Good News

Friday, March 07, 2014, 4:25 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “Songs in the Night” playing in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 61 (NIV).

To Proclaim Freedom

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

    because the Lord has anointed me   

   to proclaim good news…

What is this “good news”? Jesus Christ, the one to whom this passage is referring as being anointed of God to proclaim the good news, is the Son of God, the second person of our triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He left his throne in heaven, came to earth, took on human flesh, suffered as we suffer, and was tempted in like manner as we are tempted, yet without sin. He was despised and rejected of humankind, a man of sorrows and acquainted with suffering (See Is. 53). He was hated so much by the religious leaders of his day that they had him hung on a cross to die, as though he was a criminal. Yet, when he died, he took upon himself the sins of the entire world. He crucified and buried our sins with him, and when he rose from the dead, he triumphed over Satan, hell, death and sin. Amen!

… to the poor.

So, who are the intended recipients of this “good news”? This passage indicates that they are the poor, but did Jesus come only for the poor of this world? – No! God so loved the world (that is everyone) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him might have eternal life (See Jn. 3). God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (See 2 Pet. 3:9). As well, in the book of Hebrews we read over and over again that Christ died “once for all.” Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, not just for a select few. So, who are these “poor”? The word translated as “poor” here literally means “meek” – humble, afflicted, needy – i.e. those who recognize their need for God. Did Jesus preach only to the humble, though? – No! Yet, it is those who are humble and meek of heart, who know they are in need of help, who will be the ones to receive the gospel of salvation, so in that sense, those are the intended recipients of the “good news.”

… He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…

Jesus was also sent to bind up the brokenhearted. This word literally means “broken; crushed; in pieces; shattered (in heart).” If something is broken it can be lacking parts necessary to be complete; lacking order or harmony; imperfect; not whole; not in working condition; lacking continuity; destroyed, etc. (See Encarta Dictionary). Truly this is a picture of all of us when we are still in our sin. We are destroyed, split apart, separated from God, not in harmony with him, and spiritually devastated without him. Jesus came to heal us, to make us whole, to restore us to himself, and to secure us in Christ Jesus unto salvation from our sins. And, he continues to encourage, strengthen, help, guide, nurture and comfort those of us who are his in our times of sorrow, grief, and in times when our hearts are broken - hurt by the sins of others, or even by our own sin and rebellion against him; hurt by death or illness of loved ones, by injustice or betrayal, or over the sinful condition of mankind, or the adulterous condition of Christ’s church, or just generally by the trials of life.

… to proclaim freedom for the captives

    and release from darkness for the prisoners…

He was also sent to proclaim freedom and release for captives; for those who are prisoners to sin, who are still walking and living in darkness, and who have not yet come into his light. This message of freedom and release is the essence of the gospel of our salvation. Jesus Christ did not come just to give us the hope of heaven, but he came to set us free of bondage (slavery) to sin, so that we may be free to walk in victory over sin, and be free to walk in fellowship with him, in obedience to his commands, and in his righteousness and holiness daily, while we still walk the face of this earth. If we are not getting this message, i.e. that the purpose of our salvation is not just to give us the hope of eternal life in heaven, but it is to release us from our prisons to sin while we are still here on this earth, then that is truly not the “good news” we are hearing, but is a false gospel and a false hope, too.

… to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

    and the day of vengeance of our God…

When Jesus quoted this passage of scripture, during his time of ministry on the earth, he left out this last sentence concerning vengeance (judgment), yet he did not leave that subject out of his teaching. He spoke of it often, warning the people that false religion, commitment to forms of religious practice only, good works only, hypocritical faith, and/or no faith at all would land them in eternal punishment or in the lake of fire, without God, and without hope if they did not come to him in true faith, forsaking their lifestyles of sin, and if they did not give HIM their lives in submission to his will, surrendered and obedient to his commands (See Mt. 6:13-14, 24-27; 11:20-24; 12:38-45; 13:36-43, 47-50; 15:1-20; 18:1-9, 21-35; 21:33-44; 22:1-14; Mt. 23-25, Jn. 9:23-25, etc.). And, there are many more passages of scripture, where he gave similar messages, which are not listed here.

So, when people tell you that Jesus went around just “loving on” everyone, and that he accepted everyone right where they are, for who they are, and that his message was all love and grace, don’t believe them. Jesus told his brothers that the world hated him because he told them that what they did was evil. That is why the people killed him. His message was grace to the repentant and to the humble of heart (good news to the poor), but it was a message of judgment to the religious hypocritical liars, to those following the gods of humankind, and/or to the unbelieving. And, that is still his message today.

For Those Who Grieve

…to comfort all who mourn,

    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

    instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

    instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

    instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

    a planting of the Lord

    for the display of his splendor…

Now, this is truly Good News! When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, by God’s grace, and we allow the Spirit of God to transform our hearts away from lifestyles given over to self and sin to lifestyles given over to following after Christ and his righteousness, he changes our repentant sadness to joy, our grief over sin to peace in Christ, our darkness to light, our gloom to praise, our despair to hope, and our weakness to strength, endurance and steadfastness; and our bondage to freedom. We now live our lives, no longer for the praise of humankind, but for the praise, honor and glory of our creator, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Priests and Ministers

And you will be called priests of the Lord,

    you will be named ministers of our God…

This is awesome! Not only does Jesus save us from our sins, give us the hope of eternal life with him, free us from our slavery, turn our sadness to joy, and our weakness to strength, and put a new song in our hearts – a song of rejoicing over his great salvation – but he then makes us into his kingdom priests and ministers of his love and grace. The Spirit of the Lord is now upon us, and is inside us, and is welling up inside of us unto eternal life. Now we have been anointed by God to preach (share) the good news with those willing to listen; to bind up the brokenhearted, to preach freedom to the captives, and to tell about God’s grace. We also must warn of judgment and hell, because his salvation from sin also means deliverance from eternal punishment.

