Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:16, 17). Paul has been dealing, not so much  with the question of what is permissible, but rather how what we believe is permissible  affects relationships within the fellowship. We are to receive one who is week in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things (verse 1). He cites a brother who eats only vegetables, and one who esteems one day above another (verses 2, 5).  We are not on the one hand to despise our brother,  or judge him on the other. If for example we keep the day, we keep it to the Lord, if we don't keep it is to the Lord that we don't keep it.

It is before our own master that we stand or fall, for  we must all individually give an account of ourselves before the judgement seat of Christ (verses 12, 10). This is not about loosing our salvation, it is about receiving or loosing rewards (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).  There are two points here. We read that the one who does not condemn himself in what he approves is happy, the one who does what he himself does not approve,  is condemned.  The first point then is that whatever is not of faith is sin (verses 22, 23). The second point is that the “stronger” brother can cause the “weaker” brother to stumble. We talk about triggers in recovery. Someone with a drinking problem can be triggered by someone drinking or even one saying he does not have a problem with drinking. These things can cause our brother to stumble. Paul says “Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense” (verses21, 20). 

It is in this context, causing a brother to stumble,  that Paul tells us to not let our good be spoken of as evil. In a parallel passage he says “if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:13). If our behaviour is causing our brother to stumble, we are not walking in love. Again with the title verse these things are not the essence of the Kingdom, the essence of the Kingdom is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” If we are arguing about these doubtful and ultimately unimportant things we are grieving the Holy Spirit, disturbing the peace and quenching our  and other's joy.

Father, forgive us for those times when we have been more concerned to do what I want to do, even at the expense of triggering my brother or sister. And forgive us Lord for those times we have judged others.  Please show us what is important, and draw us close to You so that we might walk in righteousness, and experience Your peace and joy in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I ask these things in Jesus Name Amen.

The LORD is my shepherd (Psalm 23)

This beloved Psalm never gets old. It is a go to Psalm,  in times of trial, or when we're in need of inspiration. The Lord is my personal shepherd, He pastors me, I am His sheep, he knows me, I am in relationship with Him,  and I hear is voice (John 10:27). As part of this,  “I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (1b, 2a). He not only feeds me, but as I follow Him He supplies all of my needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). “He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” (2b, 3a). He leads me, He does not force or control me, though as in 2a, He may interrupt my frantic activity by circumstances,  making me lie down, or slow down. It is however for me, He loves me, He's pastoring me. He invites me “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10), and in the stillness of His presence there's healing, restoration and fullness of life  (John 10:10b).

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness,  for His name’s sake” (3b). His Word is a lamp to my feet, it guides me along life's paths and keeps me safe. In following His Word there is both provision and protection. He does this,  not for any righteousness of  mine, but for His Name's sake. It is part of His character,  it's who He is.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me” (4:a, b,c). Death is not to be feared by the one who is following the Shepherd – for “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). There are many deaths, the death of our dreams, the death of a relationship etc. But He is “with us” in the difficult times. He suffered for us,  and He suffers with us (Philippians 3:10).

“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (4d). Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and even in His chastening He is the God of all comfort (Hebrews 12:6; 2 Corinthians 1:3). “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (5a). When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). I have experienced this in my own walk! “You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over” (5b). When we walk in the fullness of Spirit, neither grieving nor quenching Him,  our cup indeed overflows with the joy of His presence (Psalm 16:11 again). “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever” (6). God's mercy and goodness pursue us, we don't have to earn it, they are right there, they are  freely available. And we shall indeed dwell in God's dwelling place (heaven) for ever,  and ever,  and ever, Amen!

Father, thank You that with Your help I have sought to love You with all my heart,  mind, soul and strengthen, I have learned to say with Paul for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. I praise You Father that Your Word is true and Your paths are pure. I love You Lord, I love You Jesus, I love You Holy Spirit. Three in One love You in Jesus Name Amen

I will declare Your name to My brethren;

....    In the midst of the assembly I will praise You (Psalm 22:22).  The entirety of this Psalm is prophetic and Messianic, predictive of Jesus, and in particular of His suffering. Starting with verse 1 which Jesus from the cross “My God, my God why have You forsaken me,” it goes on from there. In particular, it describes not only the agony of crucifixion years before the Romans invented it (i.e. 14, 15a, 16a, 17), but it is predictive of the casting of lots for His clothing (verse 18),  and of the mockery that He also endured at that time (verses 7, 8). Furthermore, in quoting this morning's title verse in Hebrews 2:12, the “I” is clearly  identified as Jesus. In particular the writer to the Hebrews tells us that it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  He quotes verse 22 of this Psalm, saying that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren, and that both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one (Hebrews 2:10-12).

The evidence for the Divine inspiration of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16), and with it the existence of the God of the Scriptures, is there for anyone who has eyes to see. Anyone that is who does not, by his or her presuppositions,  rule these things out in advance of any investigation. I am reminded of a conversation with a Professor at the University. I had asked him what it would take for him to believe. Referring to the incident reported in Scripture  (Isaiah 38:8), he said that he would believe if the sun went down backwards 10 degrees. I then asked him “Would you really?” He thought for a moment then answered “No, I would find some other explanation!” He describes himself as an atheist, and I have always thought that the atheist has more faith than the Christian, it is just a different faith, a faith in “not God.” I mean more faith, because where is the evidence of “not God?”

Though, as I have said, the proof of God's existence is contained within the pages of the Bible, its primary vehicle of revelation is declaration. In this morning's verse, Jesus declares the Name of the Father to His children. Genesis 1 declares in the beginning God, and that “faith comes by hearing (declaration), and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17). Again in this morning's verse, in the midst of His suffering (this psalm; Hebrews 2:10),  Jesus models our appropriate response which is praise and worship. When we can truly praise Him in the midst of our suffering, then we know that our faith is real. And remember, God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Father, I want to thank You this morning for the depth of Your Word. You tell us Lord that if we meditate on it day and night, abiding in it, obeying it then we will prosper in everything we do (Psalm 1:3) Thank You Lord that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You (Hebrews 11:6). Thank You that Your Word is true and that we are one with You, and we give You praise and  glory in Jesus Name Amen

For if their being cast away

.... is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be,  but life from the dead (Romans 11:15)? It was always God's sovereign intention that the Jew should bring salvation to the Gentiles (Genesis 22:18). Jesus,  the Jewish Messiah,  came to His own (the Jew), and His own received Him not, but to as many as received Him He gave the right to become the sons of God (John 1:11, 12). There is a teaching out there,  that the church has replaced the Jew,  and that God is finished with them.  But Paul here is making the opposite case.  Indeed, this morning's verse speaks about their acceptance (reconciliation). God does not make promises (covenants) and then withdraw them, for  “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (11:29).  “Calling” here  refers primarily (but not exclusively) to God's calling the sinner to repentance and salvation (1:5, 6). Unfortunately for most of its existence the Church has actually persecuted the Jew. Anti-semitism, and the murder of six millions Jews did not,  by any means,  originate with Hitler.

Rather than persecuting the Jew, it was and is, God's intention that the inclusion of the Church should provoke the Jew to jealousy.  It was even predicted! From the lips of Moses we read “I will rouse their jealousy through people who are not even a people” (Deuteronomy 32:21; 11:11). A large part of the  church is ignorant of all this, in spite of Paul explicitly saying  “I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (11:25). The fullness of the Gentiles is about the time when all the Gentiles who are going to receive Him, will have received Him. There is also a fullness from among the Jews.  Indeed  “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness” (11:12)!

Now I do not pretend that modern day Israel is perfect, far from it. But “he who is without sin should cast the first stone!” But surly,  with Paul,  it should be our heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel .... that they may be saved” (10:1). And well yes,  we should pray for the Palestinians too, and actually any other people group too. The plight of the  Palestinians is certainly dire, and there are certainly grave injustices from both sides. In the natural any solution to the problem is intractable. For one thing,  among other peoples groups in the Middle East,  the Palestinians are puppets in a proxy war,  with Iran being a prime mover. And how do you make peace with leaders who are committed to your extermination?

Father, Your Word tells us that it is not Your desire that any should perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). And so this certainly includes both Israel and the Palestinians. You also tell us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), and so we do this this morning Lord. Also, in identification repentance, I want to repent for myself and the church for its anti-semitism down thought the years,  and its continuation even today. Open our eyes to Your Kingdom purposes Lord,  and help us to extend Your mercy to all in Jesus Name Amen.

