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A SONG AND A PRAYER |
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MORNING MANNA - JANUARY 16-31, 2008
MORNING MANNA - JANUARY 31, 2008 - HIS WORD IS EVERLASTING Isaiah 40:8 (The Message) Are you one hundred percent consistent? Even when you make a
decision or a commitment, can you say that you fulfill it completely one hundred percent of the time? I don't think
so. It's not that we don't have the desire to do that. It's not that we should slough it off
when we aren't able to do as well as we had planned. But, we should be careful about doing what we say we will
do and counting the cost before we commit. In any case, we are mere mortals. We will make some mistakes. When
we fail in some way to meet the commitments we have made to others, it may bring hurt and frustration. Our word should
be as good as our signature on a legal document. That's what we strive for because we want to be like Jesus.
Let's keep pushing in that direction but, in the meantime, let's focus on His Word. Every Word written
in the scriptures is everlasting. It comes from the heart of the Word, Himself. None of it will fail. We
may fail to believe it and so, for us, it may not be seen in manifest form and in all of its
glory. But, it will still be true, and everlasting. It will never fail. One Word from God has more
power than the strongest volcano and, even if it's just one Word, it will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) I don't know about you, but God is encouraging me already! What are the mountains in your life that need
moving this morning? One Word from God will accomplish it. (Matthew 17:20) But, if you're not reading His Word, you won't know that one Word is! First, we have to know the Word
that stands firm and forever. Then we can use it properly. God's Word is our sword in the battles of life. (Ephesians 6:17) It is a mighty and powerful sword and it will accomplish it's purpose when used in faith.
(Hebrews 4:12) Before we can really use it properly, we need to submit to having God use it on us. We need
to let Him expose us through His everlasting and sure word for exactly what we are. Only then, can His Word begin to
grow in us and make us skillful in using this powerful weapon that we are given. This Sword, this Word of God that He
has put into our hands, is not ordinary sword. It is made of everlasting material. It will never dull or rust.
It will always stay sharper than the sharpest surgeon's scalpel. Just think, this Word, this powerful and everlasting
Sword, has been entrusted into your hands! Into my hands! God's Word says our physical bodies will
fade and die. Isaiah 40:6-7 (The Message) 6 (MSG) A voice
says, "Shout!" I said, "What shall I shout?" "These people are nothing but grass, their love fragile
as wildflowers.7 The grass withers, the wildflowers fade, if God so much as puffs
on them. Aren't these people just so much grass? Because of our sin naturel, our bodies will last
only for a time. Genesis 6:3 (The Message) 3 (MSG)
Then God said, "I'm not going to breathe life into men and women endlessly. Eventually they're going
to die; from now on they can expect a life span of 120 years. But, here's some really good news.
The Word of God is firm. It never changes. It lasts forever. It is the Sword that protects us from the attacks
of the enemy. It is something we can read from the scriptures. It comes alive in our hearts by the power of the
Holy Spirit. So, though our physical bodies will die, the Word we have allowed God to deposit in our hearts will live
forever! We were made in God's image. The more of His Word we have operating in us, the more we will be like Him.
No wonder we are led to read His Word each day! We are in the process of being built into a Body that is much more
important and beautiful than these physical bodies we try so hard to keep up! (Ephesians 4:14-15) Yes,
if we have received the Word from the scriptures about being born again, we're in the process of being equipped to walk
in newness of life. Because that new life comes from the Word, it will never end. Like the
Word, it is everlasting. (1 Peter 1:23) It is living and it will never die. That part of us that is filled with the Word will never,
ever die! 1 Peter 1:22-25 (The Message) 22 (MSG) Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following
the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. 23 Your new life is not like your old life. Your old
birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself!24
That's why the prophet said, The old life is a grass life, its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers; Grass dries
up, flowers droop,25 God's Word goes on and on forever. This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.
Don't these words just make you want to dig into the scriptures and enjoy the feast that God has prepared
there for us? Don't you want to build up that part of you that will live forever? Our final destination
will be Heaven if we have received the everlasting Word, which is Jesus. We are promised that His Word stands firm there. (Psalm 119:89) No matter where we are or what we're going through, His Word is firm. Are you ready to be
wise and build on firm, solid ground that will last through this life and the next? Look at this paraphrase from The
Message and know that, by reading and following God's Word each day, His everlasting Word, you will have everything you
need to make it through anything that comes your way. Luke 6:47-49 (The Message) 47 (MSG)
These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living.
They are foundation words, words to build a life on.48 "If you work the words
into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river
burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. 49
But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter
who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards.
It was a total loss." It's our choice, a sure foundation in the everlasting Word which will allow
us to have everlasting life or total loss. Got your Bible and your heart open this morning?  John 5:24 (King James Version) "Now, that's the life." Have you ever heard that expression before? Probably so. Most
likely when someone is commenting on someone else's new car, new house, vacation, retirement or some such thing.
But, that's not really the, "life." Those things are all nice and great blessings from the Lord but they
don't constitute life. It is God's Word that is life-giving. It is the life. As
we have been discussing the importance of reading the scriptures each day, we have already talked about the Word being a Person. This
person is Jesus. (John 1:14) What did Jesus say about Himself? Well, He said quite a bit but, regarding life, He said, "I am
the life." (John 14:6) He is the Life and He is the Word. He left His Word in the scriptures so we could continually feed
on it and have life. Now, that's the life! We also talked about how God's Word is food.
You can't live a whole long time if you don't eat. Part of our physical life-line is food. It's the
same way with our spiritual selves. If we don't feed on the Word of God, we will die, but not just stop living here
on earth. We will die a spiritual death. That death will be evident while we're here on earth and be devastating
when we leave this earth. (Deuteronomy 8:3) Real life, both in this world and in the next comes from feeding on every word of the Lord. Not just on the
things we like. But, every word. I've never really liked vegetables. To balance it out, I'll let
you know I'm not really a sweets-craver either. But, I do like meat and potatoes! If I could, I'd probably
eat mostly meat and potatoes. But, my life would not be very balanced and, most probably I would encounter
health problems. It's the same way with God's Word. Every Word is profitable. (2 Timothy 3:16) Every Word contains life and goes along with every other Word to bring us the life that God wants to give us. How is your life this morning? Is it balanced. Are you getting a balanced
diet of the Word of God? Or, are you just consuming the parts you like and ignoring the rest. All of
His Word gives us life. There is really no such thing as being partly alive. God's promises are all true. Most
of them have conditions. If we don't know the "if's" in God's Word, we won't be able
to rightly claim the promises. We will not really be living the abundant life that God desires to have us live.
For instance, we all like the words from Jeremiah 29:11. (King James Version) 11 (KJV) For
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Yes, those are the thoughts God has toward us but His purpose in those good thoughts is that we will seek
Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14 (King James Version) 12 (KJV) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall
go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find
me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.14 And I will be found of you,
saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither
I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
He wants us to seek Him because He is life. We're sure to be taken captive when we're not seeking
God, when we're seeking all those things of which people might say, "Now, that's the life." The Israelites
were captives when God spoke Jeremiah 29:11. He was really letting them know by this encouragement that they needed to seek Him in order to be free. In order to
have life. Are you and I seeking Him each day so that we might have real and abundant life? Or, are we dead, empty people
walking around without the life of God? Hopefully, this morning,
we are getting back to the basics like the Psalmist did when he declared, "Turn my thoughts from worthless things, and
give me life through your word." (Psalm 119:37) There's lots of things calling to us from the world saying, "This or that (you fill in the
blank) will make your life worthwhile." "If you have this or that (you fill in the blank), you'll really
be living." It's not a "this or that," at all! Those things will all end up worthless
in the end. The life we need is life that lasts eternally. We won't be needing any, "this or that's"
when we get to Heaven. Just like our lives here on earth, provision has already been made for life after leaving this
place. The, "this or that's" we have here on earth are just blessings that God had already planned
to provide for us to give us a good life here but they are not life. If we didn't have them, we would still
have God's Word. That Word is real life. (John 20:31) Jesus is the Life. He said and did so many things in the three years of His public ministry on
earth that they could not all be written but those things that are written are for our benefit. They were
left for us so we could read and find true and eternal life. John 20:31 (The Message) 31 (MSG)
These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing,
have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it. Jesus is revealed in the Word of God.
Life is revealed and offered to those who will read and believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Are you reading and believing?