In other words, we are to do what Jesus did. We are to give much the same messages as what he taught. We are not God, but we are his representatives here on this earth, thus we are his witnesses, commanded by God/Jesus to go into the entire world, and to make followers of Christ of the people of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey Christ and all that he commanded us. So, this is what we must do.

And, all the glory and praise and honor are to go to God; to Jesus Christ, for all that he has done! Amen! He is our Savior, our Lord, our healer, our comforter and our joy!

Songs in the Night / An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

And the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

http://originalworks.info/songs-in-the-night/

http://youtu.be/yRujDmfS2qU

Arise and Shine

This is a call to arise (get up; stand up), be steadfast and persistent, and to let our lights (Jesus Christ; our salvation; the gospel; purity; and truth) shine forth from us, so that those outside of faith in Jesus Christ may come to him and to know his saving grace.

We may need this call because we have recently failed in our relationships with God and/or with others, and although we have repented, we may feel unworthy to be his servants and witnesses again. Also, we may require this exhortation because we are complacent about the fact that so many are dying without Christ and are going to hell, and/or because we are unconcerned for the spiritual condition of God’s people, and so God is saying “Wake up!”

Or, this gentle encouragement may be necessary because we are disheartened over seeing so many lost without Christ, and over seeing the church in such a serious state of spiritual adultery and idolatry with no apparent end in sight; and/or because we have suffered much persecution, rejection and abandonment for our testimonies for Jesus Christ, and so sometimes it is just hard to stand when you feel as though you are often standing alone against the giants of doubt and fear, oppression and strong opposition.

Yet, this is to encourage our hearts that God has all things under his control, that he will not abandon us, that he has a plan and a purpose for our lives, and for all we are going through, and he will work it all out for the salvation of human lives and for the revival of his church, and we should thus rest in his promises, in his love, and in his sovereignty.

Arise and Shine / An Original Work

March 6, 2014 / Based off Isaiah 60

Arise and shine; your Lord has come.

Allow His light to flow through you,

For many walk in wickedness.

Show them the way to life anew.

Arise and shine. Your Lord loves you.

Lift up your eyes, and look about.

Some do believe, while others doubt.

Believe in all God’s promises.

The many will, In Christ, find rest.

Lift up your eyes, and you’ll be blessed.

Arise and shine; salvation comes

To all who trust in Christ, God’s Son.

Forgiven of their sins, they’ll be,

When they repent on bended knee.

Arise and shine, so all will see.

Lift up your eyes, and see your Lord.

He will revive his church, forlorn.

Though humans have forsaken you,

They will find Christ, and walk in truth.

Lift up your eyes; God honors you.

http://originalworks.info/arise-and-shine/

http://youtu.be/82MOI5MA0Gc

As You Please

Wednesday, March 05, 2014, 6:09 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “Only In Him.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 58 (NIV).

They Seem Eager

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.

    Raise your voice like a trumpet.

Declare to my people their rebellion

    and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.

For day after day they seek me out;

    they seem eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that does what is right

    and has not forsaken the commands of its God.

They ask me for just decisions

    and seem eager for God to come near them.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,

    ‘and you have not seen it?

Why have we humbled ourselves,

    and you have not noticed?’

Is it possible to seek the Lord, or even to think you are seeking him, but to not really seek him at all? – Apparently so! This passage of scripture gives us a clear picture of those who appear to seek (pursue; run; chase) after God, but it is in appearance (or form) only. They go through the motions of seeking God each day, perhaps even spending time in the reading of the word and in prayer, but it is all empty, because their hearts are far from him. They may even be faithful in church attendance, sing in the praise team, work in the nursery, lead a small group, serve as a deacon, and/or teach a home Bible study, and so they give off the appearance of godliness, but they may still be ones who forsake their Lord and who do not put his word into practice in their daily lives.

They may hope their “good deeds” get them noticed with God, and that he should somehow approve of them because of all their “sacrifices.” Yet, the Lord says that he is not looking for what we are willing to do for him, but he wants our hearts on the altar fully surrendered to him to walk in his ways and in his truth. He wants us to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him (See 1 Pet. 2:5), and he asks that we be living sacrifices on his altar, holy and pleasing to God, which is our reasonable service of worship to him. We are to no longer be conformed to the pattern (ways) of this sinful world, but we are to be transformed in the renewing of heart and mind – the working of the Spirit of God within us (See Ro. 12:1-2).

As You Please

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please

    and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,

    and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

    and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,

    only a day for people to humble themselves?

Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed

    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call a fast,

    a day acceptable to the Lord?