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;

.... May the name of the God of Jacob defend you (Psalm 20:1).  Job could declare “Man .... is of few days,  and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).  Jesus warned His disciples “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b). He had just told them He was about to leave the world and go to the Father, and that they, His disciples,  would be scattered (28, 32). He says “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace” (33a). We  cannot escape troubles, but as those who know and love the Lord,  we can choose to tap into His resources to deal with them in a such way that we can appropriate His peace.  It's not automatic!

In keeping with Hebrew thought, asking that the Name of God would protect you, is the same as asking God to protect you.  But asking in the Name of the God of Jacob (rather than Israel), is interesting. In the context of troubles, it recalls the incident when God changed Jacob's name. “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28).  Jacob had stolen both Esau's birthright and his blessing  (Genesis 25,  27). Esau had threatened to kill him,  and Jacob had fled.  And now years later,  Jacob is returning and learns that Esau is coming to meet him and his family, with four hundred armed men  (Chapter 32).  This was a defining moment for Jacob. Likewise our troubles, our crises, our “days” of intense difficulties, are defining moments for us. They are also crossroads.

There are times when, in my mind's eye, I am standing before God,   He has His arms about me, and I am pummeling His chest with my fists. At such times I am wrestling with God. There are also times when I am suckling on the hairy teat of God. In the first picture I am wrestling though to peace, in the second, I am drinking in His comfort! Some people have wondered how I kept faith at such times, but I'm far too weak in my own strength,  to isolate myself from the source of all peace and comfort.  And the Lord would rather we came to Him with railing accusations,  than to stay away, even if like Jacob, we are essentially reaping what we sow. At lest when we come to Him, He has the chance to answer, to calm us, and to forgive and cleanse us where necessary. Jesus warned  His disciples of trouble,  so that they would know what to do. We go to Him, so that in Him we have peace. It's His peace, it's a gift (John 14:27).

Father, the word translated “deliver” in this morning's verse literally means “to set on high,” as in a hight tower or fortress. Indeed we are seated with You in heavenly places. Lord in Your strength we will not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul (Matthew 10:28).  Our lives are in Your hands Father, but there are times we need to wrestle with You in prayer,  and with Jacob to declare “I will not let You go until you bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Please give us the faith and the tenacity to do this Lord,  and we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen

Who can discern their own errors?

Cleanse me from,  and forgive my secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me (Psalm 19:12, 13a).  David had just waxed eloquent about the Law, “the commandments of the Lord are pure, enlightening the eyes” (verse 8), that is revealing unknown or unacknowledged sin. It seems that David got to wondering what else was hidden, and in the process cries out to God for forgiveness and cleansing from such. Paul could declare that he knew nothing against himself, but that did not mean that he was blameless (1 Corinthians 4:4). He gives the example that we don't know that covetousness is wrong until the Law told us it is (Roman 7:7). We tend to believe, to conform to,  what our family of origin and/or out culture tells us what is right and wrong. And this is pretty bad, because our culture believes nothing is wrong. At least it says it believes that! It's also bad, because we suppress truth by our unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).

So David is talking both about our hidden faults,  but also about out “presumptuous” sins. The word literally means 'that which boils or bubbles up,' it is a picture of hot emotions ruling the day. He petitions the Lord to restrain him from them. Perhaps David was remembering that the Lord had sent Abigail, Nabal’s wife, to intervene in David's hot intention to revenge Nabal's refusal of help  (1 Samuel 25:4 – 39). The problem with our acting out of anger, or of other passions, is that it tends to weaken both our consciences, and our ability to resist the temptation the next time. In this way, these presumptuous and arrogant sins soon “have dominion” over us. Indeed “he who sins is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). This phenomenon is likely the reason that drug abuse is of such  epidemic proportions in our society.

The Psalm continues with “Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer” (verses 13b, 14). “Then,” when the Lord has answered these petitions, David will be blameless, and in particular innocent of the grosser transgressions. It is about learning the discipline of self control. For the Christian this is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:24), and comes as a result of abiding in Christ.  David's last petition in this Psalm is that his thought life and his speech might also conform to blamelessness. Jesus tells us that it is out of the  abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45 ). And James tells us that “if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2).

Father, there is nothing more freeing Lord than to know that there is nothing hindering our fellowship with You.  So please Lord, give us hearts this morning, to please You. Search our hearts Lord,  and see if there be any wicked way within us and lead us in the paths of life (Psalm 139:23, 24). In this way Lord may we perfectly love You and glorify You Holy Name in Jesus Name Amen

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses

.... For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). Three times in this passage Paul has referres to groanings. In 22 he tells us “For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now.”  It groans  because (verse 20) it was subject to futility (perverseness, depravation,  want of vigour – Thayer).  There's something wrong with creation,  something not in keeping with its original purpose. We see it in nature,  red in tooth and claw, we see it in earthquakes etc. In verse 20 we see that it was God who did this, He did it at the fall, cursing the earth “for our sakes” (Genesis 3:17 NKJV). Part of what this means is that though He subjected it to futility, He  also subjected it in hope (all in verse 20).  This duality is likened to childbirth,  where there is struggle and torment and groaning, but there is also the hope in the birth, the birth of the new creation.

This same duality is in those of us who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we too groan, but not without hope, for we “eagerly wait .... for the redemption of our body” (verse 23).  Paul wants to give us a different perspective on our sufferings, and a different way to handle them.  For example, he considers “that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (verse 18). He tells us we know that God “works all things work together for good for those who love God, and are the called according to His purpose” (verse 28). But do we really know this? I mean if we truly knew that no matter what happened the good, the bad and the ugly, if we knew that it all worked for our ultimate good, if we truly knew this, then we could relax and enjoy the journey. We could count it all joy when we fell into diverse trials (James 1:2)!

So perhaps the real task is to grow in this knowledge. Not just in head knowledge, but rather in a settled heart knowledge. It's clearly a process, and it starts by choosing to trust Him,  and keeping our minds stayed on Him. In this way we receive His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).  Again,  it is not without struggle, for we certainly groan (verse 23). Creation groans, we groan and  “likewise” the Spirit groans. The Holy Spirit, the helper, the comforter, the One called along side of us, the One who helps us in our weakness, He is the One who groans in intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words (verse 26). In other words the God who suffered for us,  is the God who also suffers with us in our groanings as He shows us the way forward.  

Father, if You be for us who can be against us? You who did not spare Your  Son will You not also with Him give us all things? Surely! There is now no condemnation, we are more than conquers through Him who gave Himself for us. And there is absolutely nothing Lord,  that is able to separate us from Your love. For this, and for may other things Father,  we give You thanks and praise in Jesus Name Amen

For if you live according to the flesh you will die

....  but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live (Romans 8:13). “For” connects this  to the previous verse which reminds us that we under no obligation to the sinful nature to live according to it. Our obligation is to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.  We are not our own,  we are bough with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20). This morning verse outlines two equal and opposite spiritual laws that govern reality.  The first, is that if we obey the desires of our fallen nature, we will die. It's the law of sin and death (verse 2b). Receiving salvation is about choosing our masters, choosing whom we will obey. In 6:16 Paul says “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves,  whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”  So which do you want, life or death? The default is death, for “He who sins is the slave of sin” (John 8:34).

The second of the two equal and opposite laws, the law of the Spirit of life (8:2a) is rephrased in the second half of  this morning's verse. It is “If by the Spirit, you put the death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Note that the deeds of the body are put to death by the Spirit, but it is also “you” who does it! We cannot do it without the Spirit, nevertheless we have a part to play. We are not puppets, we have been given the precious gift of free will, how will we use it? Our part has to do with cooperation, it has to do with choosing who I yield to.  It is the secret of life in the Spirit.  While I was still very much identifying with “the good that I would – the evil that I would not” (Romans 7:19), I used to pray over and over “Lord please help me to do my part in putting the death the deeds and the desires of the flesh (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24).  It Lord wants us to enter into rest and not be in a constant Romans 7:19 state  (Hebrews 4:1). I am not saying that I have fully arrived, but for me entering this rest was (is) very much a process.