Have you found real life in the pages of God's Word? Romans 10:8 (The Message) Inside the pages
of scripture, we are given the word of faith. (Romans 10:8) If we're not reading the scriptures, we will not have that word within us. How important it is in these
days to have faith! Everyone of us has some kind of faith. Many have put their faith in their jobs, in their 401K's,
in their savings account, in their spouse, in the medical community. But, as they say, "that's not where it's
at." All those things can and may fail us, leaving us perhaps broke, busted and disgusted. Some even put
their faith in themselves thinking they need nothing and no one. That's not true either. There is only one
Person who is worthy of our faith. Only one Person who will never fail us. (Hebrews 13:5) Only one Person who has promised never to leave us or forsake us. (Matthew 28:20) Only one Person who has promised to supply all of our needs. (Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:19) This same person is the answer to all of our questions. (Jeremiah 33:3) He's the solution to all of our problems. (James 1:5) Do you have faith this morning? Is it in the fleeting things of this world or your own ability and strength.
Or, is it in the Word of God? In the Person who is the Word? In Jesus? Every one of us needs to
renew our minds daily and refill them with the Word of God. (Romans 12:2) This is especially true in the case of His Word of faith to us. Without faith, it is impossible to please
God! (Hebrews 11:6) Do we have the faith this morning that pleases God? Are we so filled with His Word that we, not only
believe that there is a God, but that He will reward us if we are seeking Him with all of our heart? If not (and I dare
say that there's not a one of us who doesn't have room for more faith), lets begin to get encouraged by the Word
of God. Let's look into it in faith believing all that it says! We are reminded in the
11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews of the heroes of the Old Testament who had great faith. Within that chapter,
we see that many were saved from great trials and spared but we also see that some had such great faith that they were willing
to be killed for it. (Hebrews 11:11, Hebrews 11:36-38) Those faithful men and women really, really believed that God was a rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him. They knew, even before you and I were given the assurance of our salvation in Jesus, that their reward
would be eternal life with the Lord in a place where there is no more pain and suffering. Is that the kind of faith you
and I have this morning? How are you doing this day? Are there situations in your life that defy your ability
to solve them on your own? Reading and meditating on the Word of God, opening the pages of the scriptures, will
help you get through such a time. The Lord will speak His Word of faith to your heart and help you to go on in
spite of the fact that you can't see past the next bend in the road. We are His children. We are children
of "faith." We don't walk in the light of what we see with our physical eyes. We walk with eyes
of faith. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Even when circumstances seem menacing and look bad, our faith tells us that all things work together for the good
if we are loving God and doing what He has called us to do. (Romans 8:28) Although this is a great faith-building scripture, I have a wise friend who urged me to consider the verse directly
following that one. Romans 8:29 lets us know an even greater truth. Sometimes circumstances are not comfortable for us. Sometimes they look
awful! Yet, by faith we know that every circumstance that comes into our lives is only our Father allowing us to become
more like His Son. Isn't that what we all desire? Faith will tell us that God is at work in our lives, through
the pleasant times and through the tough times. It will all turn out for good - our good and the good of His Kingdom.
What could be better? We may say that we have great faith
but what happens when the trials come? Do we walk around complaining, spouting negative statements? Or, do we
remember that all faith has to be tested. Do we take the test willingly and with everything we have in us? Or
do we sit down and give up? Is your faith being tested this morning? Mine is. What will we do? Have
we read the Word of God regarding faith? Hopefully so. If so, then we will know right now, right this moment,
that good is being accomplished. Look how The Message paraphrases the passage about our faith needing to be tested.
1 Peter 1:7 (The Message) 7 (MSG) Pure gold
put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus
wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory. God
can and has provided everything we will need to make this trip through the earth and on to Heaven. He is not short of
gold. It will be given to us if He knows we need it. There's no shortage of anything in
His Kingdom. Faith tells us that if we seek that Kingdom first, everything else we need will be provided.
(Matthew 6:33) Do we have the faith to believe that - even in the midst of difficult circumstances? Are you
in a testing time right now? Rejoice! Whatever it is that you need is known by Your Father. As Jesus told
the woman who pressed in to receive her healing, "Your faith has made you whole." Mark 5:34 (The Message) 34 (MSG)
Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well,
live blessed! Be healed of your plague." There's an old song that says, "If
I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that God could solve them and I'd never know what faith in God could do."
The woman in Mark 5:34 took a risk. She put her faith and trust in Jesus. He didn't have to pay attention to her
or heal her but He did. He hasn't changed. (Hebrews 13:8) Think about it. Where would you rather put your faith? In things that are up one day and down another.
Or, in the One who has a perfect track record? The one who loves you and will never leave you. His Word to you
and me this morning in the scriptures, and by the Holy Spirit, is faith. Let's stand together in it! (Romans 5:1-2) Mark 12:30 (Amplified Bible) God is love. (1 John 4:8) God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die for us so that we would not have to suffer the eternal
punishment we all deserve. Who is His Son? Jesus. Jesus is the Word. (John 1:14) The Word became flesh. The Word is Love. Love was revealed in Jesus. Jesus said, "Anyone
who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9) When we open the pages of scripture, we are in the Word. We are reading His-Story. The story
of Love. Most everyone loves a good love story. Most everyone has dreams that their lives will be that happily
ever-after story of love and fulfillment. We run to the movies. We watch the soap-operas. We buy up fictional
novels in the hope of finding that elusive picture of perfect love. Oh, what a sad thing that many times we ignore the Perfect
Love that stands always near just waiting patiently and politely for us to finally notice and realize Who He is!
Of course, we get to know Him in prayer. We need to do that. But, He didn't give us His Word, His love, just
to let it sit on a shelf or a nightstand and gather dust! His Word
to us and for us is summed up in one Word. Love. Mark 12:30-31 tells us that. First, it's our love toward God and flowing from that is our love for one
another. We can try and try to love God the way He is asking us to but we will still come
up short. I have found that it is not until I realize that I can't even love Him without His help, that I can begin
to love Him. God never asks us to do anything He hasn't already equipped us to do. In the creation story,
God created the earth and He put everything we would need in it before He created mankind. He made provision
for us before He made us. In the same way, His Word lets us know that we love Him because He first
loved us. 1 John 4:19 (King James Version) 19 (KJV) We
love him, because he first loved us. We can't possibly love God fully or those around us unless
we have first received God's love for us. That love was poured out for us extravagantly and with abandon
before we ever took a second look toward the Lover. (Romans 5:10) Yes, Jesus loved us enough to die for us while we were still His enemies. Is it any wonder
that His Word to us is that He wants to work through us is to do the same? He wants
us to love our enemies! Matthew 5:44 (King James Version) 44
(KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Not just say we love them but bless them! Not just bless them but do good
to them! Even pray for them! Try as I will, I am not capable of that in my own strength. Nobody
is. Except One. That One, that Word, that Love, wants to live through you and me to show the world that love
is real. Love reaches out to the unlovely. Love desires the best for the other. There is really no way we
can out-love the Lord but we can let Him love out of us. Is this rather impossible? Yes, it is. Without
God, without the Word. But, with God all things are possible. Especially those things He has commanded
us to do. How does love show itself? There are too many ways to go into this in one
short morning devotional. But, one sure way to know whether we truly love God is this: obedience to His Word.
Are you reading His Word every day so you can really know what He wants you to do? As they say, "ignorance
of the law is no excuse." If we are ignorant of God's law, it is not because He has not made it available to
us. It is because we have not availed ourselves of it. Jesus said, "If you love me, obey my
commandments." (John 14:15) He has given us His commandments in the scriptures. He has even narrowed them down to two main
commandments which, if we were to do them perfectly, would keep us from disobeying any of the law. He finished the statement
about loving Him by obeying His commandments by saying that He would ask the Father to give us a Counselor who would
never leave us (John 14:16) God loves us so much that He has promised never to leave us. His Spirit will remain with
those who obey Him. (John 14:17) As we open the pages of scripture, the Spirit will teach us and lead us into it's truth.
At the foundation of that truth is love. If we love God, we will obey His commandments. When God sees this,
His love will flow toward us through Jesus. A great reward in all of this is that Jesus said He would reveal Himself
to each one who would walk in obedience. (John 14:21) Each one means you and me and whosoever will. No discrimination, no segregation, no restrictions.
So will we? Will we start by opening His Word each day and becoming familiar with Him as Love reveals Himself to us? There's
so much more to say about God's Word being love. We could dwell on this for the whole year and never exhaust it!