A lot of people feel that if they go to church, do some type of Christian and/or Community outreach and/or service, spend time reading the word and praying, attend Bible study, and even use their talents and gifts to minister to other people, that God should be pleased with them. Yet, again, what God wants is not what we choose to do for him, thinking we will then be acceptable to him. What he wants is our hearts fully devoted to him, walking in his love and righteousness, forsaking our lives of living for self and sin (See Lu. 9:23-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20; Ro. 6; 1 Jn. 1-5; Tit. 2:11-14, et al).

I believe that it is culturally acceptable today in the church to separate our service to the Lord from our daily lives, i.e. to practice giving God only certain portions of our lives, time, talents, passion, etc. while basically doing what we please the remainder of the time, which in truth is truly all the time, because we are even deciding what we will do for or give to God. And, I believe this problem stems a lot from how the gospel is taught. In other words, if we teach people that saying a prayer at an altar assures them of heaven, but we fail to teach them that God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (see Tit. 2:11-14); and/or if we teach them that church attendance is somehow proof of our spirituality, then we have enabled those who profess Christ in form or in appearance only to keep on that way, believing that everything is ok because they prayed a prayer and so they have heaven.

Set the Oppressed Free

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

    and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

    and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—

when you see the naked, to clothe them,

    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

    and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

There are many ways in which people can help others be loosed from the chains of injustice and be set free from the yoke of oppression, yet I believe the Lord Jesus would have me talk about this on a spiritual level this morning. A yoke can be a burden, bondage or a hindrance of some kind. Chains can be something which binds, restrains or hampers. A cord can be something that entangles or that constrains us in some way. All of this imagery describes our sinful condition outside of faith and trust in Jesus Christ to deliver us from the bondage to (and control of) sin over our daily lives. We, as humans, are held as prisoners to sin, slaves to unrighteousness, and so we need to be set free. This is why Jesus Christ died on the cross, so we could be free from bondage to sin and self (and self-pleasure).

Yet, much is what is passed off as truth and as the gospel in today’s modern church is nothing more than self-help, feel-good, motivational speeches intended to inspire, give hope (falsely) and help people feel better about themselves, but they do not confront sin, call for repentance, or encourage Spirit-empowered obedience to Christ and to his word.

As well, we should treat others with kindness and compassion, with mercy and forgiveness, and with tenderness and god-like love. We should not be hateful, spiteful or unforgiving towards others, nor should we feel as though we must get even with those who did wrong to us. We must be honest and show integrity in all our dealings with others and in all of our relationships. And we ought to share our food with those who are truly hungry. Yet, not everyone who asks for money is truly hungry, though, and not all of them spend it on food, so we must also exercise godly wisdom and discernment so that we are meeting legitimate needs and we are not helping to enable others to continue in sinful and harmful ways. We should be hospitable and considerate of all who are truly in need. Obviously we can’t meet the needs of all the people of this world, so we must, again, pray for direction and guidance as to what needs God would have us meet. Some may be obvious. Others may not. And, we should care for our own, and should work to meet their legitimate needs (not wants), too.

Away With the Yoke!

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

    and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

    like a spring whose waters never fail.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins

    and will raise up the age-old foundations;

you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,

    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings…

First of all, we individually need to come to the cross of Jesus Christ, by God’s grace, through faith – a faith which submits to the cross of Christ and allows the Spirit of God to transform us in heart and mind away from living for sin and self, and to following after Christ and his righteousness. And, daily we need to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, and we need to throw off those things that hinder our walks with the Lord, and that sin which so easily entangles us, so we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us. We can’t help someone else be free if we are still walking in darkness. And, we need to make sure that our all is on the altar, that Christ has our hearts, and that our lives are personally committed, submitted, and surrendered to him to walk in his ways, and that we are not just going through the motions or giving off an appearance of righteousness.

Then, we need to commit ourselves to teaching what is right, to speaking the truth in love, to sharing the full gospel message, and not to espouse “gospel-lite,” which tickles the itching ears of those who want to hear only pleasant things but who do not want to be confronted with their Holy God. Feel-good messages lacking in true understanding of what it means to be saved from our sins and to walk in the Spirit of God and in HIS holiness only serve to keep us under the yoke of slavery, and do nothing to truly set us free. So, instead of doing what pleases us and/or what pleases human flesh, but which still leaves us and/or others under the oppression and weight of sin, we should yield to the power and working of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives, teach what is right, and cooperate with the Spirit’s work in bringing people out from under the chains of sin so that they can walk in freedom!

ONLY IN HIM / An Original Work / February 19, 2014

Based off Isaiah 30

Woe to those who look to man’s help;

Who turn away from Jesus Christ;

Forming an alliance not in step with God;

Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,

They close their ears to what is right.

Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;

Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.

Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.

Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.

Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.

He cares all about you, ‘tis true.

He forgives you all of your sin

When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be

When you bow to Him on your knees;

Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.

He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.

He delivered you from your sin.

You’ll tell others now of His grace,

So they may see Christ face-to-face.

http://originalworks.info/only-in-him/

http://youtu.be/CUQfD0Ordgk

Do What is Right

Tuesday, March 04, 2014, 7:05 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put the song in mind, “What the Lord Says.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 56-57 (NIV).