The tenses of the verbs in Romans 8:13 and  Galatians 5:24 are interesting. In particular “put to death” is present continuous. Jesus told the disciples He had many things to tell them but they were not yet able to bear them (John 16:12). My understanding then,  is that part of the Spirit's job is, in His time, to bring things to our attention that need to be put to death. On the other hand, in Galatians 5:24 Paul says that we have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  It is past and positional. We are to reckon ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11). So when temptation comes, when the sinful desires threaten to draw us away,  we tell them “No, I'm dead, dead, dead, dead!”

Father, I want to thank You again this morning, that when we fully surrender to You, holding nothing back, then You not only work in us the wherewithal to do Your will, You actually change our desires to want to do it (Philippians 2:12, 13). We praise You for these things this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

I want to do what is good, but I don’t

....  I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway (Romans  7:19).  An alcoholic friend told me one time “There are many things in the Bible that I don't understand, but I understand this one! It's called sin, it's not politically correct language, but it is reality. Sin is about falling short of God's perfection,  and that is each and every one of us (3:23).” Someone put it this way, we're not sinners because we sin, we sin because we're sinners. In other words in our natural fallen state,  the default is to do the wrong and avoid the good.  There are many in our world who will claim that mankind is basically good, but  on my own journey to Christ I came to understand that much of my own “goodness” had more to do with the rewards and consequences of my actions. But is that really goodness, or is it wisdom?

In this passage Paul speaks of this morning verse as so predictable as to be  a law.  And he describes the resulting struggle as a kind of civil war within, a war that in the natural we loose and are brought into captivity (7:23).  This is well illustrated by our addictions, hidden or not so hidden. I hear things all the time  like “I could stop anytime, I just don't want to!” But it is only when you try to stop that you understand what Paul is talking about here. Up until that time, you are in denial about this universal aspect of our fallen human nature. When we try,  and then fail to control these things,  we will likely cry out with Paul “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death” (7:24)? He answers his own question “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord” (7:25)!

He then goes on to tell us about another law “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus that has set me free from the law of sin and death” (8:2).  The law of sin and death, is that the soul that sins shall die, or that the wages of sin is death (Ezekiel1 8:20; Romans 6:23a). The last reference goes on the say “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23b).  We need to peek into tomorrow's readings to understand the law of the Spirit of life. It is that the righteous requirement of the law is be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit  (8:4). Or to put it another way “if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if,  by the Spirit,  you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (8:13).  And the benefit, the gift of 6:23b,  is that  “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ” (8:1).

Father, the writer to the Hebrews warns “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3)? He admonishes us to “give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (2:1).  You have no pleasure Lord in those who play church, You would rather that we were cold than lukewarm (Revelation 3:15,16). So this morning Father please expose in us any wickedness, and lead us in the everlasting way in Jesus Name Amen

As for me, I shall see Your face in righteousness

.... I will be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness (Psalm 17:15).  David had been speaking about those who “have their portion in this life,”  the excessively wicked (verses 11- 13), but also those for whose treasure is in the here and now, whose portion are earthy treasures  (verse 14). In the phrase  “as for me,” David is saying that his portion has to do with the things of God, and in the sure hope of seeing God's face in righteousness. The righteousness of which David speaks is in vivid contrast to unrighteousness of those he has just been describing. There are three aspects to the righteousness of the believer. Firstly there is the imputed righteousness of justification (Romans 4:5-8). Secondly there is the growing righteousness of sanctification, the progressive freedom from the power and the pollution of sin. Paul admonishes us to work out  this righteousness with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Then there is the practical righteousness, the holiness without which no man shall see His face (Hebrews 12:14).

David is confident that he will see God's face, and the Lord wants us to be confident too. John tells us that he writes the things he does,  so that we may know we have eternal life (1 John 5:13). But this leaves no room for presumption. The essence of eternal life is ongoing relationship with God (John 17:3). It is not about going through the motions of saying the sinners prayer, then continuing to have our portion in this life, with our hearts set on our earthly appetites. This is to have “god as our belly,  and our glory as our shame.” Paul describes such people as the enemies of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18, 19). Jesus tells us “where your treasures is,  there is your heart also  (Matthew 6:21), and if our treasures are in early things, our hearts are far from God.

Paul again tells us that if by the Spirit we put to death the deeds of the flesh we shall live (Romans 8:13),  we shall see His face in righteousness, and we shall be satisfied when we awake.  Over and over  the Scripture speaks of death as sleep (i.e. Mark 5:39), and  awakening here,  speaks of entering the after life.  As to awakening in His likeness,  John tells us that when we see Him we will know Him because we will be like Him (1 John 3:2).  At that time,  in an instant,  in the twinkling of an eye, we will be changed.  All three aspects of our righteousness will come together in perfection, and we will fully reflect His righteousness. This, John tells us,  is because we will see Him as He is (verse 2). As to being satisfied, Jesus tells us that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed and shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). Hallelujah!

Father, You call us saints, You impute Your righteousness to us, and then You call us up to live up to what You say about us.  It's so easy to get caught up in the here and now Lord, and so we ask You this morning to wean us away from all earthy idols, so that we may perfectly love You and glorify Your holy Name. We ask these things in the Name of Him who loved us and gave His life for us, in Jesus precious Name Amen

There are many plans in a man’s heart

.... Nevertheless the LORD’S counsel—that will stand (Proverbs 19:21). The relationship of God's providence (His divine guidance and care),  to the will of man is a puzzle to many.  When we hear of a tragedy we wonder why God did not prevent it. I mean is God in control or not?  The atheist's argument against the existence of God  surrounds this question. Either God is not all powerful, or He is not good. The Christian affirms both that He is all powerful,  and He is good.  Nevertheless evil certainly exists, which if He is all powerful He must for some reason allow. But why is this?  There are no simple answers to these questions. In terms of control,  God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar till he know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses (Daniel 4:25b). The Lord clearly intervened in this situation.  But obviously there are times He does not intervene when we  think that perhaps He should. But we don't see the whole picture, and the position of faith is to believe that He has His reasons. We can of course pray and ask Him to change things and/or to help us to understand.

This morning's proverb however has more to do with the plans we make, and how that fits into the purposes and sovereignty of God.  Most of the time, the Lord deals differently with the believer than  with the unbeliever. Many times God gives the unbeliever over, as He did with  Nebuchadnezzar, until we come to the end of ourselves. His  forbearance, and longsuffering, is there to lead  to repentance (Romans 2:4). The believer is not his own, he is bought with a price
(1 Corinthians 6:19, 20),  and God's expectation is that we be servants of righteousness (Romans 6:19). In particular for the believer to make plans without acknowledging Him is spoken of as arrogance (i.e James 4:13-16).  If we make plans outside His purposes for us (as we probably all do at times), He may or may not intervene. Still “the purpose of the LORD will prevail,” as another translation of this morning verse puts it.

However like a petulant child,  the believer can nag, and nag, and nag at the Father. In many ways He encourages it, as in Parable of the widow and the unjust Judge (Luke 18:1-8). He may not give it if  our motives are wrong (James 4:3).  Sometimes however the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts,  but bring leanness to our souls (Psalm 106:15 NKJV). In such cases His dealing is similar to that of the unbeliever. You don't want to go there. In the end it's all about relationship, in order to avoid these things,  we need to trust Him with our heart desires, and  acknowledge Him in all our ways. When we do this, He has promised to direct our paths and make them straight (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
 

Father, the previous verse in Proverbs admonishes us to “listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.” You have made us to need each other, and this too flies in the face of the rugged North American individualism.  But Lord You have promised that if we humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, You will exalt us in due season (1 Peter 5:6).  And this will bring You glory too. Please help us Lord in these things,  in Jesus Name Amen

As for you .... know the God of your father

.... and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you (1Chronicles 28:9).  David was talking to his son Solomon shortly before his death. But the advice is good for us too. It starts with the admonition to know Him. This is not telling him to know things about God, though certainly this is part of it. No,  the meat of if is to know God,  as in having a relationship with Him. Jesus in His high  priestly prayer tells us that the essence of eternal life, life in the Kingdom and life in abundance is “to know You the one true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). When we get to know Him, we learn that His character is exactly the same as that of Jesus (John 14:9). This is so very different from the false but widespread view that God is out to get us, just  looking for an opportunity to condemn  (see Romans 8:1).