Love never fails and love will never end. (1 Corinthians 13:8, 13) If we are willing to stay in His Word every day, we will find that love is the prevailing theme. God's
Word is the world's greatest and most perfect love story. Read all the way to the end, obey and you will
find yourself living out an eternal happily ever-after ending! Which really, is not the ending, it's just
the beginning! Psalms 119:93 (The Living Bible) As I look at Jeremiah 15:15-21, I find Jeremiah complaining. He is in the midst of great trouble. He is being persecuted. At one point, as
he speaks to God about it, he reminds God that he is sustained by His words. He says that the words of God bring
him great joy and delight. Although it sounds as if Jeremiah is trying to justify his request that his enemies
be punished, it is good that he recognized that God's words do, indeed bring joy. Later in this passage, God says
to Jeremiah, regarding his enemies, "You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!" (Jeremiah 15:19) This morning, there may be some of us who are in the midst of some sort of trial. Someone close to you
may have turned away. Someone you trust may be trying to railroad or destroy your God-given appointment and
destiny. Like Jeremiah, when these things occur, we may be tempted to complain to God. We may say
that His words are a our joy and delight but are we really showing it by the way we live? Are we influencing
our enemies with God's joy or letting them influence us into complaining against the God that gives us joy? It seems
to me that God was saying something like this to Jeremiah, "If my words are really your joy and your delight,
let it show. Let your enemies see the joy that my Word has given you." Later on in this passage,
God encourages Jeremiah. He reassures him that, although his enemy will fight, God will make Jeremiah as secure
as a fortified wall. (Jeremiah 15:20) Jeremiah is assured that God will protect him and rescue him. God then says, "I, the Lord have spoken."
When the Lord speaks, if we are listening and following, joy cannot escape us. The circumstances may look bleak
but His Word is joy. (Psalm 5:11) Yet, if we're not reading His Word, how will we know that. If we're not reading His Word, we're
actually robbing ourselves of joy! Much is said in the Word
of God about rejoicing which obviously cannot be done by someone who has no joy! When we find ourselves reading, studying
and delighting in God's Word, we cannot escape Joy. Joy is a person, the person of Jesus Christ. We can
rejoice because He has taken our sorrow and our care. (1 Peter 5:7) I found an interesting illustration regarding the Word of God and our ability to let our joy overflow into rejoicing. Our attention is often directed to the two shortest verses in the Bible noting that "Jesus wept"
is the shorter of the two. (cf: John 11:35) But in the Greek we find this "shortest" verse has three words whereas
the verse from 1 Thes. 5:16 ("Rejoice evermore") has only two. However, one surely can see the lovely connection between
the two verses. The Christian's joy flows from the sympathy and grace of their Savior. Jesus wept—we rejoice evermore. —Daily Readings Yes, circumstances may
tempt us to stop rejoicing and start complaining; but our faith will prompt us to say, "no," to that temptation
and we will live rejoicing in the presence of the Joy-Giver. (Psalm 16:11) Are you tempted this morning to be downcast? Look at these words: Song
from musical "Oklahoma": Oh what a beautiful morning, Oh
what a beautiful day, I've got a wonderful feeling, Everything's
going my way. We tend to regard happiness in that light. "When everything's going
my way, I'll be happy." It's like being on a treadmill. We can run all our life but we'll never reach the
point where everything's going our way. There is no possibility in this life of everything going our way. "Happy
are all who take refuge in God," the Psalmist has written (Psalm 2:11). Genuine happiness is the inalienable right of all who trust in God when everything's going their
way and when everything's not going their way—both. —Encyclopedia of
15,000 Illustrations Just because circumstances may not be going our way, we can take
joy this morning if we are walking in God's way. He is the Joy-Giver. As we walk with Him and delight in His
Word, His joy will overcome all the circumstances we face. The following
story about Daniel Webster illustrates the deep joy we can find in God's Word. There is on record a conversation between Daniel Webster and some of his illustrious peers. Somebody raised the
question as to the finest and most beautiful passage in the Bible. One argued for the Creation
story, another the Sermon on the Mount, a third for the description of the redeemed in Revelation. Webster slowly quoted the
exquisite words: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be
in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the
fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation"
(Habakkuk 3:17-18). —Encyclopedia
of 15,000 Illustrations Do we have so much of God's
Word in us this morning that the enemy cannot find an opening through which he can enter and steal our joy? Is our joy
based on the Word of God or the idea that we have to be happy in order to rejoice? "Happiness," I once heard,
depends on, "happenings." If that is the basis of whether or not we can rejoice, we have missed the point.
We are in danger become one of those, "yo-yo" type Christians - up and down, up and down. I've
been there and still struggle at times. But, God's Word will maintain a stability inside of us. It's called
joy. His Word is joy. (Psalm 119:162) Psalms 119:43 (King James Version) We hear the Psalmist praying, "take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth." Is that
our prayer this morning too? If so, how do we get the word of truth into our mouths? First of all, truth
can't come out of our mouth unless it is first in our heart. We will speak the things that are in our
hearts. Oh, we might be able to cover up a few things for a while but eventually, what is in our hearts will come out
in our words. (Matthew 15:18) Will those words be words of truth? Because of our natural tendency to sin, our hearts and minds have to be
renewed with truth. (Romans 12:2) How can we do that? One way is through prayer which we have already touched on this month. The other
way is through reading God's Word, studying it and meditating on it. It is truth. It will change our hearts.
Soon our lips will be speaking His truth. (John 17:17) It is only through His Word that we will be changed - sanctified and able to speak the truth. Jesus said, "I
am the truth..." (John 14:6) He said that no one could come to the Father except by Him. In other words, we can't be in the presence
of God without Jesus, without Truth. Are we going to His Word everyday, replacing things we may have heard in a
world that is full of lies and deception with Truth? If not, we might want to consider doing that in preparation for
a year that will be the greatest ever, if we are seeking the Lord. David
realized the words of God were true. Look what he said. 2 Samuel 7:28-29 (The Living Bible) 28 (TLB) For
you are indeed God, and your words are truth; and you have promised me these good things-- 29 so
do as you have promised! Bless me and my family forever! May our dynasty continue on and on before you; for you, Lord God,
have promised it." Realizing that God's words are completely true, David was encouraged to go ahead
and receive the blessings contained in the Word. David believed what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:20. All of God's promises are yes and amen! That's God's Word. That's the truth! However, most
of His promises contain an, "if." Many today want to water down the word of truth. They want to say
that God is a God of love and eliminate the possibility that anyone could perish in their sins. They want to say that
blessings are for everybody, no matter how they live. Not true. All of God's
promises are true. Yes, He is a God of love. But, we have to receive that love and walk in it. If we
are not willing to do that, He has promised things that we don't really want. Here's an example. Matthew 7:21-23 (New Living Translation) 21
(NLT) "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they
still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.22
On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and
performed many miracles in your name.' 23 But I will reply, `I never knew you.
Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.' This is the truth. This is God's Word.
This is a promise. Not one that we like to think about, but a promise, nevertheless. If we don't stay in God's
Word, we will not be balanced. The "whole truth," as they say in court, will not be in us and we will be deceived.
What a good reason to read, study and meditate on the Word of God! God's
Word never changes, although it gives fresh revelation continually and guides us in every circumstance. That's a
great reason to be in the Word all by itself. His Word will let us know who we are. If we are in Christ, we will
find many things about ourselves that we didn't believe to be true before we came to Christ. (1 John 5:1) If we are refusing to come to Christ, we will find out the awful truth about ourselves and about the final destination
of the deadly path we are traveling. (Proverbs 16:25) God's Word shows us the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Then we have a decision to make. Will
we receive the whole truth and walk in it or will we turn away, making our own traditions and laws as those that Jesus
spoke about in Matthew 7:21-23? I just read a story about a little boy that had to testify in court. As He was on the stand, doubtlessly
wondering just what questions he would be called upon to answer, the questioning began. Here's what happened.
A
small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he
thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling you how to testify, has he not?" "Yes,"
the lad replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now," said the lawyer triumphantly, "just tell us how
your father told you to testify." "Well," the boy said modestly, "Father told me the lawyers would try
to tangle me in my testimony, but if I would just be careful to tell the truth, I could repeat the same thing every time." —Bible
Illustrations A small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting
attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling
you how to testify, has he not?" "Yes," the lad replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now,"
said the lawyer triumphantly, "just tell us how your father told you to testify." "Well," the boy said
modestly, "Father told me the lawyers would try to tangle me in my testimony, but if I would just be careful to tell
the truth, I could repeat the same thing every time." —Bible Illustrations A
small boy was on the witness stand in an important lawsuit. The prosecuting attorney cross-examined him, then delivered, he
thought, a crushing blow to the testimony. "Your father has been telling you how to testify, has he not?" "Yes,"
the lad replied and did not hesitate with the answer. "Now," said the lawyer triumphantly, "just tell us how
your father told you to testify." "Well," the boy said modestly, "Father told me the lawyers would try
to tangle me in my testimony, but if I would just be careful to tell the truth, I could repeat the same thing every time." —Bible
Illustrations God's Word is truth. We will know the truth if
we read it and we will be set free. (John 8:32) If we don't read the Word, we won't know the Truth. However, then, will we ever be set
free? Like the boy's father in the story above, our Father has told us to always be careful to tell the truth.