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:9

Keep the Faith

“Maintain justice

    and do what is right,

for my salvation is close at hand

    and my righteousness will soon be revealed.” ~ Is. 56:1

We are encouraged here to uphold, preserve, keep (follow; obey) and continue in doing what is honest, truthful, upright, lawful, and in that which shows integrity. We are to be in the daily practice of doing what is right (correct; true; proper; and moral) – all in the Spirit of God within us. The reason we should do this is because this is right, it is loving toward God and our fellow humans, and because God’s word says we should do it - because, if we are saved from our sins, we have the Spirit of God within us, who has transformed our hearts away from lives given over to sinful desires, and we have been given new lives, by God’s grace, to be lived in the power, strength and working of the Holy Spirit within us. If Christ truly set us free from sin, then how can we live in sin any longer (See Romans 6)?

We should also continue in walking in the Spirit of God and in his ways because of the nearness of the Lord’s return, at which time our salvation will be complete, and we shall be with him in glory forever (See Ro. 13:11-14; Jas. 5:8; 1 Pet. 4:7; & 2 Pet. 3:10-18).

The Outcasts

The Sovereign Lord declares—

    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:

“I will gather still others to them

    besides those already gathered.” ~ Is. 56:8

An exile is an outcast, someone who has been banished; sent away and/or dismissed. Jesus Christ was an outcast. He was despised and rejected of men (humans), a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. People hid their faces from him. They mocked him, spat upon him, ridiculed him, and accused him falsely, even of being of Satan. They also arrested him falsely, beat him severely, and then crucified him unjustly.

Many who “keep the faith” end up becoming outcasts, just like Jesus - unwanted, rejected, despised and thrown away, discarded, and ostracized because they hold to the truths of scripture, they do not deny Jesus Christ, and they continue to share the true gospel of salvation despite all opposition against them. Even their church and church leaders, their friends, family members, and/or even those closest to them might consider them as outcasts to be put away. Jesus’ family felt the same way about him. Ultimately, even his 12 disciples - who had been with him for three years - betrayed, abandoned, deserted and/or denied him when he was arrested and brought to trial.

I find a great encouragement in this 8^th verse to those who are “outcasts.” Others will be gathered to us, i.e. the Lord Jesus will bring others along to comfort and encourage us, and/or he will bring many more to faith in Jesus Christ who will then join us as outcasts.

Their Own Way

Israel’s watchmen are blind,

    they all lack knowledge;

they are all mute dogs,

    they cannot bark;

they lie around and dream,

    they love to sleep.

They are dogs with mighty appetites;

    they never have enough.

They are shepherds who lack understanding;

    they all turn to their own way,

    they seek their own gain.

“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!

    Let us drink our fill of beer!

And tomorrow will be like today,

    or even far better.” ~ Is. 56:10-12

In direct contrast to the “outcasts” – those who “keep the faith,” who choose what pleases God, who obey the word of the Lord (in the power and strength and working of the Spirit within them), and who join themselves to the Lord to minister to him, as his servants, and as those who love him and his name; whom the Lord gathers to himself (See Is. 56:1-8) - are the “blind and mute” spiritual (and political) leaders of the people. They are spiritually blinded because they choose not to hear, see or accept the truth of the word of God, or else they choose to believe in and accept only the parts that make them and their followers “feel good.” They usually avoid such words as “sin,” “repentance,” “hell,” “judgment,” and “obedience,” because these words make them and their adherents uncomfortable. Yet, the message of the gospel is supposed to be an offense to those who are perishing.

These blind watchmen (and women) of the people focus mainly on what they consider to be the goodness of God and on what they interpret as the meaning of the word “love.” Yet, they ignore the bulk of Christ’s and the apostles’ teachings on righteousness, holiness, godly living, purity, integrity, honesty, faithfulness, and obedience (keeping Christ’s commands). They ignore, as well, the teachings in the NT on the subject of what constitutes genuine believing faith, which gives a true promise and hope of eternal life with God in heaven, and which surely delivers Christ’s followers from slavery and bondage to (and the control of) sin in the here-and-now (See Lu. 9:23-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20; Ro. 6; Tit. 2:11-14; & 1 Jn. 1-5). They tend to say what tickles the itching ears of the masses, as well, saying what makes people feel good (See 2 Tim. 4:1-4; Rom. 16:17-19; 2 Pet. 2:17-22; and Jude 1).

A Brood of Rebels

“But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,
    you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
    the offspring of liars?” ~ Is. 57:3-4

If we become followers of humankind, of “blind watchmen,” of idolatrous ways, and/or of humanistic, paganistic and/or syncretistic philosophies and value systems being taught by these “mute dogs” of the people, then we are in grave danger of becoming their “spiritual” offspring, i.e. we may begin to think, believe and act just like them.

We may end up going the way of the world, following after the lusts and desires of our own flesh, living in idolatry and spiritual adultery, and given over to sexual promiscuity, greed, envy, rage, dishonesty and/or whatever vice (sin) may catch our fancy (See Is. 57:5-13); forsaking our one and only true God and Lord, Jesus Christ, who saved us from our sins and who set us free from all that we may now engage ourselves in while making claim to God’s grace, thinking his grace gives us that freedom. It does not (See Tit. 2:11-14). So, there are many warnings in scripture concerning these false teachers and their teachings, and many cautions for us to test everything that we hear against the word of truth – God’s Word, the Holy Bible.  