Yes He wants us to serve Him with a loyal and willing heart. Actually, to do otherwise is to miss out on life.  We are meant to find peace, joy fulfillment and meaning in our relationship with Him. He has designed us this way.  The world thinks that freedom is found elsewhere, in rebellion and doing our own thing. This however is sin, and he who sins is the slave of sin, the very opposite of freedom. True freedom is found only in Jesus Christ, and if the Son shall make you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:34, 36). It is found in serving Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind.

We catch a gimps of what Father God is like, if we look to the very possible best father on earth.  Such a father understands his son (or daughter) and wants the very best for them, and will seek to guid him or her away from poor choices. Such a father understands the plans and the longings and will guide accordingly. How much more will He do who did not spare His Son,  but freely offered Him up for us all (Romans 8:32)?  And His very, very best guidance is to love God with all our our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).

Father, I want to thank You this morning for Your promise that we will search for You and find You when we search for You with all of our heart (Jeremiah 29:13).  You also tell us that when we draw near to You, that You will draw near to us, but we cannot do this without cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts. Give us loyal hearts Lord and keep us from double mindedness (James 4:9). Thank You Lord that when we delight ourselves in You, You give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). Thank You Lord that You are a rewarder of those who diligently seek You (Hebrews 11:6).  We give You praise and the Glory Lord and ask You to teach us to worship  You as we aught in Jesus Name Amen

Abraham who, contrary to hope, in hope believed

.... so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken.  And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead.   He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,  and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform (Romans 4:18-21).  So then “what was spoken” was that God had made Abraham the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). Note the tense “had made!” God spoke to Abraham about about what would happen in the future, as a completed action, as if it had already happened (this is the force of the Hebrew tense). You see God's promises are sure, they are yes and Amen. God sees the end from the beginning, and in any case,  He dwells outside of time. 

In terms of his not being weak in faith, Abraham did not let the reality of “his body already dead” get in the way of his faith. The meaning of the title phrase is clear. He had no earthly reason to hope, but he did have reason, it was his faith in the One who “gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (verse 17).  When God speaks,  what He speaks actually calls what is spoken into existence. For example when there was no light,  He spoke “Let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The word “consider” in verse 19, has the sense of “fix one’s eyes or mind upon”.  It doesn't mean  he ignored the reality of his body being dead. No, there was a higher reality, the reality that the  One who speaks things into existence,  had spoken.

That “he did not waver” is interesting.  He certainly tried to make the promise happen his way, rather than waiting on God. The result was disastrous, in that in so doing he sired a nation that has been at war with the sons of the promise since that time (Genesis 16:3; 17:20).  You have to wonder how many of us have received a promise from God and likewise,  in the delay, have tried to make it happen, rather than waiting on God. Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!  But the God who chooses to remember our sins and iniquities no more (Hebrews 8:12),  does not report them when He records history under New Covenant inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16).  What is important, and what should be encouraging to those of us who don't always wait perfectly,  is the end of the story. And the end of the story,  is that through it all his faith was strengthened, and through that strengthening he became fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform. And also importantly,  he  gave glory to God (verses 20, 21).  

Father, I sense You telling us this morning, that when You have given us a promise, that our struggle to believe through the difficult time of waiting, is there to strengthen us. And that if we refuse, contrary to hope, to continue to hope,  we will come to the place where we will thank You for the result even before is comes, and that this gives You glory. So I thank You this morning Lord that all Your promises as yes and Amen and I give You glory in Jesus Name Amen

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?

How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me (Psalm 13:1, 2). The four “how longs,” literally 'until when,' of these two verses represent four aspects of David's complaint to the Lord.  In the first, David feels forgotten, it feels like the trial has gone on forever. In the midst of our own trials and difficulties, at least for me, it often feels like they will never end. Even towards the end of Joseph's many trials he was left to languish in jail for “two full years” (Genesis 41:1). When the end in sight the time can seem to go so slowly, it feels like forever! And our focus is so often on the end result, the bottom line, but God is more interested in the process. That is why He councils us to “let patience have its perfect work” (James 1:4). He has things He wants to do in the waiting (i.e Isaiah 40:31), best to  cooperate with Him, and do our best to wait patiently!

The second “how long” has to do with the feeling that God had hidden  His face. The expression “seeing someone's face” has to do with their presence. When Paul was telling the Ephesian elders that this was his last visit he described it as “you will see my face no more” (Acts 20:25).  So David was feeling abandoned. The “footsteps” poem comes to mind, where though the poet felt abandoned at his most difficult times because there there were only one set of footsteps in the sand, the Lord reveals that was the time He carried him. He has promised “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). He never promised it would not feel like it! The third “how long” concerns the emotional toll that accompany trials and difficulties. That and the tendency for us to obsess on them, with trying to find solutions to problems that seem to have no solution, that and the painful reality of the situation, the heart hurts and the difficulty of coming to terms with things.

In David's case, his enemies (with respect to the last “how long”) was likely Saul who was seeking to take his life. But even if that is not our situation, there are those, who like Job's “comforters” likely blame us for what when wrong, either that or they are totally unsympathetic,  and of course all these things tend to make things worse.  The Psalm however does not end in despair. After having poured out his complaint to the Lord (Psalm 142:2), he starts to feel better. He remembers times  in the past when he trusted in God's mercy, and when God  “dealt bountifully” with him. And because of this, he sets his heart to rejoice in the Lord's salvation (deliverance), and determines to sing to the LORD (verses 5, 6).

Father, I am reminded of the teaching that in every  negative circumstance, we need to approach the situation in the opposite spirit. In cases like David's, we will not likely feel like singing praises to You. But it's a big part of what allows us to rejoice in tribulation. We are not pretending Lord, we are practicing. And  as I look back Lord,  I can truly say You have dealt bountifully with me.  And I too set my heart to rejoice in Your salvation in Jesus Name Amen

The words of the LORD are pure words

....  As silver tried in a crucible on the earth, refined seven times (Psalm 12:6).  King David had cried out to the Lord for help. He was distressed that “the godly man ceases .... the faithful disappear,”  and “they speak idly everyone with his neighbour; With flattering lips and a double heart they speak” (verses 1, 2).  A king, David would have received many flattering words from those who were seeking favour from him. We lesser mortals may also receive flattering words, but are more likely to receive the opposite, insults,  put downs and the like. But in any case we can likely identify with the widespread phenomenon of double heartedness, saying one thing and meaning another.  Another form of speech that David decries are the proud boastful and rebellious words of his contemporaries (verses 3, 4).  Not much has changed over three thousand years!

By contrast, the Words and promises of the Lord are “yes and amen” (2 Corinthians 2:20).  His words are pure, with Him there is no  shadow of turning, He is not a man that He should lie (James 1:17; Numbers 23:19).  David gives us a picture of something here on earth that will describe the indescribable, the level of purity and reliability of God's Words.  It's “silver refined in a furness seven times.”  In its natural state,  silver contains dross, impurities. It's purified in the refining process by heating it in a furnace. In this process the dross rises to the top and can be skimmed off. To do this seven times is likely overkill, but the number seven speaks of perfection, indicating that there is nothing on earth purer than silver refined seven times. Thus are the words of God!

So what does it mean that the promises of God are yes and Amen? As I have mentioned before, I ask the Lord for something morning by morning for myself and for others. There has been heavy rain over the past two days, and the river where I take my daily walk went from being the lowest I have ever seen it, to the highest I have ever seen. And as I went down there this morning, the Lord whispered to me “The blind shall see, the deaf shall hear, the tongue of the dumb shall sing and the lame will leap like a heart,  because waters shall burst forth” (Isaiah 35:5, 6). Water of course speaks of the Holy Spirit, and  it has been my prayer for many many years  that the Lord would do these things in my relationships, but also in revival.  There have been many prophecies over St John's,  and I am sensing that the time is near in this year 2020.

Father, I thank You this morning that by Your grace I have been able to not throw my confidence away. I pray into the above Isaiah  promise this morning Lord,  starting by asking for 20/20 vision for myself, for all those I have been praying for, for the church, and for all who will come in, through the coming revival, be it in St John's, in Newfoundland, in Canada and the World. Lord let Canada indeed be for the healing of the nations. And once again Lord start with me and all those reading this blog, in Jesus Name Amen

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger

.... And his glory is to overlook a transgression (Proverbs 19:11).  A parallel proverb states “The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper displays foolishness” (Proverbs 14:29). As a young man I was easily angered, and it got me into a lot of trouble. It was indeed foolishness.  Discretion in this morning's verse  has to do with showing good judgement.  Understanding has to do with seeing the other person's point of view, without necessarily approving of it.  Being slow to anger is about having self control, it's part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23), it's being in charge of your emotions.  The opposite of this is about holding grudge or heeding “Don't get mad, get even,” kind of advice.  To overlook an offence is to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, as when as they drove cruel spikes into His hands and His feet and He prayed  “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  It is a glorious thing! 

