the finished work of the Cross, when the Lamb of God was slain, the battle has turned spiritual.  Anyone who lifts the Name of the Lord and preaches Christ crucified and resurrected becomes the target of that one enemy who was defeated on the Cross. This enemy will come after you viciously and determined to silence you.  But just as it happened with the first disciples, the Church grew and the Kingdom of God expanded.  Even today, revival comes after the enemy silences those who publicly proclaim Christ.  Jesus defeated the enemy, once and for all.  Now it’s the responsibility of the Church to expand God’s Kingdom.  Amen!

The Indestructible Life of Christ

 “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

About Christ in the order of Melchizedek, “And all this is made even clearer if there was another King-Priest raised up with the rank of Melchizedek. This King-Priest did not arise because of a genealogical right under the law to be a priest, but by the power of an indestructible, resurrection life!”  Of far greater significance and even more apparent is the fact that Jesus is mirrored in Melchizedek in whom the new priestly office arises.  This new office is not based on the law of precepts constrained by the frailty of the flesh, but by the authority of an indestructible life as demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection.  This indestructible life comes from a united life of union with God, which is resurrection life.  The priestly ministry of Jesus began after He was raised from the dead.  He has life-giving power that has no beginning.  Jesus’s ministry of Prophet, Priest and King flows from His unlimited life of resurrection power now given to us who believe in Him.  Hallelujah!

A Continual Sacrifice of Praise to God

 “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, Therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭63‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when he was in the Judean wilderness, fleeing from king Saul.  “I overflow with praise when I come before You, for the anointing of Your Presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul. I lie awake each night thinking of You and reflecting on how You help me like a father. I sing through the night under Your splendor-shadow, offering up to You my songs of delight and joy!”  Have we ever, in our distress offered up love-songs to God, trusting in His Presence?  David had that great ability to practice God’s Presence in the old covenant.  Now, through the new covenant, when God has come as the Son of Man, finished the work of the Cross, promised His resurrection power to us, we have every reason to practice His Presence at all times.  Let’s praise God in all circumstances of our life, for He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”  Therefore by Jesus Christ our Lord, let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.  Amen!

Only the Finished Work of the Cross

 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s time for believers to mature and bear the fruit that God wills. “Now is the time for us to progress beyond the basic message of Christ and advance into perfection. The foundation has already been laid for us to build upon: turning away from our dead works to embrace faith in God”.  As difficult as it may seem, let’s separate ourselves from our immaturity.  The dead works are our useless deeds, attempts to please God through religion, keeping religious laws and traditions, and serving others to gain influence with God.  The basic doctrines of Christ were to carry us like a vessel  over our stormy past to the completeness of the fulfilled promise.  Let’s take a mind shift from attempts to impress God by our behaviour, to the realising of the faithfulness of God.  There is no life left in the old system, it is dead and gone, let’s move on!  There is only one “work” that brings life to all, that was the work of Christ on the Cross.  Amen!

New Covenant Power in Christ

 “Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart upon them. God hath spoken once; Twice have I heard this; That power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: For thou renderest to every man according to his work.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭62‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s psalm for the one who praises, “The wealth of the world is nothing to God. So if your wealth increases, don’t be boastful or put your trust in your money. And don’t you think for a moment that you can get away with stealing by overcharging others just to get more for yourself! God said to me once and for all, “All the strength and power you need flows from Me!”  And again I heard it clearly said, “All the love you need is found in Me!”  And it’s true that You repay people for what they do.”  David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  In the new covenant, God’s goodness, power, mercy and grace flows from within us to those we pray for.  As the Lord Jesus said, “out of our belly rivers of living water shall flow!”  Thank You, Lord and Amen!

Our Great High Priest

“So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, To day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchisedec.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here we are reminded that Christ’s priestly ministry had already been prophesied by David centuries ago!  “So also, Christ was not self-appointed and did not glorify Himself by becoming a High Priest, but God called and glorified Him! For the Father said to Him, “You are My favoured Son. Today I have fathered You.” And in another Scripture He says about this new priestly order, “You are a Priest like Melchizedek, a King-Priest forever!””  Apparently, many Jewish believers were having difficulty with Jesus being our High Priest, since He was not of Aaron’s lineage from the tribe of Levi.  The Holy Spirit is showing us that Jesus’s Priesthood is not just on the basis of lineage, but the supernatural calling of God, much like Melchizedek.  The meaning of the name Melchizedek is “the King of Righteousness”. Jesus knew that His Priesthood neither passed on by natural birth, nor ended with natural death.  Isn’t it awesome that we have a High Priest Who ever lives to intercede for us?  Amen!