One of the most striking of these warnings, I believe, is the one where the Apostle Paul expressed concern for the believers in Corinth (See 2 Co. 11). He was jealous for them with a godly jealousy. He had promised them to one husband, namely Christ Jesus, so that he might present them as a pure virgin to him. Yet, he was deeply concerned that they were being led astray from their sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ. There were those who had come in among them who were teaching a Jesus other than the one taught by the apostles. It was not as though they were speaking about a different person, but that they had created a persona for Jesus Christ other than who he truly was, and they were teaching a gospel other than the one he and the apostles had taught the believers. And, this is happening today in vast and numerous ways within the evangelical church, particularly here in America. The indictment here is that the people are putting up with it easily enough.

Many of these who are teaching “another Jesus” are giving people false messages of hope - feel-good messages that lie to them – and the people are loving it that way. So the people join these false teachers in their hypocrisy, often adopting their same attitudes about those who “keep the faith,” i.e. concerning those who are deemed as “outcasts” because they continue to teach the true gospel of salvation. And, so they join them in their mocking, sneering and the sticking out of their tongues at the “outcasts.” Not only that, but many of them are culpable for the deaths of numerous of these true servants of the Lord, either directly or indirectly (via their worship and support of those who are guilty of murdering the righteous servants of the Lord). Yet, God has offered us encouraging words for those who die in Christ. They are taken away to be spared from evil, and those who walk uprightly enter into peace when they die (Is. 57:1-2). Amen!

Build up, Build up!

  

The encouragement here, though, is that we serve a merciful, loving, compassionate and forgiving God. Amen! He may discipline us severely if we continue in our rebellious ways, and if we refuse to repent and to follow him and his ways, but he is always there to revive our hearts if we humble ourselves in repentance, turning from our sin, and we turn to walk in his righteousness and holiness in the power, strength and wisdom of the Spirit within us (See Rev. 2-3). He will bring peace to our hearts and he will heal us. Amen! I can attest to my Lord’s saving and reviving and healing power in the life of one who wandered away but was brought back. So, if you are among the rebellious, I pray you will repent today.

What the Lord Says / An Original Work

February 24, 2014 / Based off Isaiah 43:1-44:5

This is what the Lord says to you:

Fear not, for I have chosen you.

I have summoned you by your name.

You are mine. I died, you to save.

When you go through your trials, so deep,

I will be with you; you will not sink.

You are so precious always to me.

Trust in your Lord, Savior and King.

This is what the Lord says to you:

He who gave salvation to you;

Who delivered you from your sin;

Takes your burdens now upon Him:

Forget the former things of your life.

Give of your heart not now up to strife.

See all the new things I have for you.

Walk in vict’ry. Trust in what’s true.

This is what the Lord says to you:

He who made you; who will help you:

Do not fear what humans may do.

Walk in freedom. Follow what’s true.

Drink of my Spirit given for you.

Trust in my mercy, for I love you.

I have a plan for all of your life.

Follow my ways. Do what is right.

http://originalworks.info/what-the-lord-says/

http://youtu.be/UaLjKI7Bksw

Come and Drink

Monday, March 03, 2014, 12:37 a.m. – The song “Songs in the Night” has been playing in my mind for about an hour now, and I cannot sleep, so I got back up to hear from the Lord. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 55 (NIV).

To The Thirsty

“Come, all you who are thirsty,

    come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without cost.

Those who are thirsty are those who are desiring, craving, longing, and are hungry or are yearning for something they do not presently have. To desire something is to want it strongly. To crave something is to feel a great need or desire for it. [Resource: Encarta]

These are not the casual observers, nor are they the generally curious, or even the slightly interested. These are those who sense a deep need for something or someone beyond their natural ability to grasp or perhaps even to understand. They might not even know what they are hungry for, but they know something is missing in their lives – something they may not even be able to explain with words, but something deep down inside feels empty. They have a God-void in their hearts, whether they realize it or not, and only he can fill it.

They are invited to come to the waters – to come to salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone. There is no exchange of money involved in receiving these waters, for Jesus Christ already paid the penalty for our sin when he died on the cross for our sins. There is nothing we can do to deserve or to earn our salvation. It is a free gift of God’s grace. All we must do is believe in Jesus’ sacrificial atonement (payment) for our sin, by God’s grace, through faith – a gift from God - a faith which allows the Spirit of God to transform our hearts away from the control of sin over our lives, to a walk of faith – a walk in the Spirit of God – in his righteousness and holiness within us.

What Doesn’t Satisfy

Why spend money on what is not bread,

    and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,

    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;

    listen, that you may live…

I believe all humans have a built-in need for God. He is our creator. He is the one who breathed life into us. In Romans 1 it says that all people know about God, i.e. God has made himself known to us through what he has created. We can see his divine character and qualities in the sunrise and the sunset, in the birth of a newborn baby, in laughter, in sorrow, in the stars in the sky, and in the intricacy of the human body and how it all works, etc. So, we all have this ingrained knowledge of and need for God, though some people may suppress it, while others will look other places, and to humans, and to the gods of this world to fill that void. Yet, only in Christ Jesus can that need (thirst; hunger; longing) be truly satisfied. All other things and people will still leave us feeling empty inside, continuing to crave for more, seeking after what will never satisfy the deep longing of our souls.