Some see this sort of thing as weakness, and certainly it can be if, for example,  your mode of operation is peace at any price.  Jesus was slow to anger, but He did get angry (Mark 3:5; John 2:15). In neither of these two incidents was Jesus being weak.  It is also possible to have a codependent interpretation of these things.  While we are to be slow to anger, anger need not be wrong, itcan give us the courage to do what we might otherwise be reluctant to do. Many of us to not realize that in long term relationships we actually train others how to treat us. We do this  by how we respond to certain situations.   By conflict avoidance, we train others that they can get away with almost anything.  In such situations, it might take a while for us to realize what we are doing, to see that if we are to have a relationship based on respect, that things need to change.

It is at such points that many relationships fall apart.   And what this is really about is having healthy boundaries. Boundaries are about leaning when to say yes,  and when to say no.  One of the secrets in healthy relationships,  is learning how to negotiate.   It does take two though.  One of the problems, when we have had poor boundaries,   is that waking up to what's going on,  often comes in crisis.  And anger that has been suppressed, and suppressed rather than dealt with,  can come bursting forth. This makes respectful dialogue, successful negotiation, difficult.  I am talking about me here.  This is one of the reasons that getting into recovery before a crisis hits, is an excellent idea. In other words, we need to ask the Lord to show us what are the things going on in our lives that need to be dealt with with discretion,  when our ability to overlook and offence is still in place!

Father, I ask this morning for myself,  and all reading this blog, that You will help us to be slow to anger and ready willing and able to overlook an offence when appropriate. But help us also Lord to know when our anger is telling us that it is time to deal with something, to acknowledge it, and then to work it through before it becomes of crisis proportion in Jesus Name Amen

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge,

.... for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things (Roman 2:1). The “therefore” of this verse links it with the previous chapter, where Paul describe the slippery slope to reprobation. There is a strong tendency for religious people to look down on those who, in their view, are reprobate. It is a “holier than thou” kind of attitude,  and it is smoke in the Lord's nostrils. To me, the Lord's teaching on judgemental attitudes is among the scariest teachings in Scripture. In particular “with the same measure you judge, will you be judged (Matthew 7:1).  If you or I judge without mercy or compassion we will, unless we repent,  be judged without mercy or compassion.  For me this is particularly scary in light of the second half of this verse “you who judge do the same things.”

We don't see it of course, it's part of the tendency to minimize our own sin,  while maximizing other peoples. It is also part of the phenomenon that the faults of others that annoy us the most,  tend to be those we have ourselves. This verse was brought home to me years ago,  when a new convert, fresh out of the drug scene, was attending our fellowship. She talked without ceasing, sometimes without taking a breath. I was driving her home one time when she stated complaining about another member of the fellowship. When I asked her what  the problem was, she told me “Well, you can't get a word in edgeways!”  It's is kind of subtle really, because we can clearly see things in others that are wrong, and we are also told not to condone evil. Indeed “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).   Jesus' dealing with the woman taken in adultery is a fine example of how to do this.  He told her “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more” (see John 8:1-11). He did not condemn, but neither did He condone, He did not say it didn't matter!

This distinction is important. May times when we expose the works of darkness, simply by refusing to take part in them (have no fellowship with them). And then we are accused of judging, and “Judge not” is thrown back at us.  And here once again the inadequacy of words is exposed, because we are  also told to judge with righteous judgement (John 7:24).  The judge in a trial will condemn the guilty person, he needs to judge justly of course.  The judge in a competition will seek to discern (determine) who, or what,  is best, and she needs to do that without bias.   If we are not supposed to judge (as in discern) that something is wrong, how on earth would we know to go and gently correct one who is overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1)?

Father, it is so very, very easy to slip into judging others, in the sense of condemnation. It is not that long ago that You convicted me of judging (condemning) those who judge. You know those blankety blank judgemental people! It's also hard Lord when we are injured by others, but You tell us to be kind compassionate and forgiving. We need Your Grace, humility and love Lord, and I'm asking for it this morning Lord in Jesus Name Amen

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven

.... against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18). We don't seem to like to talk about the wrath of God, but  it's important to note that Paul has just outlined the good News that God credits righteousness to the account of the believer. Likewise we should never divorce a discussion of this subject from the gospel. But neither, if we are to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), should we neglect this subject. The suppression of truth is all about rationalization and denial, about our ability to talk ourselves into,  or out of,  things we might want, or not want, to do. In the context Paul talks about not retaining the knowledge of God's “eternal power and Godhead.” Retaining, or not, suppressing, or not, the things we instinctively know about Him.   Paul tells us these things, including His wrath against all unrighteousness, are obvious from creation (verses 19, 20). 

What is clear from the  passage is that we will not be able to say we did not know, we will be without excuse (verse 20 again). There is a slippery slope in this rationalization and suppression, and we can reach a point where God actually gives us over to our lusts. This fact is repeated three times (verses 24, 26, 28). If you reach that  point you will feel trapped, you will feel like you can do nothing about it.  You were not born that way, you were given over to your sin, after all “He who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John8:34).  God does this in His Mercy, for we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). I hear the testimony over and over, that this one or that one came to the end of themselves, came to their bottom.  There is a recovery saying that seems to fit here “We will not change until the pain of being stuck becomes greater than the pain,  and fear of change. And of course step one is to come out of denial. 

So how does the slippery slope start off? Paul tells us “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful”  (verse 21). Likewise James tells us that everyone is tempted when we are drawn away and enticed (James 1:14). So drawn away from what? Well, from relationship with God, from glorifying Him and from being thankful.  I hear some saying what is there to be thankful about! I am not saying that life is not difficult at times, but the opposite of  thankfulness,  is bitterness and unforgiveness,  and that is poison. It negatively affects our emotional life, and draws us even further away.  The Lord calls us to righteousness,  because righteousness is  ultimately what will fulfill us. But most of the world is looking for love on all the wrong places, and encouraging others to do the same (verse 32).

Father, I cannot seem to get away from the twin concepts of the goodness and severity of God (Romans 11:22). Lord our culture is in such a state of rebellion and lawlessness. We are sowing to the wind and beginning to reap the whirlwind (Galatians 6:7). The ox knows it's master Lord, but our culture does not know You (Isaiah 1:3). So Lord I claim again 2 Chronicles 7:14, that  “If my people... ” Lord please come and heal our land in Jesus Name Amen

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,

....  for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed out of faith into faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16, 17).  Most English translations   of verse 17 (as with the NKJV above),  are unintelligible.  A more literal translation would read “For in it the righteousness of God by faith is revealed to faith; as it is written “The one who through faith is righteous, shall live.”   Translating the quotation from Habakkuk in this way reveals it to be a major theme of the whole epistle, indeed in all of Paul's writings. This verse which,  we are told,  was so instrumental in Luther's conversion, was certainly understood by him in this way. In fact, the words “just” and “justified” that occur in many English translations  (i.e. 1:17; 3:20, 24, 26; 4:2;  5:1 etc.),  all have the same Greek word “dikaios” (righteous) as their root. They can thus be literally translated as “righteous,” and “made righteous” respectively.

That we are justified (made righteous) by faith is made clear in the Epistle (and elsewhere i.e. Philippians 3:9). For example “therefore we conclude that a man is made righteous by faith,” and “the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe” ( Romans 3:28, 22). The phrase “the  righteousness of God” can have two meaning of course, the first as an adjective meaning God is righteous, which of course He is. The second, and this is the meaning here,  is the righteousness of God that He imputes to believers (that is He credits to our account). This too is made clear in the Epistle. In 4:5 we read “to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness.” 