Unlike the attitude today that everything is, "relative," God says there is absolute Truth. That Truth is
a person. He is Jesus. We can't know this Truth unless we read "His-Story." 1 John 5:19-21 (The Message) 19 (MSG)
We know that we are held firm by God; it's only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil
One.20 And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the
truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God's Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is
both True God and Real Life.21 Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles.
Yes, staying in the gift of God's Word will allow us to be right in the center of God's will,
held in the palm of His hand. Without His Word, we will be in danger of being caught off guard by the clever and
sparkling facsimiles the world offers. We can buy into the lies world or we can be safe in the truth of God's
Word. What is your choice? Psalms 119:43 (New Living Translation) As I began to think about the hope that is in God's Word, I came
across an interesting quote. I had never thought of it before but, after reading it, my hope was even strengthened more.
I hope yours will be too. Here it is: The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians,
Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities,
gods of towns, and various others. But in all of paganism's galaxy of gods, there never was one called "god of hope." That is scarcely surprising. For in that ancient world, hope had become a despised delusion, long before our
Lord was born in Bethlehem. The fact is, there is no hope for this sin-cursed world apart from the true God, the God of Christians.
"Now the God of hope...." (Romans 15:13) —Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations Yes, we have a God of hope and we can know all about this God by
reading His Word. People without Him have no hope. No wonder we should read His Word
and always be ready to give an answer to anyone in this rather hopeless world who asks about the reason we have
hope within us! (1 Peter 3:15) We can have warm and fuzzy feelings in our heart about this hope that lives within us (and there
is nothing wrong with that), but we also need to explain and show from the Word of God just why we have
such a hope. We can't do that if we're not reading and studying God's Word. Do we sometimes feel
hopeless? Probably. There are situations in life that come upon us that defy our ability to solve them or correct
them. There seems to be no way out or around them. We feel weak and helpless. But the fact is, we're
not hopeless. David went through those times. He was depressed and kind of a mess inside. So much
so, that the same words were recorded twice in scripture. (Psalm 42:11, Psalm 43:5) He even talks to himself about it, asking himself why he's so miserable inside. Then
he does what David is known to do. He encourages himself in the God of hope. He tells himself to hope
in God. He remembers that he is a creature of praise and that God is the healer of his long face and sad heart.
I've had those days of mess and I want less! I want to remember always, like David did, that I can, with good
reason, hope in God. He can and will turn my frown around and put the light of hope back into my eyes. He can
do it for you too. With God that is all possible. God is a God of hope. (Romans 15:13) Even overflowing hope. As we begin to realize, by reading His Word, just what a blessing
it is to have a God of hope, this is my prayer for you this morning: Romans 15:13 (The Message) 13 (MSG)
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled
with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! Yes, may your cup overflow with
God's hope! Psalm 119:43 is a plea from the Psalmist that God's word not be taken away from him. Why was it such a desperate
plea? Because the Psalmist knew that his only hope was in God's laws. Jesus came to fulfill all of
the law. (Matthew 5:17) And He did it through love and obedience so that we could be connected to Hope. 1 Peter 1:3 (The Living Bible) 3
(TLB) All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given
us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal
life because Christ rose again from the dead. Have you ever had great expectations of another person and
then had those expectations dashed and mashed before your eyes? It can make you want to stop expecting and stop
trusting anyone again. But, we serve a God who will meet all of our expectations as long as they're founded
in His Word. A great reason for being constantly in His Word! I'm having a, "duh" moment here as
I realize I had never really coupled the word, "hope," with the word, "expectation." I've been
disappointed at times in life when my expectations were not met. Mostly because I placed my expectations or, "hope,"
in another individual or in some sort of, "happily ever after," circumstance. Maybe you've done that
too and now have difficulty trusting that God never fails to deliver what He says we can expect of Him. If we are
following Him, all those things we can expect are good. (Jeremiah 29:11). God is not a man and He does not lie. He does not disappoint. (Numbers 23:9) There's no way that we could even begin to scratch the surface of the hope God displays in His Word
and is willing to impart to us. Everyday, as we look into His Word, we can find new reasons to hope.
New reasons to trust that we can expect God to be all that He is and do all that He says. Are you ready for a journey
of hope in this new year as we stay in the Word of God? His Word is hope! Luke 2:29 (King James Version) Look at this man, Simeon, (Luke 2:25) He was an old man. He was just and devout. The Lord had given him a word at some time in his life.
This word ended up in the scriptures we have today. Simeon received the word, believed it, and waited for it to manifest.
(Luke 2:26) It did manifest, as God's Word will always do. In His time. (Luke 2:27) Simeon held the Word in his arms. That Word was peace. He was the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6) God's Word had promised peace and God delivered peace, not only to Simeon, but to you and me.
Simeon received that peace. He held Him close. Are we doing the same thing? Simeon went to
be with the Lord in peace. Is that how we will go from this earth? God's Word to Simeon was peace and His Word
to us is still the same. But, how can we know this Peace? We must read the Word! In the Word, we will find
everything we need to know about the Prince of Peace. We will see Who He is and how He operates. We will
find instruction from Him as to how we can and need to operate in His peace. Let's just look at a few things
and then determine that we will find our Prince of Peace each day as we open His Word to get to know Him better. Jesus came preaching peace. He was peace and He preached peace. (Acts 10:36-43) The ultimate peace is the remission of our sins. Do you have that peace this morning? If not, just ask.
The Prince of Peace will give you the gift. (1 John 1:9) The night Jesus was born, the angels filled the sky with their voices declaring glory to God and peace on earth to
men. (Luke 2:14) Who heard this wonderful declaration? Was it kings and princes? Businessmen and royal women? No.
It was ordinary people like you and me. Even the lowest of the low of that culture. It was the shepherds who were
in the fields. It was the working people who were meeting their responsibilities. This news of peace was for them.
Life was not the easiest for them and maybe it's not easy for you either. But, Jesus came to speak peace to us right
where we are. Right in the responsibilities of our lives. How can we know this? We can't if we don't
read His Word. Isn't it great to be reminding each other of this good news today? We have peace. All
we have to do is receive Him and get to know Him through His Word. All
through the Old Testament people were instructed to bring peace offerings. God is a God of peace. (Romans 6:20) From the very beginning of man, peace eluded us. Eve longed for what God had forbid. Cain was unhappy
with God and with Abel. They went against the God of peace and brought destruction on themselves. The Devil had
already done it and now he was out to get God's children. Peace seemed to disappear from the earth. Though
men did not receive it, Peace did not stop reaching. It reached back down to us right in the middle of all of our mess.
Jesus appeared and the God of peace crushed the enemy who thought he had been able to keep us from what our Father intended
for us. The curse was reversed! (Colossians 2:15) Jesus became our Peace as He publicly shamed and disarmed our enemy, the Devil. Jesus is our peace offering.
No more bulls, lambs and other things. A final offering was made. And it was perfect. Oh, the enemy is still
out there looking to see who he can convince that he still has power. But the Devil is a liar. Don't believe him
this morning. If you have received Jesus, Peace resides within you. Just give Him room. Let Him work.
He will amaze you with a peace that passes everything you can try to figure out! (Philippians 4:7) It will keep your heart and mind even in the toughest of situations. It will remind you that, no matter what,
God has you in the palm of His hand. You're under His wings. You may hear the storms howling but you're
safe and warm. (Psalm 91:4) How do we know these things? Because we're reading His Word! Because we are children of the God of peace, we're meant to live in peace. Not only with God, but with
people We are entrusted with the job of remaining peaceful as we
commune with the Prince of Peace and then following in His steps to be peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9) It sounds like a difficult job, if not impossible. But God does not ask us to do anything for which He
doesn't equip us. It is Jesus in us who can do the job! Do you have the faith to believe that?
Faith will bring a Word of peace from Jesus. Look at the woman who poured oil over Jesus feet in worship.