I believe this passage applies, though, not only to those outside of faith in Jesus Christ, but also to those who have come to know Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. Sometimes we get lost and we forget our way, and we begin to turn to other gods of this world and to humans to fill this hunger and thirst that only God can fill. So, we come up empty every time – hurting, guilt-ridden, and/or sorrowful over our sins of rebellion against God, or else we suppress the quiet voice of the Spirit within us and we close our ears and eyes so we cannot hear and see, and so we can continue down the path we know is wrong, but for what ultimate end? Oh, why do God’s people persist in wandering from him and his truth, following after what will never satisfy, only to come up empty?

Seek the Lord

Seek the Lord while he may be found;

    call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways

    and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,

    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

In the previous section of this passage we are counseled to listen to the Lord’s voice, to eat what is good (him and his salvation), and to come to (approach; move toward) him, and we will live (spiritually speaking - given everlasting life). Here we are also called to seek him while he may be found; to call on him while he is near. Not one of us knows how much time we have on this earth. We can’t count on tomorrow, for it may never come. So, we must seek (run after; pursue; follow) God/Jesus while we still have the opportunity to do so.

We are counseled with urgency to listen to God. To listen involves much more than just engaging our physical ears to hear what another is saying. We can hear without really listening, in other words. To truly listen to someone we must make a conscious effort to hear what the other is saying, not just in audible words, but also in intent, meaning, and in heart. It means that we give our full attention to what the other person is saying and then we take into account what we hear, processing it through our minds and hearts, and sometimes, as such as is the case here, then to take to heart what is said and thus to make the necessary changes in thought, heart, attitude and/or behavior that would demonstrate that we truly did listen (See Jas. 1:22-25).

The necessary changes here are that we stop looking elsewhere to have our God-need met, that we stop running after other gods, and that we seek (run after) God with all our hearts in response to his invitation to his great salvation. It means forsaking our lifestyles of living for self and sin, being transformed of the Spirit of God in heart and mind, and turning to the Lord Jesus to have our needs met, instead of seeking after the gods of this world. All this is the working of the Spirit of God within our hearts as we cooperate with that work through faith. The Holy Spirit does not possess us and overtake us so that we become puppets on a string. We must choose to follow God with our lives, and we must daily yield to and submit to his Lordship over our lives. Then we will be satisfied with “the richest of fare.”

His Thoughts / Our Thoughts

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow

    come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

    without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

    It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

We are not to rely upon human reasoning and understanding. We are not to try to do God’s will our way. God doesn’t think like we do. We are not to try to find our fulfillment and satisfaction in what is sinful or in what will never satisfy. We are also not to make up our own version of the gospel, or of Jesus Christ, thinking God is like us, for he is not. He tells us over and over in scripture that to come to him we must turn from our sins, forsake our idols, and that we must turn to him, and follow him and his ways (See Lu. 9:23-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Gal. 2:20; Ro. 6; Tit. 2:11-14; 1 Jn. 1-5).

Again, this turning from sin and turning to follow Christ and his ways is the working of the Spirit of God within us. This is not based on human effort to gain salvation, yet we must cooperate with that work through allowing God to change our hearts and by submitting to the Spirit’s work in transforming us away from lifestyles of sin to walks of faith in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. God’s word will be fulfilled, whether we choose to believe it or not. There is salvation in none other than Jesus Christ. He is the only way to the Father in heaven. True faith involves submission, surrender, yielding, repentance and following our Lord in obedience, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit of God and in his strength within us.

Go in Joy

You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,

    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

    for an everlasting sign,

    that will endure forever.”

When we cease looking for love, joy, peace, satisfaction and fulfillment in the things of this world, and in the people of this world, and we submit to the Lordship of Christ in our lives, running after him with our whole hearts, we will know true joy and peace that only God can give, and we will rejoice in our salvation, because Jesus Christ set us free from slavery to sin, and he gave us new lives to be lived in his righteousness and holiness within us. Amen!

Songs in the Night / An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,

And the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

http://originalworks.info/songs-in-the-night/

http://youtu.be/yRujDmfS2qU

Enlarge and Stretch

Sunday, March 02, 2014, 7:29 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put the song “Why Are You Afraid?” in my mind. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 53-54 (NIV).

Our Message

Who has believed our message

    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

    and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by mankind,

    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Our message is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 is a prophecy concerning Jesus Christ. Our Lord left his throne in heaven, came to earth, took on human flesh, suffered as we suffer, and was tempted in like manner as we are tempted, yet without sin. He was not Mr. Popularity. Everyone did not love him. Although he did go around healing people and delivering people from demons, and he fed hungry crowds on occasion, and he certainly was filled up to overflowing with love, kindness and compassion toward the people of this world, still many hated him. His own brothers, people he grew up around, and those of his same faith did not believe in him. They were not naturally attracted to him. He was not one of the “pretty people.” Although he did draw large crowds of people from time to time, he did not pattern his ministry around the goal of attracting large crowds of people, and by today’s standards, he would not be chosen to be on stage as a crowd pleaser.

Pierced for Our Transgressions

Surely he took up our pain

    and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

    stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

    he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

    and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

    each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

    the iniquity of us all.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

Not only did Jesus suffer much hatred, rejection and persecution during his time of ministry on this earth, but the religious leaders of his day had him arrested, flogged, mocked, spat upon and hung on a cross to die, as though he was a common criminal. Yet, he willingly went to the cross for you and for me. He died so that we might be free from the penalty of sin (eternal punishment in hell), free from slavery to (the control of) sin, self and Satan day-to-day, and free to love, worship and obey him in the power and strength of the Spirit within us. His death and resurrection brought us peace with God, and also internal peace in our hearts through trust and faith in Jesus Christ, our God, who is completely sovereign over our lives and who holds all things together in his powerful and loving hands.