The “For” in the first part of verse 17,  explains the connection with the previous verse. Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, because in it the fact that we are made righteousness by faith is revealed.  And it is the power of God unto salvation. If we are ashamed of the gospel, we will not share its good news, and the power of God will not be in operation to save. We are not being encouraged here, to ram the gospel down people's throat.  In many ways in our culture,  we need to earn the right to be heard. And that starts with a life that is in the ongoing process of being transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18).  But we also need to sanctify the Lord in our hearts, and to be alert and ready and to prayerfully ask the Lord for opportunities to give an answer of the hope that is within us   (1 Peter 3:15).

Father,  thank You that this living by faith really is life, life in all it's fullness. We do confess Lord that it's hard in this culture to find opportunities to share the gospel. Help us to remember that it is the power of God unto salvation. Thank You Lord,  for the divine exchange, that You have taken our sin on Yourself,  and credited us with Your righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Your gave Your life for ours, help us to live our life for You,  no matter  the cost,  in Jesus Name Amen

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You

....  For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You (Psalm 9:10).  In English,  a name is often little more than a means of identification.  Names such as Fred Thompson, or  George Williamson etc., originally indicated that this Fred (among the many Freds) is Tom's son, and this particular George,  is William's son.  It's not like this in Jewish thought. In Jewish thought the name conveys the nature and character of the person named. It represents his or her  history and reputation.  God has many names and each one is significant.  God's name in this morning's verse,  is Yahweh. This Name was first revealed to Moses when God called him to lead the children of Israel our of Egypt. Moses asked who he should tell them had sent him. The Lord answers “Yahweh.”

In our English Bible Yahweh is translated “I AM WHO I AM.” There are many things to say about it.  Firstly, Yahweh answers the question “Who made God?” The answer is that “Nobody made God. God simply is. He always was!”! Secondly He is the essence of being, God is absolute reality.  All things were made through Him,  and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:3),  no space, no universe, not even  emptiness. Only God. Thirdly God is utterly independent, He needs no support, He needs no council (Romans 11:34). On the other hand everything that is not God depends totally on Him.  “In Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16, 17).  I AM WHO I AM is the very essence of being. He is the creator and sustainer of the universe.  He is constant, faithful, reliable, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever  (Hebrews 3:8).  He is not becoming anything, there is no need, He is perfect on all of His ways.  He is who He is, He simply is!

We tend to use the word “God” as if we understand what we mean, but if we could fully understand God we would be God! That does not mean we cannot understand something about Him. This morning's verse  tells us that we can put our trust in Him because He has a history of not forsaking those who trust Him. In other words faithfulness is part of His character, He is utterly trustworthy.   Those who know His Name, know this, know His character. How can we put our trust in someone we don't know? That's why seeking God, seeking to know Him,  is so very important. Moses was not asking "what should I call You" rather, He was asking "who are you; what are you like; what have you done."  God answers that He is eternal, that He is the God of History,  He sees our affliction and He will deliver us from our bondage.

Father, You are reminding me of my testimony this morning, You heard my cry, and  brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. You set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. You put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to You my God. And Lord You have promised that many will see it and fear, and will put their trust in You,  Yahweh (Psalm 40:1-3). It is part of Your promise that when I know Your Name  I will be the first born of many brethren (Romans 8:19) and I give You  praise and glory in Jesus Name Amen

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants

.... You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger (Psalm 8:2). Jesus quotes the first part of this verse as “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise” (Matthew 21:16), He is quoting from the Septuagint the accepted Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. I am told that the Hebrew word translated here as strength clearly means homage where is it also translated strength in Psalm 29:1.  The thought seems to be that in the simple innocence and wonder of a little child lies true worship.  One of the problems we seem to have as adults, is that we have by and large lost our sense of wonder. How many of  us can truly sing with sincerity that with the hymn writer we are “lost in wonder love and praise?”

The general sense of how this connects with silencing the enemies of God,  is brought out in the above passage  from Matthew.  It was holy week, Jesus was doing miracles in the temple and the children  were crying out “Hosanna to the Son of David, and His enemies the  chief priests and scribes were objecting. And Jesus was saying that no, the children were getting it right. You get the impression they were silenced, speechless (Matthew 21:14-17).  What could they say?  Related to all of this is Jesus statement “Amen, Amen I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2).  The Scribes and the Pharisees in their power, wisdom, knowledge and learning were excluded, but persons comparatively ignorant and foolish, weak and contemptible, but nevertheless simple, humble, and teachable, these are those who enter!

I don't want to be misunderstood here, I am not saying we should not be engaged in our world to work for change where it is needed. Nor am I saying that we should not vote in elections, or that Christians should not be involved in politics. We need Christians of every stripe in Government. But too often the church has become political, and at times the church has been identified with one or another political party.  We need Christians on all sides of the divide so that we do not get stuck in rigidity on the one hand, nor that we should be so progressive that we throw the baby out with the bath water on the other.  We are to be as wise as serpents,  and as harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).  If we are to have Kingdom influence in the Word,  we need to become and  remain humble and teachable.We need to be quick to hear and slow to wrath, we need to become and remain, well not childish,  but childlike with the above characteristics.

Father, none of this is easy Lord. You tell us to be in the word, but not of the World, and Father we do not know what that looks like! It seems Father that You are giving the Western World over to its godlessness. Will we be like the early church without political influence,  but having an influence that turned the world upside down? The underground church in China seems to have a lot more influence than the institutional Church here.  Lord please help us to be faithful in whatever changes You either allow,  or orchestrate. And Lord please keep us childlike in Jesus Name Amen

A man of many friends will come to ruin

.... but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).  The Hebrew seems to be somewhat obscure in the first stanza.  The NIV, for example,  translates it as “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,” while  the NKJV has “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.”  Certainly “unreliable” is not in the Hebrew, but according to many commentators carries the meaning. But taking this as accurate it seems to mean that if we are indiscriminate in our choice of friends, we may not be making true friends. I saw a meme to the effect that someone who had died had 5,000 friends on on facebook, but no one came to his funeral.  The prodigal son, had many “friends” until his money ran out and things got tough, at that point they all deserted him (Luke ).  There is an English maxim that sums this up when it talks about “fair weather friends.”

The meaning of the NKJV seems to be that if you want friends, you need to reach out to people and not expect others to take the initiative to become your friend.  But the Scripture also warns that “the righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray (Proverbs 12:26). Paul puts it this way “do not be deceived, bad companions corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).  The word for friend in the second stanza has the sens of being stronger friend than the one in the first. The same word is used when Scripture calls Abraham the “friend of God”  (2 Chronicles 20:7).  A true friend will not be afraid to speak the truth in love when needed. Again Scripture has something to say about this “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).

The saying “Blood is thicker than water”  comes to mind in relation to the second part. It is saying that relatives are more reliable than friends, but this is not always the case, and the proverb itself implies. I know, and you probably do too, families that never speak to each other and carry bitterness in their hearts. But there is a friend that stick closer than a brother. Jonathan and David come to mind, but the maxim fiends its greatest fulfillment in Christ who told His disciples  “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you”  (John 15:15).

Lord Jesus, You are indeed the friend that sticks closer than a brother. You are always there, always ready to listen, comfort and equip. We do need each other Lord, but we need to choose our earthly friends carefully. You did, and even then there was one who betrayed you.  We cannot be all things to all men Lord, You chose twelve, and even then in Your humanity there were three who appeared to be Your favourites. I need to think more about that Lord. But as the ascended Christ I am Your favourite, and so is every one who is reading this blog. I don't know how we can all be Your favourites but well, You are God, and we praise and thank You in Your precious Name Amen

Life and death are in the power of the tongue

.... And those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 19:21). There was a saying when I was a child “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!” It is a lie, gossip can rob a person of his or her reputation, a hurtful word spoken in anger can kill a relationship. On the other hand “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold, in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11),  in other words treasured as an exquisite piece of jewellery.  The prophetic word is for building up, comfort and encouragement (1 Corinthians 14:3). At a time of doubting my abilities at University, a teacher told me I was capable of the highest degree, and it motivated me to aim for it. I came to understand that the self doubt had come largely as a result of a critical tongue from a close relative.

The words we use on ourselves likewise have positive or negative influence.  We need to be aware that our enemy plants lies and thoughts into our hearts in the first person. “I can't do that,” or “I am a looser,” or “I would like to kill him.” The evil one then turns round and accuses you have having the thoughts. “What kind of person are you to think that way?” Accepting his thoughts as our own can lead us to the action he suggests. I am convinced that some child molestation comes this way. We need to counter these things with Scripture, “I can do all things thought Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13), and we need to take ever negative thought and accusation captive  (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Though we must not confuse conviction with condemnation, we do need to hear the words that there is no condemnation to to those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1), and to hear too that it is Satan who is the accuser of the brethren, not the Lord.