Seated with God in Christ

 “He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, That I may daily perform my vows.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭61‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David is confident in his relationship with God, “I will live enthroned with You forever! Guard me, God, with Your unending, unfailing love. Let me live my days walking in grace and truth before You. And my praises will fill the heavens forever, fulfilling my vow to make every day a love-gift to You!” This was in the old covenant David has the hope that he will live enthroned with God, but now in the new covenant, let us be in super excitement, for God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace we have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  How much more than David may we bring Him an endless sacrifice of praise as our love-gift to Him for God has made us sit together with Him in Christ.  Amen!

Faith to Enter God’s Rest

 “For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a revelation and a warning. “For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For He has said, “I was grieved with them and made a solemn oath, ‘They will not enter into My rest.’ ” God’s works have all been completed from the foundation of the world,”.  The psalmist had spoken of God’s anger with the wandering children of Israel, “For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’”  God’s works have been completed.  Even though the world has fallen, God’s works have already been accomplished, unhindered by the sin of man. God’s finished works supersede the brokenness of our planet.  Faith, not will-power, realises our immediate access to God’s rest.  God’s cry through the ages was that His people would enter into His rest.  His rest celebrates perfection.  His work is complete; the fall of mankind did not flaw its perfection.  Let’s have faith to enter God’s rest through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

Celebrating Christ’s Cross

 “Give us help from trouble: For vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that shall tread down our enemies.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭60‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s composed this psalm when he fought against the Syrians and the outcome was still uncertain and Joab turned back to kill 12,000 descendants of Esau.  “Give us a father’s help when we face our enemies. For to trust in any man is an empty hope. With God’s help we will fight like heroes, and He will trample down our every foe!”  David had learned to trust in God in the midst of distress and be sure that God will trample on all his enemies.  The Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ told His disciples, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  We must know in Whose image we are made, the One Who destroyed all the works of the enemy and conquered sin, death and hell, through the finished work of the Cross and the new covenant He made with all those who celebrate His death and resurrection.  Hallelujah!

Unbelief - Making God in our Image

 “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Explanation of what unbelief does, “So search your hearts every day, my brothers and sisters, and make sure that none of you has evil or unbelief hiding within you. For it will lead you astray, and make you unresponsive to the living God. This is the time to encourage each other to never be stubborn or hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”  Let’s make sure that none of us tolerates the poison of unbelief in our hearts, allowing callousness to distract and distance us from the living God.  Unbelief is believing a lie about ourselves and our salvation, and exchanges the living God for a dead god of our own imagination.  A calloused heart is a mind dominated by the senses.  Instead, let’s remind ourselves daily of our true identity; making today count!  Sin is anything that distracts us from the awareness of our authentic Christ-likeness.  The Holy Spirit has been given to us precisely for this - making us Christ-like.  Amen!

Christ’s Strength in Our Weakness

 “They return at evening: They make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: Swords are in their lips: For who, say they, doth hear? Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: For God is my defence.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭59‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this when Saul set an ambush for him at his home.  “After dark they came to spy, sneaking around the city, snarling, prowling like a pack of stray dogs in the night— boiling over with rage, shouting out their curses, convinced that they’ll never get caught. My strength is found when I wait upon You. Watch over me, God, for You are my mountain fortress; You set me on high!”  People who desire to control, act in the dark, creating anger and strife, like a pack of stray dogs barking with rage!  They’re cowardly and incite unrest rather than open dialogue and communication.  David understood this and said that he found strength in waiting on the Lord.  He knew only God can defend him.  Because of the finished work of the Cross, in our weakness, our strength is in Christ alone.  Paul knew this secret as he openly proclaimed the Gospel of Christ, for the Lord Jesus said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  That’s why Paul said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  Waiting on the Lord and allowing His grace to work in our weakness, is the Lord’s strength.  Amen!

Our Salvation in Christ Has Great Power

 “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The warning if we don’t hear God, “then how would we expect to escape punishment if we despise the very truths that give us life? The Lord Himself was the first to announce these things, and those who heard Him firsthand confirmed their accuracy.”  Here and later in many places, we are warned: not to drift away from the power of our great salvation; later the warning is about failing to enter into His rest; to be devoted to the full assurance of our hope till life’s end; not sinning wilfully after we have received the truth; receiving God’s correction as our faithful Father; not to close our hearts to the voice of One Who speaks from heaven.  No one can afford to underestimate and be blasé about this final message - a salvation of such magnificent proportions!  There is no alternative escape.  Salvation as it is articulated in Christ, is the message that God spoke from the beginning, and it was confirmed again and again by those who heard Him.  We are rescued from the lies we believed about ourselves under the law of performance!  Let’s believe God for ourselves.  Amen!