Yes, we're back to worship again! She was a sinner but she realized that she needed the Savior. He accepted
her worship, forgave her sins and sent her away in peace.(Luke 7:36-50) Yes, this wonderful Prince of Peace is revealed all through His Word. Are we reading it more and more to
discover all there is to know about Him? Its for all of us. None excluded. No sinner has sinned so badly
that God is not willing to forgive. Not a one of us has to go without peace. It's written all through the
Word. Will you receive that peace today? Will you look into the eyes of the Prince of Peace instead of at the
problems and troubles that surround you? He is waiting for you. Peace waits inside the pages of His Word. Psalms 119:154 (King James Version) Do you have God's Word open this morning? Are you reading along with me, just learning or maybe being encouraged
as you are reminded that deliverance comes from His Word. His Word, of course, being the person of Jesus. (John 1:14) As we continue to get prepared for this great new year, we are looking at a few of the reasons why
it's important to include the reading of God's Word in our everyday life. Deliverance is one of those very important
things we find in the written Word. And, we know from the Word, that we have a Deliverer. If we were not
reading the Word, we would not know that. It's amazing, isn't it, that many never look into God's Word?
They don't know that the Deliverer loves them and is waiting for them to turn to Him. How can they know unless they
read? Or, unless we read, learn and share with them? We all need deliverance from our sins. If you have
never received that deliverance and come to the knowledge that Jesus will give you a brand new start in life, you can do that
today! (John 3:3, John 3:7) Yes, you can be born again, having all of your sins forgiven, all of them! You can be delivered.
It all comes from the Word of God. (1 Peter 1:23-25) See, in Psalm 119:154, the Psalmist included the phrase at the end of the verse, "according to thy word."? One Biblical
commentary said that this was spoken to encourage and comfort us. I hope you are encouraged and comforted this morning,
as I am. There is nothing in this life, including our sin, from which God cannot deliver us - according to His Word! So many times, we find people in the scriptures calling out to God for deliverance.
From various things. Things you and I can relate to today. Here's just one of the
many. Psalms 40:17 (King James Version) 17
(KJV) But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying,
O my God. The Psalmist said that he was poor and needy. Then he finished that statement with a declaration
that he knew the Lord was thinking of him and that God was his help and his deliverer. We are all born into this world
in a poor and needy state. We need a Deliverer to take our sins away. He does just that when we ask. (Psalm 32:3, 1 John 1:9) Maybe we have done that and now find ourselves in circumstances that are less than favorable.
Are you poor and in need of something today? We have a Deliverer. He has promised to meet
all of our needs. There's usually an, "if," involved. We are not just pawns or robots. We
play a part in the deliverance too. We need to seek His Kingdom first. (Matthew 6:33) How do we do that? As we have already discussed earlier this month, prayer is essential. But, how can
we know how to pray unless we have been reading His Word? How would we know that if we seek His Kingdom, all that we
need would be supplied? How could we talk to Him about that? Where would our hope be? If you are in
need this morning and you have never read Matthew 6:33, go ahead and read it now. If you have read it before, read it again and let it really soak in by the power and
revelation of the Holy Spirit. Also read, Philippians 4:19. There now. Can you see your Deliverer? He stands strong, tall, and able on the pages of His written
Word. The word, "deliverer," comes
from a primitive Hebrew word meaning, "to slip out." It means escape and safety. It also means, "calve,"
thus pointing to new birth. Look at Psalm 18:2. In the King James Version, it is written, Psalms 18:2-3 (King James Version) 2 (KJV) The
LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of
my salvation, and my high tower. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be
praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. Can you say that today? Are you trusting the Lord as your
Deliverer? If so, are you passing that encouragement on to others? Aren't you glad that we have everything
we need in the Word of God? In it, we find the Deliverer and we find deliverance. We find escape and safety from the
fires of Hell and escape and safety from a world filled with evil that would threaten to trap us and imprison us.
Today, humanity seems, in general, to be impressed with itself. Secular humanism is prevalent in our world. I'm
so glad that I don't need to trust in another human being or another's lofty thoughts to deliver me! Aren't
you? Psalm 118:8 just happens to be right in the center of God's Word. It says this: Psalms 118:8 (King James Version) 8 (KJV) It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Interestingly enough, these words, "trust,"
and "confidence," both point to refuge and trust. Essentially, escape. The Message goes on in Psalm 118:9 to say this: 9
(MSG) Far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. In this day when we tend to look
to others for help and deliverance, wouldn't it be better to get back to the Word of God? To let it remind and assure
us that there is deliverance in none other than God, Himself? He is our deliverance and we find confirmation of that
in His Word. Why not go there every day?!? Psalms 107:20 (King James Version) Psalm 107:21 says, Oh that men would praise His name. That's a good way to start out this morning, Amen?
In this case, the Psalmist is saying that we should praise God's name because of all the wonderful things He does
for us. Psalm 107:18-19 gives us even more reason to be convinced to praise God. He reaches down when we are at the point
of death. When we are sick to death, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and/or physically. Look how
these verses read in the King James Version. Psalms 107:17-18 (King James Version) 17 (KJV) Fools
because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Yes,
even if and when we have played the fool and are suffering under the consequences of our own misdeeds, our loving God will
send His Word and bring healing to us if we call on Him. Just think of this. You tell your child not
to jump on the bed. Yet, you're not in the room and temptation just overcomes him. He jumps. He jumps
high and hard. Then it happens, he falls, hitting another piece of furniture on the way down. You hear the commotion
and you hear the cries of your child. When you reach the room, it is evident that his arm is limp. It is most
likely broken. He is crying to you for help. Do you turn away? Do you start with a tongue-lashing?
Or do you comfort him and give him your word that it will be okay? If we really know the Word of God, we will
begin to pray over our child and let him know that his Healer has already begun the process. Then, most likely,
you scoop him up in your arms and take him to the ER where a skilled doctor will set the bone and place the arm in a cast
thereby bringing healing. We have a Heavenly Father who is more interested in being good to His kids than we are to
our own. (Luke 11:13) God will send His Word (which is Jesus) by the power of the Holy Spirit, and heal us in whatever way we need today.
Do we really know this? And, if not, why? Is it because we don't read His written Word? We won't
be able to receive God's good gifts if we don't know anything about them. We can't know about them unless
we read the Word He has given us. Are you deep in
preparation for a good year this year? Are you using the beginning of the year to think about the importance of prayer?
We have talked about that earlier and now we're getting more prepared by considering the importance of reading God's
Word and applying it to our lives. Healing is a part of God's Word and we need to know all about it. It is
God's Word that heals us. When I think about the fact that His Word is His Son, I realize that, though
I am reading words in my Bible, they are inspired words. (2 Timothy 3:16) They are written as people years ago heard the voice of God and let it flow through their writing
instruments. They are the story and the power of Jesus. They are His-Story. We are a part of that story.
While on the earth, Jesus demonstrated the power of His Words. In fact, just a word from Jesus changed a person's
life forever. It's that way today too. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 3:18) Of course, how would we know that if we didn't read the Bible? If we haven't already
experienced a need for healing in some area of our lives this year, chances are that need will rise before the year
is out. If not in us, in someone close to us. Have we read and fed on God's Word enough to know that
He is our Healer? That He bore that awful beating just before He went to the cross for our healing? (1 Peter 2:24) The first and major sickness which is in all of us from birth is the sickness of sin. We are
born with it and need healing from the moment we take our first breath. Psalms 51:5 (King James Version) 5
(KJV) Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Have
you received that healing from sin yet? If not, you can this morning. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (The Living Bible) 2
(TLB) For God says, "Your cry came to me at a favorable time, when the doors of welcome were wide open.
I helped you on a day when salvation was being offered." Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today he is ready to
save you. If you will, you will be saved from all your destructions. But, we only know that because we
have read God's Word. That alone, should encourage us to read and dig more into His-Story. When Jesus walked the earth,
He demonstrated His Word. Look at the story of the Roman centurion. Matthew 8:8 (The Living Bible) 8
(TLB) Then the officer said, "Sir, I am not worthy to have you in my home; and it isn't necessary for
you to come. If you will only stand here and say, `Be healed,' my servant will get well! I know, because I am under the
authority of my superior officers and I have authority over my soldiers, and I say to one, `Go,' and he goes, and to another,
`Come,' and he comes, and to my slave boy, `Do this or that,' and he does it. And I know you have authority to tell
his sickness to go--and it will go!" You may think that this man was privileged somehow but he was not.