Coming to the second stanza, “those who love it,” either love to talk, or love words as their tradecraft (i.e preachers).  The primary thrust however is negative, and  clearly means that we need to take responsibility for our words as well as our deeds. Indeed we “must give an account of every idle word” (Matthew 12:36).  As for those who love to talk, the scripture warns “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise (Proverbs 10:19). Likewise James admonishes us “let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (James 1:19). And even more sobering from the lips of Jesus "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).

Lord Jesus, You tell us that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45), and these things are truly heart matters Lord. So let our speech be full of grace and seasoned with salt. And please give us Grace and wisdom to guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. And we will give You the glory in Your precious and lovely Name Amen

A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city

....  And contentions are like the bars of a castle (Proverbs 18:19).  I think we need to think of “brother,” at least before the contention, as someone close.  An unkindness, injury or betrayal, real or imagined, is so much more difficult to deal with from someone close, than it is  from someone distant.  The insults of an eight year old's strangers kid is likely to role off you like water water off a ducks back. But from a marriage partner? The sense of betrayal from someone you have trusted with your life, goes very, very deep, and in part accounts for the bitterness of so many divorces. It also tends to tear the children apart too!  Is it any wonder God, who is all about reconciliation,  hates divorce (Ephesians 1:10, 4:3; Malachi 4:15, 16). It is not just divorce of course,  it is any tearing asunder of relationships. Putting these things back together has been compared to unscrambling eggs, but with God all things are possible!

Some of the commentators suggest that 'contentions,' in the second stanza, has to do with the courts. What is clear, is that any dispute escalates, the moment lawyers get involved. I mean the lawyers need to be on your side, right or wrong, and in any negotiation they are likely to council you  to start out with outrageous demands.  This is particularly difficult in our take it our leave it culture, where most things are fixed,  and  “my way or the highway” is the norm.  The advantage of a bartering culture, is that it builds relationships. But layers are about winning, not about relationships! Paul suggests that  among Christians it's better to be defrauded,  than to go to court before unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8).

Another thing that spill over from our take it or leave it culture,  is the polarization of ideas.  But we probably don't need any help in this area.  As a culture we no longer listen to each other, but as the proverb says “He who speaks first seems to be right, until his neighbour comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). And if our ideas remain unexamined, they will likely never be corrected.  In all these things, the Scripture admonishes us to come against these things in the opposite spirit. When offended we should be kind and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32). Rather than accusation we should confess our faults one to another (James 5:16). We should not underestimate the power of a sincere and timely apology with appropriate recompense. And if after that the brother is still offended it is on him, not on you.

Father, Your Word tells us “How good and how pleasant it is that the brethren dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). We need to allow You to use our differences to refine us Lord, as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). Unity is not all being the same, harmony is a pleasing combination of differences, unison is alright for while, but it can get boring. We need Your help Lord, Your Grace. Offence is a weapon of the enemy. Please  teach us to be offence proof. If we are to love our neighbour as ourselves, we will need to overlook our contentions. We ask for Your help Lord  in Jesus Name Amen

But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself

.... him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah (Psalm 4:3, 4).  Some of the commentators suggest that David is grieved at the rebellion of his son Absalom, who had raised an army against him, turning his glory (his reputation) into shame (verse 2a). Absalom had openly slept with David's concubines!  In any case David is grieved and asks his enemies “How long will you love worthlessness, and seek falsehood” (verse 2b).  Setting us an example for us for how to act in times of trouble,  David turns to the Lord for comfort, for answers and for help.  He also councils himself with this morning's quote.  He starts with a  “But,” in this case indicating a change of perspective.  When we keep our eyes on what is happening we can get very down. Others had dealt treacherously with David, but David now tells himself to know two things, firstly  that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly, and secondly that He will  hear when he calls.

Over and over it is the difficult times that draw us close to God, at least they have the potential to do that. And it is how we respond that makes the difference.  It is difficult not to get angry at times, but in the next stanza David warns himself not to sin in his anger (verse 4a).  One of the characteristic of the godly (verse 3) is self control (Galatians 5:23). It is part of the fruit of the Spirit and often we need time to grow into these,  as we catch ourselves, sometimes in mid sentence. It happened to me the other day. Sometimes we need to go back and soften a reactive response (been there, done that,  bought the T-shirt)!

Next David councils himself to “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (verse 4b). There is a sense that obsessive thinking (stinking thinking) is meditation where we go over and over things in our mind.  But this is not the kind of meditation David is thinking about, it is about being still, knowing He is God (Psalm 46:10), and coming into His perspective, rehearsing His promises, allowing Him in the intimacy of that, to put gladness in your heart (verse 7). Then knowing that when you have worked through that you “will both lie down in peace, and sleep,” and turning to prayer declare that this is because “You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (verse 8).  By the way, though “Selah” occurs over seventy times, no one seems to know what it means. It is thought to be something musical!

Father, when we are walking in obedience then, like David we know that You will hear us when we call to You (verse 3b). It is sometime hard to understand Lord why You allow what you allow, but we will choose to trust and even praise You this morning, and with Your help we will turn our distress into praise. And we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen

The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness

....  but who can bear a broken spirit? (Proverbs 18:14). Hebrew poetry, which we see over and over in the Psalms and Proverbs,  takes a thought and then restates it in a slightly different way in the next stanza. And by means of such parallelism we can understand that there is a strong association in Hebrew thought with spirit, and heart. We read in Psalm 34:18, for example, that “the LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” With this understanding of the connection between heart and spirit, Proverbs  15:13  throws light on what is being said in this morning's  title verse. It says “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”

 We hear of people who are diagnosed with cancer who simply seem to give up and die shortly afterwards. And then we hear of those with “spirit,” who fight it tooth and nail either to life, or they go down fighting.  It is the this second “spirit” that sustains a person  in sickness, that gets them through,  and gives them the determination to not give up. It is worth saying then,  that how we approach an illness makes all the difference. Perhaps you know of people who have this fighting spirit, perhaps you are one of them.  The joy of the Lord is our strength. Likewise the way we approach the whole of our existence, this makes the difference between life (in all its fullness) and (a kind of living) death.  We are admonished to life, we are more than conquerors, and we are  to count it all joy when we  fall into manifold trials (Romans 8:37; James 1:2).

There is a difference between a broken heart (spirit) that is destroyed, and a broken heart in the sense of contrition. In his struggles Job cries out of a destroyed spirit (or heart)  “My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me (Job 17:1). Job could easily have cried out “Who can bear a broken spirit?” On the other hand David,  in his repentance over the  Bathsheba incident declares “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and a contrite heart O God, You will not despise (Psalm 51:17). The movie “The Horse Whisperer” comes to mind. In it, teenager Grace MacLean is riding her horse, when it is hit by a truck. This breaks the horse's spirit in the first of the above senses. In this beautiful story,  the bruised and broken spirits of both the troubled girl,  and the horse are eventually restored through love. Likewise it is love of God that heals the broken heart (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18).

Father, we can be poor in health or in circumstances, but we need to be rich in spirit. Thank You for Your Word that tells us how.  It starts with trust and obedience and with Your help,  a determination to be the men and women of God that You call us to be. We need to work this out with fear and trembling Lord, for when we do our part, then You do Yours working in both our desires and the wherewithal to do Your good and perfect will (Philippians 2:12,13).  And Your are perfectly able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine. And we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry

....  and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him (Psalm 2:12). This Psalm is clearly messianic, that is it is predictive of Messiah,  of  Christ.  And in case anyone is left in doubt,  the  verse “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” is quoted in the New Testament and applied to Christ (verse 7; Hebrews 5:5). It is however more about His second coming than the first (Acts 1:11).  In His first coming He came as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the World (John 1:29). In His second coming He will come with a rod of iron to rule, and He will break in pieces  those who do not kiss the Son, those who do not put their trust in Him, those who do not serve the Lord with fear,  and rejoice with trembling (verses 9, 11, 12). 