Even in the midst of great suffering and turmoil we can be at peace in knowing that God is in control, that he has a plan and a purpose for what is going on in our lives, and that he will work all things out for the good of those who love him and who have been called according to his purpose (See Ro. 8). It was God’s will that Jesus should suffer and die for our sins. And, Jesus said that his followers would share in his sufferings. In other words, we should expect to be hated, rejected, despised, not desired of humankind, familiar with suffering, crushed, persecuted, oppressed, afflicted, misrepresented and falsely accused, as well as we may be called upon to be killed for our faith and testimony for Jesus Christ.

Do Not Hold Back

“Enlarge the place of your tent,

    stretch your tent curtains wide,

    do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

    strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

    your descendants will dispossess nations

    and settle in their desolate cities.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.

    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.”

Before Jesus left this earth, he told his disciples that they were to go and to make disciples (of Christ) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Christ Jesus had commanded them (See Matt. 28:19-20). He also told them that after he left this earth he would send his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers, and that when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they would be his witnesses throughout the earth (See Ac. 1:8). As well, Jesus told his followers that they are to be lights for him and for the gospel to the world around them (See Matt. 5). Light is the opposite of darkness. God is light. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. Light is truth. It is righteousness and holiness. The gospel is light. So, we are to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world so that many people may be saved.

Yet, going along with being lights to the world, being Christ’s witnesses, and making disciples of Christ of all nations means we will be hated, mistreated and persecuted just like Jesus was. Yet, we are not to be afraid. Our Lord is on our side. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is not unconcerned about our suffering, disengaged from our circumstances, or oblivious to our trials. He is also not impotent like false gods and idols of humankind. He is right here with us, he is holding us together, he is supporting and strengthening us, and he will give us all we need to make it through all the difficulties that may come our way due to persecution coming at us from those who hate the light.

We should never let the rejection and hatred of others keep us from sharing our faith, but we should stand strong, run with the gospel and tell the world that Jesus loves them and that he died so that they might be saved from their bondage to sin (darkness) so that they can come into the Light. We have no cause to ever fear the threats of those who hate the Light, because they may kill our bodies, but they can’t kill our souls. We should always be prepared to give an answer as to the hope that we have, and to do so without fear. We should be careful to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, not of this earth. Amen!

Why Are You Afraid? / An Original Work / December 5, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

Do not be afraid.

Your Lord is always by your side.

Serve the Lord in righteousness

Before Him all your days.

Those who hate the light

Will not come to the Lord.

They fear their deeds

Might be noticed.

So, they hate the light,

And they embrace the night.

Do not be afraid,

Although your enemy attacks.

Dare to share your testimony

Of God’s saving grace.

Do not fear their threats,

But honor Christ, your Lord.

Be prepared to give an answer

For the hope you have,

With gentleness; respect.

Why are you afraid?

For all that’s hidden will be shown.

What I tell you, speak in daylight.

Let the truth be known.

Do not be afraid

Of those who’ll take your life.

Fear the Lord with understanding.

Trust Him with your life,

And give not up to strife.

Do not be afraid.

Take courage, it is I, your Lord.

Bow before Me; now adore Me.

Oh, why do you doubt?

Listen to the Lord.

Get up, and bear His name!

Run and tell the world He loves them.

Jesus came to save.

Give Him your all today.

http://originalworks.info/why-are-you-afraid/

http://youtu.be/NSh2YXNINjs

Because of Your Sins

Saturday, March 01, 2014, 8:09 a.m. – the Lord Jesus put this song in mind:

My Jesus, My Savior / Michael W. Smith

My Jesus, My Saviour,

Lord there is no one like you,

All of my days, I want to praise

The wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

Tower of refuge and strength

Let every breath, all that I am

Never cease to worship You…

Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Isaiah 50-51 (quoting selected verses in the NIV). http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+50&version=NIV; http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+51&version=NIV.

You Were Sold

Because of your sins you were sold…

When God created humankind (Adam and Eve), they were perfect in relationship to him. They walked and talked with him in the garden. They had wonderful fellowship with him. He blessed them richly with all that was good. They obeyed him and did what he said, until one day the serpent (Satan) tempted Eve to disobey God, and then Adam followed in like manner. At that moment sin entered the life of humankind, and that sin separated humans from God from that point on. Our sins thus sold us as slaves to Satan and to sin.

The Plan

Who among you fears the Lord

    and obeys the word of his servant?

Let the one who walks in the dark,

    who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord

    and rely on their God.

Nonetheless, God had a plan. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to earth to be our sacrificial Lamb to take away the sins of the world. When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were crucified with him, and they were buried with him, but when he rose from the dead, he triumphed over our sin, Satan, hell and death. Amen! Because of what Jesus Christ did for us in dying for our sins, taking our punishment upon him, we can be rejoined in fellowship with Almighty God, and the dominion of sin and Satan can be removed from our lives.

It is by God’s grace, through faith that we are saved and we are restored to a right relationship with God. This faith trusts in Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, it believes that he has indeed delivered us from slavery to sin, to which we were sold, and it fully cooperates with the work of the Spirit within us to transform our lives away from living for sin and self to lives committed to following Jesus Christ and to walking in his righteousness and holiness (See Lu. 9:23-25; Eph. 4:17-24; Tit. 2:11-14; Ro. 6; Gal. 2:20; 1 Jn. 1-5, et al).