He was a Roman. Jesus had come to bring salvation first to those of Israel. Yet, the man, knowing he was unworthy,
stepped out in faith believing that one Word from Jesus would heal his servant who was sick at home. That servant was
paralyzed and in great pain. (Matthew 8:5-6) Jesus offered to go to the man's home even though it was unlawful for a Jewish person to enter the home of a gentile. (Matthew 8:7) Do you see how gracious our Healer is? But, we wouldn't know that unless we read His Word. These
few words from Jesus caused the Roman soldiers faith to grow. He realized, because of his own authority in the Roman
army, that Jesus only had to say one Word and his servant would be healed. It's just that way today and
all the Words we need are written for us in the scripture. Do you know them? When you are faced with a situation
that requires healing, is your faith strengthened because you know His Word? Are you prepared for whatever might come
against you because you have read His Word and you know that it brings healing? Is that part of your sword sharpened
for use so you will be ready when the time comes? (Ephesians 6:17) Let's be prepared. We can do that if we are reading and applying the Word of God. Got
your Bible open this morning? Deuteronomy 8:3 (King James Version) Are you hungry this morning?
Are you eating food that is nourishing to your body? And maybe a little treat here and there? Do you have food
in your refrigerator and your cupboards? I do. And I don't ignore the fact that it's there either!
It seems to call for me at least a couple or three times a day! I'll tell you what. I usually don't ignore
the call. Most of us heed the call of the food or else succumb to the loud complaints of our stomach. But, is
it that way with spiritual food? Are we hungry for God's Word, the Heavenly Manna? Yesterday, we spoke about
light and how everything would slow down and start to die if we had no light. Food is the same way. In the physical,
we can only live without food for so long before becoming weak and emaciated. Muscle mass will begin to disappear and
we will end up with no strength and eventually die if we do not receive nourishment. Eating properly and responsibly
is a good thing. It will enable us to use our physical bodies and minds as they were made to be used. There's
more than physical food though. In order to be prepared to enjoy this new year and see the new beginnings God has for
us, we need to read His Word. It is our spiritual food! How
is your spiritual form looking this morning? Has it been fed with reading news magazines and papers (most of which are
bad news)? Has it been fed from reading things even worse than that containing images that turn your spirit to evil
and lust? Has it been fed listening to music that turns your heart toward the world and away from God? What have
you been eating lately and how is your spiritual self looking? Hopefully, you have been feeding on the Word of God and
you are looking good! But, we can't stop there. Just because we ate breakfast yesterday, we can't determine
that we won't eat again because that was enough. That was enough for yesterday but it won't last all through
today too. It's the same with our spiritual food too. We need to read God's world every day and enjoy it's
taste. Unlike the bad news of this world, it's Good News! (Matthew 9:35) It not only outlines the problems, but it gives us the sure Solution! We know we all have problems within ourselves
and surrounding us. Why feed on that and focus on that when God has given us the food that will enable our spirits to
come through those problems victoriously? Not just our spirits either. Notice that, as Jesus preached this
Good News that we have contained in the scriptures, He healed people of every sort of disease and illness. You can't
feed your spirit without having your body, mind and emotions fed and touched too. Jesus is the Word. He still
touches and heals today through His written Word. He is the Word and He is the Healer. (Exodus 15:26) He came to make us, not only holy, but whole. But, there is an "if," here, as there is in many
of God's promises. We must listen to Him and obey Him. How can we do that if we are not reading His Word?
If we don't know what His commands are? Are you getting hungry yet? One Biblical commentary points out that God doesn't allow any deprivation to come into our lives but that He
will bring grace and mercy into the situation. He will use it to remind us that He alone is our Source, both of physical
and spiritual things. Are you in a situation of lack this morning in some area of your life? Are you, "hungry,"
for something you don't have? Maybe you cannot see any way in this world that you can have that thing either.
Now, if you are lusting for something against God's will, a loving God will guide you away from such a thing if
you will follow. In situations like that, we can't go by what we feel. We need to
look into God's Word. Read it. Feed on it. Find out if that thing we want so badly is in His will
and according to His purpose. If not, we don't really want it. Trust me! God used the hunger of
the Israelites in the desert to test them. They could either trust Him or murmur against Him. We don't want
to be murmurer's. Trust me on that one too! In this case, even though they had not really developed their "trust
muscles" so well, God sent them bread from Heaven. They called it, "manna." They went out
and gathered it each morning. He sent it to remind them that they didn't live by eating physical food alone.
They needed His Word to survive. Why? His Word is the Source of every other thing in this life. They didn't
even know what to call the manna sent from God. They picked it up and said, "What is it?" Is that how
we treat the written Word God has given us? Or, do we pick it up and let God show us what it is? If we just sit
around wondering about his Word, we may be sadly disappointed. Mark 4:24-25 (New Living Translation) 24
(NLT) And be sure to pay attention to what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand—and
even more, besides. 25 To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will
be given. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them."
We can't grow into mature spiritual beings unless we eat spiritual food. This year, let's decide to eat every
day and really digest what we eat out of God's Word. Really ask for understanding and discernment. If we do,
we will find ourselves growing and being given richer and richer Heavenly food. Let's not be among those who are
not reading and listening! We're not in famine. We live in a Kingdom of plenty. God has prepared a table
before us. (Psalm 23:5) Yes, the enemy is usually near but God has provided a feast for us to keep us fit and ready for battle. Ready
to eat? Psalms 119:105 (King James Version) Are you stumbling around in the dark this morning?
I hope not. If for some reason, we have no electricity because the lights in our homes and streets go out, life
suddenly changes. This creates all kinds of pandemonium. We can't see what's around us. We trip.
We fall. The chances of getting hurt increase. Traffic accidents occur and everything slows down to a crawl.
We sort of take light for granted, don't we? If this power outage occurs at night, it's very hard to manipulate.
We resort to candles and matches, thereby creating even more danger. But, when the sun comes up, we're not so challenged.
We can see again and we begin to feel a bit more normal. But, what if the sun didn't come up? What if God
did just stopped shedding light on our physical world? Vegetation would not grow. Oxygen would be depleted because
of the lack of vegetation. We would stumble around or even stop until and if we could devise some kind of artificial
light. The light we take for granted is actually life-giving both physically and spiritually. At the beginning
of this year, we talked about preparation. It began with prayer. The second and another vital aspect of our preparation
for this year of brand new beginnings is reading God's Word. Have you determined this year that you will not only
read His Word but really dig into it, feed on it, and absorb it into your very being. I hope so because it is our spiritual
light. God's Word is really a person. His name is Jesus. (John 1:14) This same Jesus is also the Light. (John 12:46) The written word that we have been given is His-Story. It begins with Him
and it ends with Him. It just makes sense that Jesus is the Word and Jesus is the Light. They go together,
don't they? Why would we want to stumble around spiritually when God has sent us the Light? The Word.
Yet, some do because they love the darkness more than the light. (John 3:19) Why do they love darkness? Why would they want to continue stumbling around
when they can't see? Because their deeds are evil. They think that by staying in the shadows of darkness,
no one will ever know what they are doing. Not true. Jesus knows. Even the darkness is light to Him! (Psalm 139:12) So, why not just come to the Light? Why not just come to the Word?
It's true that the Light of the Word reveals our sin. Not to bring condemnation upon us. To show us who we
really are and who we really can be. We don't need to feel threatened when we read God's Word. It is only
in His Word that we can feel safe and find forgiveness and freedom. The more we read and understand His Word, the more
we really know that we were created in His image and that He has good things for us if we will believe and act upon the
truth we find in His Word. Reading the Bible is like turning on the light in the dark rooms of your life!
If you have never made a commitment to read the Book that gathers dust on the coffee table or the bookshelf, won't you
do it today? In it, you'll find Life and Light. There is an interesting
illustration regarding regulations written in the laws of a particular city in times past. An ordinance of the Council of Falaise provided that "No citizen
shall go out at night without a lantern." A supplement read, "No citizen
shall go out at night without a candle in his lantern." The ordinance and supplement required a lantern with a candle in it, but made no provision for light.
Hence it became necessary to pass another supplement, "No citizen shall go out at night without a lighted candle in his
lantern." - Marshall Brown As Christians, we all have a lantern. Many
non-Christians have one too. We have a Bible, God's Word. How many times do we go out into a dark world without
carrying that lantern in our hearts? Why do we do that? Because we don't read it. We don't read
and study our Bible so we have no light to carry with us. We can have a lantern or a Bible, but left untouched and unused,
it will not offer us light and safety on a dark path. What if we just carry the lantern around. Some do.
They carry their Bible to church every Sunday. But, it is never opened and read. Not much good to have a lantern
with no candle in it. At least if we have a candle placed in the lantern, it shows our desire to have Light in our lives.
