Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Shalom,


Psalm 89:6-8:


6 For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the mighty [heavenly beings] can be likened to the LORD, 7 A God greatly feared and revered in the council of the holy (angelic) ones, and to be feared and worshipfully revered above all those who are round about Him? 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O LORD? And Your faithfulness is round about You [an essential part of You at all times].


This is the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible that we're speaking about here! The Ancient of Days! The great I AM! The Covenant making, and Covenant keeping God! The psalmist is reminding God of His covenant and then asking why it SEEMS like God is not keeping His covenant (verses 38-39). The answer is that God ALWAYS keeps His Covenants! The problem lies with the PEOPLE who don't keep their end of the Covenant! We have already read that God does NOT want sacrifices from us, but rather, He wants OBEDIENCE (1 Samuel 15:22)! When WE break our part of the Covenant, we cut ourselves off from the blessings and rewards of the Covenant! Who must make the adjustment then? ME! These people should have checked their own hearts and then changed their thinking to agree with GOD! If they had, they would not have had to endure things they went through! Instead of questioning God, we should be praising Him for Who He is! Verses 14-18 from the Message Bible:


14 The Right and Justice are the roots of Your rule; Love and Truth are its fruits. 15 Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of GOD. 16 Delighted, they dance all day long; they know Who You are, what You do - they can't keep it quiet! 17 Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us - You've been so good to us! We're walking on air! 18 All we are and have we owe to GOD, Holy God of Israel, our King!


Now THAT is more like it! Practice THAT every day and  EVERY day will be so  much better for you!


Here is an older song from Hillsong called "Everyday"! (Click through to You Tube to see the lyrics:




I love that Jesus made this statement in Luke 10:21:


21 In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have concealed these thing [relating to salvation] from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled and untaught). yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure.


Does that mean that God did not want the wise to know the Gospel? NO! What it means is that you do not need a degree in Biblical Theology to understand the Bible! In fact, such a degree has hindered very, very many people from truly understanding the simple, and powerful Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth! If you have received Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord and personal Savior, you have already received the Holy Spirit to live inside of you and HE is your teacher! He will make the Word of God real and easy to understand for you IF you continue in it faithfully, expecting HIM to teach you! This means that the "wise and learned" need to put aside all of their previous ideas and let the Holy Spirit lead them. They will be amazed at how very logical the Word of God really is! Our God is a God of sense and order! I LOVE that! Then we must always remember to pray what Jesus told us to pray for, everyday! Verse 2:


2 And He said to them, The harvest indeed is abundant [there is much ripe grain], but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest.


Pray this and at the same time be willing to say, "Here I am Lord, send me"!


The message of Micah 6-7 was for the nation of Israel to return to trusting in the LORD and none other! My favorite verses are Micah 7:7-8:


7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light to me.


When you realize that you have missed it, go immediately to 1 John 1:9. Confess your sins, failures and shortcomings. He is faithful and just to forgive you of those, and then to cleanse you from anything else that would hinder you from having close fellowship with Him! Spend time in His presence and in obedience to His Word. Then you will see the way out to victory and you WILL arise as more than a conqueror! The enemy HATES that, so don't believe the lies. He will stop at nothing to try to keep you from obeying God's Word, but YOU are in control of your choices! Choose wisely and choose LIFE! Amen!


Shalom in Him!