The World (the peoples verse 1) is all about breaking free from their bonds and casting away the cords that prevent what it imagines as freedom (verse 3).  It's not true freedom of course, because “he who sins is the slave of sin,” and we reap what we sow  (John 8:34; Galatians 6:7).  It comes at the individual level of course, but also at the level of the nations, and  the rulers thereof (verse 2). Canada was once rightly considered to be a Christian nation, a sheep nation (Matthew  25:32, 33).  This is no longer the case, more and more we see enshrined into the law evil being called good, and good  being called evil, and in keeping with this Psalm, the Bible pronounces a woe on such as do this (Isaiah 5:20).  Concerning Canada day, we were essentially praying that the Lord would turn Canada back from being a goat nation back to a sheep nation. Please agree with us in prayer.

The Psalm opens by asking rhetorically why the nations, the people,  plot a vain thing and take council together against the Lord and His anointed (verses 1, 2. The Name Christ means “the anointed One,” the Messiah).  Vanity is defined as having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements, in this case in the schemes and plotting. History has shown that every empire that exalts itself against God is doomed to destruction. In the face of these schemes and plots the Lord laughs and holds them in derision, but also it causes Him deep displeasure (verses 4, 5).  We need to take comfort and to realize that ultimately we who know and love the Lord are on the winning side. This is perhaps the clearest application that we can take away from the book of revelation, in fact it shouts “We win!”

Father when You tell us to pray “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we are definitely praying Your will!  So we are praying from victory, not to victory, and we can claim so many of Your promises: “If anyone asks anything according to Your will You will hear us,”  and “If any two (or more) agree as touching anything, it shall be done for us.” And we will give Your the glory. Kingdom come will of God be done on earth as it is in heaven in Jesus Name Amen

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly

.... nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3). The Psalm describe the characteristics of the godly what she does,  and does no do, and the pay off of these things. In terms of what not to do, there are three aspects that concern our walk, firstly what we keep in our head (listening to ungodly counsel), secondly our behaviour (walking in the wrong path, performing sinful acts), and lastly the fellowship of scoffers (perhaps those who are the furthest from repentance). We do of course need to be in the World, but not of the World (1 Corinthians 5:10).

Our delight is to be in the Word, and to meditate on it “day and night” (verse 2). Christian meditation is not like Eastern meditation,  which is essentially about emptying the mind. This form of meditation is about filling our minds with the Word of God (not the council of the ungodly), and chewing on it.  The picture is of a cow eating grass, which lies down and regurgitates the grass, chewing the cud.  We need to memorize Scripture to do this well, and there are many aids to memorization. This is very different from having a five minute devotion, no matter how good the guide! Not all we need to do is recorded in a single passage of Scripture. For example while we need to delight in His Word, we also need to delight in the Lord. When we do both, we will prosper in all that we do (verse 3),  and He will also give us  the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).  The point is that when we do this, our desires will be pleasing to Him.

The picture of the fruitful tree planted by the water, whose leaves  shall not wither, speaks of the long term, or as one author put it, a long obedience in the same direction. In this way the “tap roots” of our spirituality can go down deep into the good soil.  And as a parallel passage put it, it  we “will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit” (Jeremiah 17:8). Indeed the promise then, is that whatever we turn our hand to,  we will prosper (verse 3 again).

Father,  the Psalm goes on to say it is not so with the wicked. I was there Lord, there was no peace, and even my success was empty. Truly Lord, Your ways are best, they give provision,  protection and comfort and strength in the “year of drought.” The  Psalm concludes with “the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish” (verse 6). I was shortsighted Lord, but in Your mercy You turned me round, and now I see that Your ways are not only the way of righteousness,  but also the way of peace and true prosperity. So help us Lord to delight in You and  Your Word, and we will give You the  Glory  in Jesus Name Amen

I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears

....; surely I will heal you (2 Kings 20:5). Hezekiah was one of the few kings in that day who “Did right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 18:3). It was time for him to die,  and the Lord had sent Isaiah the prophet to tell him to put his ouse in order. Hezekiah had petitioned the Lord  reminding Him “how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.”  And the Lord had sent Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah the title verse (2 Kings 20:1-5). There are two Scriptures that come to mind as I meditate on these things. The first, speaking of Jesus is “He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15).

It is interesting to ponder in what sense the fear of death subjects us to bondage. What is clear, is that the fact of death,  which applies to all mankind, this subject is avoided like the plague. It's called denial!  And this brings the second Scripture to mind “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgement” (Hebrews 9:27). So unless the Lord comes back first (1 Thessalonians 4:15) we must all face death.  The appointed time had come for Hezekiah, and it is interesting that his prayers, petitions and tears change the Lord's mind, and he was granted another fifteen years (20:6).  It is interesting that we can change the Lord's mind by our prayers and tears, but it is not always for the best. This good king Hezekiah made a mistake in his extra fifteen years,  that would cost his descendants dearly (20:16-18). Sometimes the Lord will grant our requests  heart, but bring leanness to our soul (Psalm 106:15 NKJV).

The title verse, or rather an extract from its parallel, is one of many applications of His Word, that the Lord has given to me as a  promise.  “I have heard your pryer, I have seen your tears, I will deliver you (Isaiah 38:5, 6).  Such a promise functions as a prophetic word to oneself.   His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27), and when we follow Him (that is what sheep do) we will hear His voice, He will lead us into green pastures, He will restore our soul etc. (Psalm 23), and He gives exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter  1:4).  The fulfillment may be delayed, as it is with me, but He is not a man that He should lie and He will fulfill what He promised  (Numbers 23:19; 1 Kings 8:4). And He has a refining process going on in the waiting!

Father, I want to thank You this morning that Your promises are true, and that You are not slack concerning Your promises (2 Peter 3:9), and You will fulfill what You say You will do. So I pray for myself and all those reading this blog, that You will show us what You want to do as we press in to You, and that You will give us the strength and the patience to wait patiently for You. We want to soar with You Lord (Isaiah 40:31) in Jesus Name Amen

“So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man

.... who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.” The Holy Spirit was speaking through “a certain prophet named Agabus.”  He had first taken Paul's belt,  and bound his own hands and feet with it (Acts 21:10, 11).  In calling him a prophet, the Bible is telling us that Agabus held, and was exercising,  the office of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11). The office of a prophet, is different from the gift of prophecy in which  “You all may prophecy” (1 Corinthians 14:1, 11).   The  prophet is a gift to the Church (Ephesians 4:8), the gift of prophecy is a spiritual gift given to  individuals.  We are to eagerly seek it, and not to despise it (1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20).  We can,  I believe,  despise it by neglect, or by not eagerly seeking it!

There is much about prophecy (both the gift and the office) that we do not understand. Here in this passage the prophecy is stated in a predictive way. Some commentators suggest this was to help Paul to fortify himself against what was coming, but the reaction of Paul's friends,  was to try to dissuade him from going (12). So we don't know for sure. In any case Paul was not dissuaded,  and he was   indeed delivered to the Gentiles, but not by the Jews. In particular “the commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done (Acts 21:33).  What are we to make of this?  Well, Paul himself tells us “we know in part, and we prophecy in part” (1 Corinthians 13:9). And what are we to make of that, and how are we to receive a prophetic word?

I mean Paul could have said “Que sera,  sera” (whatever will be will be), or he could have said “Well if Holy Spirit is saying this (Acts 21:11), then I have no say in the matter, it's going to happen.  But he didn't say that (13). So neither he, nor his friends,  treated this New Covenant  prophecy this way. Under  both the Old and the New Covenant, prophecy had (has) to be judged and tested  (Deuteronomy 18:20-22; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21).  As the  Deuteronomy passage tells us,  the penalty under the Old Covent for getting it wrong was death. This is not the case under the New Covenant. And part of what I am saying here this morning, is that there is much to learn about this import and and neglected subject. My hope and prayer, is that this has wet your appetite for it. If, according to its primary New Covenant purpose,  we are to be built up, encouraged and comforted by it (1 Corinthians 14:3 again), then let us study it so as to be approved unto God  (2 Timothy 2:15).

Father, I want to thank You this morning for the encouragement of the prophetic words You have spoken over me, both in my heart, and through relevant, resonating words given through those who don't know me from Adam.   It is far too rare Lord, and I am asking You this morning, especially for those reading this blog, that You will help us to both seek and receive the prophetic word, so that we may grow by it. And we will give You the glory in Jesus Name Amen.