When we come to our Lord by faith in Jesus Christ, and in what he did for us in delivering us from slavery to sin, we are indwelt by the Spirit of God who serves as our teacher, guide, counselor, and encourager; and who empowers and strengthens us to walk in the Spirit and in truth. We are given the written word of God, as well, to teach us and lead us, and so we can know God’s will, so that we may walk in it. And, he blesses us with so many rich and wonderful spiritual blessings from above, including his body, the church, also given for our support, strengthening and encouragement.

Her Ruins

Who are you that you fear mere mortals,

    human beings who are but grass,

that you forget the Lord your Maker…

The Lord will surely comfort Zion

    and will look with compassion on all her ruins…

Nonetheless, many who have come to Jesus Christ by faith, and who have been saved from their sins; who have entered into eternal life with God, and have been blessed with his many spiritual blessings from above, have since wandered back into sin and are now following after the gods of this world – of fortune, success, entertainment, fun, intellect, etc. Spiritually speaking, they are living in ruins. They have become followers of humankind – the world’s way of thinking, behaving, and their value system – and they have forsaken their God. Because God loves his church, and because his desire is for her to have him as her one and only, and because it pains him greatly when we choose sin, self and other gods in place of him, because he knows what is best for us, and how very much sin hurts us, he looks with compassion on our spiritual ruins, and he will do what is needed to bring her/us back to spiritual life and vitality once again (revived and renewed by the Spirit of God).

Wake Up!

When I came, why was there no one?

    When I called, why was there no one to answer?...

Awake, awake!

    Rise up, Jerusalem…

The Lord Jesus is calling out to his adulterous and idolatrous church throughout the world, but in particular here in America, I believe, to wake up (See Rev 2-3) or he will have to send his divine discipline (judgment, chastisement) against her in order to wake her up.

Think of it in terms of a parent-child relationship. The child had been sold into slavery, but the loving parent fought for the child’s freedom, got the child back, and had given the child many good things to enjoy. He was so glad to have his child back, but then his child fell asleep and he could not awaken the child. The child was unresponsive to his calls to “wake up.” So, what would you do? He must call 911. We call 911 in emergency situations because someone needs immediate help and/or because that person (child) is in immediate danger.

I believe that is where God sees his church in America right now, and maybe throughout the world, too. He saved her (bought her back), but now she is in a spiritual slumber, following mankind instead of God, caught up in the ways of this world, going from this thing to the next trying to find what satisfies and brings peace and joy only to be left wanting more but never satisfied. I believe 9/11/01 was a wakeup call for America, but she didn’t wake up. So, I believe God is going to send us another “wake up” call. It will be painful, though.

They Will Return

The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;

they will not die in their dungeon,

    nor will they lack bread.

For I am the Lord your God…

Those the Lord has rescued will return.

    They will enter Zion with singing;

    everlasting joy will crown their heads.

Gladness and joy will overtake them,

    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

I believe very much so that God weeps over his adulterous and idolatrous church and that he puts that same type of compassion and grief over the spiritual condition of his church within those who are willing to listen to his voice and to feel what he feels, and who will call out to God in prayer asking for life to be breathed back into the church (for revival).

Going back to the scenario of the parent-child relationship, the parent called 911, but the child appeared to be dead, so the parent (or one representing the parent) cried out to God in agony, sorrow and deep concern for the life of the child. All of a sudden the child coughs up something that had been lodged in his throat. He was alive! Praise God! The parent rejoiced!! The child coughed up something which had been killing him. In this case, what was killing him was his sin. He confessed (repented of) it, and then he was revived spiritually, and all heaven rejoiced!! And, then he was renewed back to that wonderful fellowship relationship with his loving parent (God – Father, Son and Spirit).

If only we would grieve over the dying church the way God does, and the way this parent did over the young child the parent thought was lost forever, and that we would call upon God to be merciful and compassionate toward his church in bringing her back to life again. And, oh, if you are one who has wandered away from your pure devotion to the Lord, and you have gotten caught in the trap of sin again, I pray you will return while you still have today, because none of us knows what tomorrow holds.

ONLY IN HIM / An Original Work / February 19, 2014

Based off Isaiah 30

Woe to those who look to man’s help;

Who turn away from Jesus Christ;

Forming an alliance not in step with God;

Making their own plans, and praying not.

Willing not to listen to truth,

They close their ears to what is right.

Pleasing words are all that they’ll hear;

Feel good messages that bring cheer.

Trust in your Lord; turn from your sin.

Put your faith now ONLY IN HIM.

Do not turn to idols. They’ll not satisfy.

Jesus will save you. That’s why He died.

Your Lord will be gracious to you.

He cares all about you, ‘tis true.

He forgives you all of your sin

When you give your life up to Him.

Oh, how truly gracious He’ll be

When you bow to Him on your knees;

Turning now from your sin; walking in his ways.

He’ll lead and guide you all of your days.

Now you will sing praises to Him.

He delivered you from your sin.

You’ll tell others now of His grace,

So they may see Christ face-to-face.

http://originalworks.info/only-in-him/

http://youtu.be/CUQfD0Ordgk