Do you have a desire for Light in your life this morning? A desire is good but not quite good enough as we see from
the example of the ordinance written above. We have to do something with that candle. What sense would it make
to go out on a dark street with a lantern and a candle without lighting the candle? It would be pretty silly for us
to go out that way, fall down and hurt ourselves and then blame it on the lantern or on the candle! But, people do that
all the time. Some blame God for their mishaps in life when all along, He has provided the Light to keep us from having
those mishaps. His Word is a lamp for our feet, a light for our path. Will you take the time to read His Word
and incorporate it into your life? It is your Light in this dark world! Matthew 6:13 (King James Version) We've just spent the last ten mornings looking at the prayer that
Jesus taught His disciples, which many refer to as, "The Lord's Prayer." We've gone through and seen
just a very few things that are contained in the seven short petitions contained in this prayer. This morning, we're
concluding this mini-look into the very short prayer that contains so very much more than a surface reading renders.
The closing words are, "For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." Most
Biblical scholars seem to think this phrase was added on after the original text was formed. One of the reasoning's for
its addition is that most Jewish prayers ended with a statement of praise. Although this doxology most probably
did not come from the lips of Jesus, it is a fitting ending for the prayer He gave us. It draws our attention back to our
Father and reminds us of what life is really about. It is about His kingdom, His power and His glory.
How many times to we tend to slip up in life and make things about our little kingdom, our puny power and our fleeting
glory? Let's be honest here. We don't intend to do that but it happens sometimes. There is never
anything wrong with worship, as long as we are worshipping our Heavenly Father. We are all going to worship
something. Adding worship to the end of this prayer is just a continuation of the first part of the prayer in which
we prayed, "Hallowed be Thy name." It's all about God, His holiness, and His matchless name.
Amen? Although Jesus most probably did not include this in the
model prayer, there are variations of the prayer in both the Old and the new Testaments. In fact the whole
of the scripture is about His kingdom, His power, and His glory! 1 Chronicles 29:10-11 contains a prayer of David with almost the same exact words and certainly the meaning is there. (King
James Version) 10 (KJV) Wherefore David blessed the LORD
before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. 11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above
all. This is all taking us back to the heart of the meaning of prayer. We are reminded that
it is about who God is and our worship of Him, both as Father and as King of His kingdom. Again, in the New Testament,
we see a prayer similar to the doxology at the end of the prayer in Matthew, Chapter 6. Revelation 5:13, the last book in the scriptures, records a similar prayer being said in Heaven.
It is said by every creature in Heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea. In other words, everyone
will say this prayer sooner or later, so why not begin now? (King James Version)
13 (KJV) And every creature which
is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Worship of God is never out of place and, though it may be lacking on the earth right now, there will be no
lack of it when His kingdom is fully come. There is a worship chorus that says it so plainly, "One day every
tongue will confess He is Lord, one day every knee will bow. But, the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly
seek Him now." That pretty much says it. How do we seek Him? We begin to acknowledge that it's
His kingdom, His power and His glory. This
doxology that we find at the end of Matthew 6:13 comes from the depths of the heart of one who has just understood what he or she has prayed and the implications
of it in Matthew 6:9-13. Nothing but praise for our God can come after we realize who He is and that our total existence
and strength depend upon Him. (Acts 17:28) He has made us in a complicated and extravagant way. (Psalm 139:14) Even that elicits our highest praise. But, we are not made to exist and flourish without our
maker. (John 15:5) We cannot even exist without God giving us our very next breath. I have experienced that first
hand. It's very true! He is our Source. Not just of some things, but of everything. We never want
to be out of touch with Him. We need not get sidetracked, as some do, and distracted by worshipping anything God has
created, as wonderful as that creation might be. Colossians 2:18-19 (The Message) 18 (MSG)
Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their
obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. 19
They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose
very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes
us. He, alone,is the head of His Body. Without a head, it is impossible to live. He, alone, is the
King of His kingdom, which will eventually come in all its fullness. Let's keep those three things, so well outlined
in the ending of this prayer, always in the forefront of our hearts and minds. If we can think of no other way
to worship, we can remember and let Him know that we agree that it's all about His kingdom, His power and His glory!
It's His-Story! Aren't you glad He has written you into His Book of Life? You and I are privileged
to be a part of His-Story - His kingdom, His power and His glory! Do I hear the sound of worhsip this morning? Matthew 6:13 (King James Version) Matthew 6:13 contains the seventh, and final, petition in the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. We have looked a
little bit at each of the six previous petitions in the, "Morning Manna," in the past few days. Some consider
this prayer to have only six petitions; this one, "deliver us from evil," being a part of the previous prayer, "lead
us not into temptation." Whether we choose to see the prayer as having six or seven petitions, we have
seen that the whole prayer flows together and one part cannot be taken from another if we're praying as Jesus taught.
We have prayed previously that His kingdom would come. Our deliverance from evil or from the "evil one,"
is certainly necessary for a kingdom that contains to evil to come to earth. We have prayed that His will would be done
here on earth. Obviously, there is no place in God's will for us to be delivered into the hands of evil or the evil
one. It is His will that everyone should inherit eternal life, if they will. (John 6:40) Have you chosen to follow Him this morning and receive that eternal life that will be totally void of evil? Are
you praying this morning that God will deliver you from any evil, including the plans the enemy thinks he can bring upon
you? Evil can come from our enemy, Satan. It can also come
from another enemy - ourselves. When bad thoughts are harbored and they grow into desires and actions, we become
our own evil enemy. That's why we need to renew our minds daily so that we keep the mind of Christ.
(Romans 12:2) When we are in total unity, body, soul (emotions and will), and spirit, we will function properly, be in health, and
find that we can choose to turn from evil, even as we pray that God will deliver us. It is a mutual affair.
We have a responsibility to choose. It is God's power that allows us to walk in that choice. That renewing
of our minds helps us stay away from temptation (Matthew 6:13), and live in a way that really shows we have meant, "Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will
be done on earth as it is in heaven." If there are circumstances in your life this morning caused by the devil,
we can take authority over them in the name of Jesus. (Luke 10:19) Jesus has given us that authority but it takes faith and we must choose to use it. Is your
faith growing this morning - growing enough to take authority over those things that the devil tries to use to control your
thoughts and even your life? "Lord, deliver us from all evil!" Just as this model prayer that Jesus gave us has a petition in it asking for our daily bread, it might be implied
that every day it is necessary to ask for deliverance from evil. It goes right along with our not being led into temptation.
An example from something seen in the natural helps me to see that we need to nip evil in the bud before it starts to flower.
We can be a partner with God in this prayer for deliverance from evil by not letting it start to grow in our lives.
Look at this example. Years ago, a French naturalist brought a handful of gypsy moths to this country
for purposes of scientific experiment. Some of the moths escaped. If taken in hand at once, they could easily have been destroyed,
but the State authorities took twenty years trying to decide how to address the problem. Because of the delay, the problem
ended up costing the State of Massachusetts over a million dollars. The dangerous multiplication of evil thoughts and the
growth of sinful habits are like that. If the wicked thought is driven out at once, it can be done easily; but if permitted
to nest in the heart it rapidly multiplies in power and influence. —Bible Illustrations Yes, it's pretty obvious that, even as we pray, we have a responsibility too. We should never think that we
can walk right up to evil, as close as we can, and then begin to pray, "deliver us from evil." No.
The solution lies, not only in God's power to deliver us if we are taken unaware, but also in our choices
each day. Will we stay far away from things we know are evil? Will we live a life that shows that we are "kingdom"
people by walking in ways that are good, godly and wholesome? "Help us to do that Lord, and when we are faced
with something that is evil, help us, not only to pray for Your deliverance, but also to make the choice to run
the other way!" (Genesis 39:12) Years ago, a French naturalist brought a handful of gypsy moths to this country for purposes of scientific
experiment. Some of the moths escaped. If taken in hand at once, they could easily have been destroyed, but the State authorities
took twenty years trying to decide how to address the problem. Because of the delay, the problem ended up costing the State
of Massachusetts over a million dollars. The dangerous multiplication of evil thoughts and the growth of sinful habits are
like that. If the wicked thought is driven out at once, it can be done easily; but if permitted to nest in the heart it rapidly
multiplies in power and influence. —Bible Illustrations Yes, it's pretty obvious that, even as we pray, we have a responsibility too. We should never think that we
can walk right up to evil, as close as we can, and then begin to pray, "deliver us from evil." No.