The Mighty Holy Spirit, the Power Within those In Christ

 “The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭58‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm of David instructing against lying and deceiving people in the congregation, “Wicked wanderers even from the womb—that’s who you are! You lie with your words, and your teaching is poison.”  This is applicable in the new covenant within the Church when there is wrong teaching.  Jesus said that “It is the Spirit Who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life”.  People come to the congregation to be built up and lead fruitful lives.  In congregations where there is powerlessness with no fruit, no growth, no leading of the Holy Spirit, it makes one realise that there is wrong teaching happening.  The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth our Helper, Whom God the Father has sent in Jesus’s name, He teaches all things, and bring to remembrance all things that Jesus said.  Let’s learn from the Spirit of truth, our Helper, and be taught by Him praying for the Church to preach Jesus and be witnesses of Him by the power of Holy Spirit.  Amen!

The Dazzling Splendour of God is Jesus Christ, His Son

 “who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Son is the dazzling radiance of God’s splendor, the exact expression of God’s true nature—His mirror image! He holds the universe together and expands it by the mighty power of His spoken word. He accomplished for us the complete cleansing of sins, and then took His seat on the highest throne at the right hand of the majestic One.  The Messiah message is what has been on the tip of the Father’s tongue all along!  Now He is the crescendo of God’s conversation with us and gives context and content to the authentic, prophetic thought.  Jesus is God’s language, He is the radiant and flawless mirror expression of the Person of God.  He makes the glorious intent of God visible revealing every character and attribute to Elohim in human form.  His Being announces our redeemed innocence having accomplished purification for sins, He sat down, enthroned in majesty as the executive authority at the right hand of God.  He is the force of the universe, upholding everything that exists and sustains the entire cosmos.  Let’s bow down and worship Him.  Amen!

Praising God in Dire Situations

 “Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.”

‭‭Psalm‬ 57:5-6 KJV

David wrote this psalm when he hid in a cave from Saul.  “Lord God, be exalted as You soar throughout the heavens. May Your shining glory be seen in the skies! Let it be seen high above over all the earth! For they have set a trap for me. Frantic fear has me overwhelmed. But look! The very trap they set for me has sprung shut upon themselves instead of me! Pause in His presence”.  To be able to praise God and worship Him in dire situations, was David’s unique gift, now given to all who believe and have been baptised by the Holy Spirit.  Churches today which praise and worship with a religious spirit of performance, are without the power of the mighty Holy Spirit and are unable to effectively witness for our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is what Jesus tells His disciples even today, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Let’s believe Jesus.  Amen!

Love - The Foundation of our Relationships in Christ

 “that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The book of Philemon is a masterpiece of grace, tact and love which Paul wrote to Philemon whose slave Onesimus had run away and found Christ through Paul and was now returning to Philemon as a brother in Christ.  “I pray for you that the faith we share may effectively deepen your understanding of every good thing that belongs to you in Christ.”  Paul shares his feelings with not only Philemon but also with the fellowship of believers who meet at Philemon’s house church.  Paul desires that they all be fruitful in good works and in the knowledge of all that they possess in Jesus, the Messiah.  Paul’s love for Christ was so intense that he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of his Lord Christ Jesus for whom Paul had suffered the loss of all things, and counted them but dung, that he may win Christ.  May we move in the love of Christ as the foundation of all our relationships for Jesus’s sake.  Amen!

Book of Remembrance

 “Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV

David wrote this psalm when he went to Gath under the Philistines.  “You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in Your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in Your book of remembrance.”  The purpose of the book of remembrance is to record the deeds and words of believers who fear and honor God, serving as a divine record for God to remember their faithfulness. The prophet wrote that those who lived in awe of Yahweh began discussing these things, and Yahweh noticed and listened. A scroll of remembrance was written in the Presence of Yahweh. It included the names of those who lived in awe of Yahweh and honored His name.  In Revelation the Lord says this, “Behold, I Am coming soon, bringing My recompense with Me, to repay each one for what he has done." God's "book of remembrance" guarantees that when we follow God, even when those around us may not, that our names and our actions are written there.  How wonderful that the record of all that we have done even secretly is recorded, and God will reward.  Amen!

