Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Their Hearts Inclined to Follow Abimelech; for They Said, He is Our Brother - Judges 9:3
Jun 21st, 2020
Morning MeditationF. B. Meyer
Categories: Meditation;Inspirational;Book Study

Is not this the reason why God has set us in families? Had He so chosen, each of us might have been created alone as Adam was, and sent out with no special connection with others of our race. But instead, we are closely connected. It is very rarely that a man is so utterly bereaved as to be destitute of some relative.

Between a man and his brother there is a special tie. It may be truly said, in the case of brothers, that a doorway has been made through the walls which ordinarily part men, which may be bricked up or filled with debris; but the wall there will always be thinner than anywhere else, and some day the doorway may be opened for the passage of the messenger of peace. Men are always more inclined to follow the man of whom they can say, "He is our brother." Brotherhood, sisterhood, relationship of any kind, is therefore a very precious talent; and it becomes us solemnly to ask ourselves whether it has been put to use. Have you ever spoken or written to your brother or sister about Christ?

As soon as Andrew had found Jesus, he started off to find his own brother Simon; and Simon was glad to follow him because he was his brother. Had another tried, it is as likely as not that he would have repelled him. But what could he say to the man who had shared his childhood's sports, and had helped him haul in a net of fish many a time after a night of hard work?

This is the reason that Jesus has so strong a hold on human hearts. He is our brother, bone of our bone; not ashamed to call us brethren; and this constitutes a moving argument why we should be inclined to follow Him.

The Fear of the Lord
Jun 21st, 2020
Weekly CommentaryArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Bible Salvation

It is important to learn to fear the Lord all the days of our lives. “Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.”

There is a blessing in learning to fear the Lord, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:29).

The God we are to fear is also the God of love and mercy and grace and He will bless those who fear Him. The fear of the Lord brings blessing into our lives because it keeps us from those things that would bring harm to us. The fear of the Lord keeps us from disobeying Him. Actually it places us where the Lord can bless us. Contrariwise disobedience places us where the Lord must correct and chasten the believer.

Hebrews 12:10, “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

One benefit of the fear of the Lord is that obedience makes us partakers of His holiness.

A second benefit is that the fear of the Lord helps us to avoid the Lord’s  chastening hand upon us.

We need to be warned because the chastening of the Lord upon His people can be very severe. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:30-32). That is the sleep of death.

The Lord spanks hard and it can be very painful. Sometimes it even results in premature death. We ought to fear that. The Lord cannot and will not tolerate sin in His presence in the life of the believer. He will not tolerate it even though it is forgiven sin which is under the shed blood. He will not tolerate it even though He has an infinite love for His children. We ought to fear our loving heavenly Father who must chasten us for our own blessing.

“If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD” (Deuteronomy 28:58).

“O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (Psalm 96:9)

Another reason to fear our loving heavenly Father is because it takes away all other fears.

Abraham had obeyed God when he left his homeland and went to an unknown land. That obedience brought the blessing of God down upon his head and delivered him from all fear. Isaac his son also learned to fear ther lord and that fear also delivered him from all fear. “And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake” (Genesis 26:24).

All down through the long ages the Word of God comes to His obedient children, “Fear Not.” This phrase echoes through the Old Testament over and over and over again. It occurs dozens of times in the New Testament. The Lord says to His obedient children fear not for I am with thee, I will not forsake thee. To fear God is to be relieved of all other fears.

We need to remember how awesome our God is, He is the sovereign, almighty, all knowing, all powerful, infinite, all wise and Holy God. We need to remember that our God is infinitely holy and that he cannot tolerate or countenance sin. We need to learn to fear God and to learn to fear the consequences of sin.

“God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11).

The unsaved need to learn the fear of theLord.

The God of the Old Testament is the same God in the New Testament. “For our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

” He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John3:36).

As I consider all the works thy hands have made I bow in humble adoration. Recently a space vehicle arrived on the planet Pluto. It had been travelling at high speed for nine years. When you consider that Pluto is within our own solar system it gives you just a peep into the vastness of God’s creation and His almighty power. Then when we realize that our heavenly Father spoke it all into existence by the Word of His mouth, we must indeed bow in humble obedience and adoration. We could spend a hundred lifetimes studying the wonders of God’s creation and not scratch the surface of the wonders of God’s handiwork.

We also stand in awe when we read Colossians 2:10, “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Or when we read 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Or when we read Colossians 2:13, “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

All of the above causes us to proclaim, “My God how great thou art.”

We are inspired to, as David said, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

What a travesty that many worldly Christians think that they can worship a Holy God with the corrupt music borrowed from the world. Christian rock is from the same vile root as pop music. Many, if not all rock musicians claim that rock music is sex and you are going to worship God with that? You have lost the fear of God.

Contemporary worship is centred on man rather than on God. Man centered worship is an abomination to the Holy sovereign creator God. Contemporary Christians, if there is such a thing, have lost the fear of God and that should cause them to tremble.

Revelation 5: 5 - 7 Exploring Revelaton
Jun 21st, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

Last week we saw John overwhelmed with the realization that the seven-sealed book contained the program to bring about the rescue and redemption of the earth. But, John also knew the program needed someone to carry it out.

In the midst of John's weeping over the fact that no-one was found to open the seven-sealed book and to rescue the earth from satan's control. We hear good news in verse five. "And one of the elders said unto me, weep not:" The problem is solved, there is one who is able.

"The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David". There is one who is able, Jesus Christ is the one who is worthy, He is able. "Hath Prevailed", He has prevailed over satan and qualifies to rescue the earth. How did he prevail? He prevailed over satan on the cross. Satan is a defeated foe, though he evidently doesn't believe, yet his doom is sealed.

In verse six we see this scene in heaven, the four cherubims are there, the Elders are there (representing the church), they are gathered around the throne. In the midst of that scene it says "there stood a Lamb," the Lord Jesus Christ, "As though it had been slain." the Lord Jesus with the nailprints in His hands and feet, a spear mark in His side and with scars on His head from the thorns.

It was the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, by the shedding of His blood on the cross, that was prevailed over satan, and qualifies Him to restore now what He purchased on the cross nearly 2000 years ago.

In verse seven while John is weeping in despair, it says, "And He came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne," (God the Father). Christ is now going to apply the victory He won on the cross and redeem the earth and cast satan into the pit. (See Romains 8: 19-23)

One of the lessons we learn here is that God has a program and a purpose and He has a time to complete it. After Christ won the victory on the cross and was qualified to redeem the earth, God delayed and allowed His purpose to work itself out.

Why the delay? God has granted to all men a free will, and gives to them time to allow them to exercise that free will. Time to repent and submit to God, or time to go on in hardness if they of heart if they should so choose, time to fully prove themselves worthy of hell. Those men who refuse to turn from rebellion against God, will prove themselves worthy of the punishment that w ill come to them. They will not be able to blame God, they will have only themselves to blame.

Now Christ is about to wrest control of His Kingdom from satan the usurper. He will, in chapters 6 to 18, pour out His wrath upon the earth and its rebellious inhabitants. Satan will be defeated and cast into the pit, Christ will come and sit on the throne of David and rule and reign over the world in righteousness.

Today it may appear that the enemies of God are triumphant and God's people defeated, but, wait for the last chapter of the story. To gain the right perspective, listen to Psalm 92:7 "When the wicked spring as the grass, and all the workers of iniquity do flourish; It is that they shall be destroyed forever." Read also Psalm 2: 1-5.

Why does the Lord allow the righteous to suffer at the hands of the wicked? Peter gives us the answer in 1 Peter 4: 12, 13. "Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But, rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.