The solution lies, not only in God's power to deliver us if we are taken unaware, but also in our choices
each day. Will we stay far away from things we know are evil? Will we live a life that shows that we are "kingdom"
people by walking in ways that are good, godly and wholesome? "Help us to do that Lord, and when we are faced
with something that is evil, help us, not only to pray for Your deliverance, but also to make the choice to run
the other way!" (Genesis 39:12) Matthew 6:13 (King James Version) This morning we come to the sixth petition in the prayer that Jesus taught
His disciples. It is, "And lead us not into temptation." It directly follows the petitions dealing with
forgiveness. If we are constantly aware of behaving in a way that will not require us to continually have to ask for
forgiveness, either of God or man, we can continue praying as Jesus taught. "Please don't lead us into
a place where we are tempted to do something evil." When we are tempted to do evil, we are not forced to do it
- only forced to make a choice. Will we do it or not? There is a lot of questioning concerning this statement
asking that God, "lead us not into temptation." No matter how we may question its exact meaning, we are still
left with a choice. In this world of sin and darkness, there will probably be times when we come face to face with temptation,
whether we are looking for it or not. At that point, it's up to us to run the other way. We might even, ask
God to give us the strength, run with hind's feet past the jagged edges of the sin that would trip us up. God will not deliberately lead us to do evil (James 1:13-14). He doesn't tempt us. We are tempted by our own evil desires. A prayer that might be
implied in, "lead us not into temptation," is a prayer that God will direct our steps, leading us in the right places.
Sometimes our feet seem to have minds of their own, walking ever closer to the precipice that leads to a fall. Have
you ever been there? Tried to get as close to the sin that was luring you as you could without actually entering
in? In that case, it is not God that is leading! Jeremiah once prayed the following as paraphrased in The Message.
Jeremiah 10:23-24 23 (MSG) I know, God, that mere
mortals can't run their own lives, That men and women don't have what it takes to take charge of life. 24 So correct us, God, as you see best. Don't lose your temper. That would be the end of
us. We, as human beings, are not strong enough to direct our own steps. We need the Lord.
Our privilege and duty is to receive the righteousness Jesus provides and then trust Him to direct our steps.
Psalms 37:23-24 (The Living Bible) 23
(TLB) The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take. 24
If they fall, it isn't fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand. When our hearts are centered
in Christ and He is holding our hand, we can be confident that He will not lead us to places where we will utterly fall into
temptation. As we pray, "lead us not into temptation," we must be sure that we are letting Him lead.
Following our own way will surely be fatal. (Proverbs 14:12) One sure way to be kept from walking a path toward sin or even into sin is this. We need to remember that
God's Word is a light for our feet. (Psalm 119:105) Jesus is the Word. If we will walk with Him, constantly reading and listening to His Word, we can be assured
that He, being God, will not lead us into temptation. We are promised a way of escape if we come upon temptation.
(1 Corinthians 10:13) Even as we pray, "lead us not into temptation," God has already made provision for the answer to this prayer.
The One who is leading us will always show us a way out! Tempted this morning? Hang on to the Word, hang
on to Jesus. He will not lead you astray! So, who is
leading us this morning? If it is Jesus, we need to pray that prayer while clinging tightly to His hand. We need
to pray as the Psalmist did in Psalm 141:3. It is our lust for evil things that will lead us into temptation. We will face temptation from time to time
for the strengthening and refining of our faith. Faith is not true faith until it is tested and proven. When those
temptations are in front of us, God is not leading us into them but testing us. Jesus urged us to be alert to these
things and pray that we don't fall when we come upon a temptation in life. (Matthew 26:41) Our spirits are willing but our bodies don't always follow in obedience. Peter found it so just before
the crucifixion of Jesus. (Mark 14:66-72) If we have fallen to temptation and have not come to the Lord for forgiveness, now is the time to incorporate the
fifth petition of what is commonly called, "The Lord's Prayer." God has made provision in this short model
prayer for everything we could possibly need. Just as Him to forgive you. Then ask again that He lead you
so that you will not lead yourself into temptation again. Peter did fail miserably at one point but, because of God's
forgiveness and Peter's determination to let God lead, he became a pillar of Christianity. God is not respecter
of persons. Let Him lead you! He will not lead you into temptation. Matthew 6:12 (King James Version) Yesterday morning, we talked about the fourth petition in the prayer
that Jesus taught His disciples. It concerns our request to be forgiven by God of all that we owe Him. What we
owe Him, because of our sin, is so much more than we could ever pay, even if it were possible for us to pay. Jesus paid
a debt He did not owe because we had a debt we could not pay. How wonderful it is to know that God is so loving that
He will forgive all of our sins, past, present and future. It's all done. That was the fourth petition.
The fifth petition is very like the fourth one but it requires us to do something. Forgive those who have sinned
against us. Oh, you say, "I could never forgive him or her. That person has gone far beyond the
limits of forgiveness." Well, we may feel that way about some wrongs that have come against us but
that's not the way God feels. God is so into this petition that He elaborates on it right after Jesus finishes
teaching us this prayer. He says, if we don't forgive our enemies, He will not forgive us. (Matthew 6:15) This is a petition that comes with a responsibility. All of the other petitions
have implied responsibility but Jesus chooses to single this one out and say that if we forgive
others their trespasses against us, God will forgive us too. (Matthew 6:14) That may complicate things a little bit as we pray the way Jesus taught. What about
that one who has crossed the line and sinned against us in a way that seems unforgivable? Now we have placed ourselves
in a very precarious position. Is there a one of us who does not need forgiveness from our Heavenly Father. No!
Do many of us need a heart and mind change in order to embrace the command of Jesus to forgive all those who have wronged
us, even severely wronged us? First of all, if someone has done something illegal or immoral to us, we are told that
God sees it all and that vengeance belongs to Him. (Hebrews 10:30) When we hold unforgiveness in our hearts or try to take vengeance, we are stealing something
that belongs to God. Now we are a thief! Is there someone in your life, or more than one someone, that you
need to forgive? Do you need to let that offense or those offenses go, forget the past and move on unhindered?
(Philippians 3:13) Look at this story about the kind of forgiveness that prays for our enemies. Mr. Herring, one of the Puritan
ministers, was eminently distinguished for Christian meekness, and for love to his greatest enemies. Dr. Lamb, a violent prosecutor
of the Puritans, and especially of this good man, being on a journey, unhappily broke his leg, and was carried to the inn
where Mr. Herring happened to be staying for the night. Mr. Herring was called on to pray that evening in the family, when
he prayed with so much fervor and affection for the doctor as to surprise all who heard him. Being afterwards asked, why he
manifested such respect to a man who was so utterly unworthy of it, he replied, "The greater the enemy he is, the more
need he hath of our prayers. We must prove ourselves to be the disciples of Christ by loving our enemies, and praying for
our persecutors." —Bible Illustrations Is
that the attitude of our hearts this morning? Do we have the attitude of Jesus who, from the cross, while being
tortured beyond imagination, looked out across His enemies and said, "Father, forgive them.". (Luke 23:34) If we're not quite at that place yet, will this be the morning that we turn everything
over to our Father who loves us? Joys and sorrows. Even hurts brought about by another? If so, we will be
among those blessed people that receive forgiveness for all of our sins. When
we forgive someone who has hurt us, not only are we forgiven by our Father, we have set ourselves free from negative
thoughts that bind us and many times even affect us physically, and certainly emotionally. What are your primary
thoughts this morning? Are they of God's goodness and blessing. Or are some of them centered on a past offense
or a grudge that you are hanging onto? If your thoughts gravitate to any of the latter, you
are most probably bound by your own chains. You might want to seriously think about breaking out of those
chains and letting yourself go free. God has given us the power to do this through our forgiveness of others.
Your offender is, in all likelihood, not going around dejected and bound because you have not forgiven them. They
may have even forgotten the offense. We're the ones who remain bound and cut off from our Father's forgiveness
of us. When we refuse to forgive people and let that offense mushroom in our minds, we take up space that should
belong to God and to His thoughts. We are not free to walk in His blessing or to receive His forgiveness for our many
slip-ups. Does this morning find you bound up with thoughts about past hurts? Do you justify it because the hurt
was so bad that you just can't forgive it? Look upon our Savior this morning. Has He required us to be crucified
on a cross in humiliation while bearing the sins of everyone in the world, including yours and mine? No, He did that
for us. Now, He's asking us to imitate Him, though our trials will never come close to His that day on Calvary.
Once Jesus did make that statement, "Father forgive them, He went on to finish His mission and walked into a glorious
place. If we will imitate Him, we, too, will be free to walk in our destiny and eventually enter into Glory, never
to be hurt or offended again! Ephesians
4:31-32 (The Message) 31 (MSG) Make a clean
break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. 32 Be gentle with one another,
sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you. Our minds may tell
us that we are setting a guilty person free but our spirit will let us know that, in forgiveness, we set ourselves free!
God is thoroughly capable of dealing with anyone who chooses to remain guilty! (Romans 12:19, Matthew 5:44) Enter subhead content here Enter content here Enter content here Enter content here Enter content here |
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