The Generosity of God’s Love for Mankind

 “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul extols the Triune God, “When the extraordinary compassion of God our Savior and His overpowering love suddenly appeared in Person, as the brightness of a dawning day, He came to save us. Not because of any virtuous deed that we have done but only because of His extravagant mercy. He saved us, resurrecting us through the washing of rebirth. We are made completely new by the Holy Spirit, whom He splashed over us richly by Jesus, the Messiah, our Life Giver.”  What a happy day!  It was the generosity of God and His love for mankind that dawned on us like a shaft of light.  Light shone everywhere and we became aware that God rescued the human race.  Salvation is not a reward for good behaviour, it’s nothing to do with what we have done.  God’s mercy saved us.  The Holy Spirit confirms in us what happened to us when Jesus Christ died and was raised.  We realised that we were co-crucified and co-raised and are now co-seated together with Christ in heavenly places.  Hallelujah!

Trusting God When Betrayed

 “But it was thou, a man mine equal, My guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked unto the house of God in company.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭55‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David’s psalm written in heartbreak over a betrayal, “But it was you, my intimate friend—one like a brother to me. It was you, my adviser, the companion I walked with and worked with! We once had sweet fellowship with each other. We worshiped in unity as one, celebrating together with God’s people.”  David is speaking of Ahithophel, who had once been his friend and advisor, only to betray him.  This is a foreshadow of what happened between Jesus and Judas.  This behaviour of betrayal will increase in the last days as Paul warned us, “that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.  Jesus took every sin and nailed it to the Cross, including betrayal.  Let’s keep ourselves from such people, spending more time in seeking God and His will for us on earth and doing that.  Amen!

Our God of Hope

 “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is teaching Titus, “For we continue to wait for the fulfillment of our hope in the dawning splendor of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus, the Anointed One.”  We know that Grace is the Person, our Great God and Saviour, Jesus the Anointed One; He brings salvation to all.  Grace educates us on how to live pure lives, and brings hope for the appearing of Christ.  This is a hope worth waiting for.  The beautiful appearing of Christ as a Baby, was a wonderful hope brought to all the world.  Now we have hope for Christ’s glorious appearing brightly shining all around and may the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Being Confident of God’s Help

 “Behold, God is mine helper: The Lord is with them that uphold my soul. I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭54‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when he was betrayed, “But the Lord God has become my Divine Helper. He leans into my heart and lays His hands upon me! Lord, I will offer myself freely, and everything I am I give to You. I will worship and praise Your name, O Lord, for it is precious to me.”  To praise God when you are betrayed is a miracle.  David’s relationship with God was so intimate that he could see with the eyes of faith, the help God would give him and so he praised God and acknowledged God’s help.  Jesus told us, His followers, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, the Helper is the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you..But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.. He will bear witness about Me.”That’s why now we boldly say, “The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.”  Amen!

Discipling People to Maturity

 “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:…This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬, ‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is mentoring Titus to whom he wrote, “There are many wayward people, smooth talkers, and deceivers—especially the converts from Judaism…He certainly knew what he was talking about! For this reason, correct them thoroughly so that their lives will line up with the truths of our faith.”  Paul is pointing to three types of people who refute and argue with church leaders: rebels, empty talkers and deceivers.  The elders must be faithful to the Scriptures in order to correct them and set them in order.  There are many who engage in worthless debates and play mind-games in order to snare new believers into legalism.  We are not here to merely comment on people’s behavioural trends, we’re here to declare people free to live the life of their redeemed design!  Faith sees that old life co-crucified with Christ and the new resurrected life emerge victoriously.  Faith is not a cover-up for sin, faith defeats sin!  That’s how we disciple people to mature spiritually.  Amen!

Disregarding God Who Loves Mankind

 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: There is none that doeth good.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭53‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The psalmist says, “Only the withering soul would say to himself, “There’s no God for me!” Anyone who thinks like that is corrupt and callous; depraved and detestable, they are devoid of what is good.”  The word “fool” in Hebrew means “withering”.  If we make no room for God, we have withered hearts, our moral sense of righteousness is put to sleep, and the noble aspirations of the heart shrivel up and die.  This psalm is a repeat of another previous psalm and when God says something once, we believe it but when it is spoken twice, it demands our utmost attention!  This psalm also clearly speaks of the downfall of those who oppose Israel.  Jesus said clearly, ““But everyone who hears My teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand.”  May we never be in the category of those who disregard God.  Amen!

Hungering for the Written Word

 “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul wrote to Timothy at the end of his life, “When you come, please bring the leather book bag along with the books I left in Troas with Carpus—especially the parchment scrolls.”  It is fascinating that the aged Paul nearing death found his heart attached to the manuscripts and books that undoubtedly expounded on the Old Testament writings.  He knew Jesus intimately, yet  longed for more revelation of the written Word until his death.  May we hunger for the revelations from the written Word, which encourage, strengthen and build us up in the life of God, even if we’re going through difficult circumstances as Paul was, because he was in prison waiting for his death.  Let’s be strong in the Word and in the power of His might.  Amen!