God Fulfills His Word: BELIEVE IT!

It’s essential for every follower of Jesus Christ to know without a doubt that God fulfills His Word. The Bible states this truth in many different ways, and in many different passages of Scripture. Let’s just look at a few.Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. (Josh 21:45 NKJV)Notice that the above Bible verse states, “ALL came to pass.” This is significant—don’t undervalue it.The Lord then said, “You are right, for I’m watching over my word until it is fulfilled.” (Jer 1:12 CEB)This Scripture describes God as “watching over His Word” to make sure that it occurs exactly as He said that it would. It gives us a picture of God not allowing anything to escape His notice or His attention. He is guaranteeing that His own Word comes to pass.The Lord has done what He determined; He has accomplished His word . . . (Lam 2:17a NASB)I like this Scripture in the New American Standard Bible. It is very clear and cannot be misunderstood! God accomplished His Word. End of story. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Lk 2:20 NIV, underscoring added)Note that everything that the shepherds heard and saw happened JUST AS THEY HAD BEEN TOLD! This fulfills another Bible verse:. . . in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began . . . (Tit 1:2 NKJV, emphasis added)We are simply called as BELIEVERS, to accept God’s Word as true, reliable, and trustworthy. The Bible clearly says that God cannot lie. Meditate upon this and stir up your faith, and your life, by radically believing God’s Word! God bless you.

Live as Christ Lived

Do you think that you can live as Christ lived? What do I mean by that? Let’s review some passages from the Scriptures.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5 NIV)This verse of Scripture advises us to have the same outlook or convictions that Jesus had. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. (Mt 11:29 CEV)Jesus calls us to wear the same “yoke” that He wore. He says in so doing, we will find rest for our souls.To whom or to what are we yoked (or coupled)? Once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are linked to Him. This means that we humbly do His will and allow Him to guide and to direct our lives.The one who says that he abides in him must live the same way he himself lived. (1 Joh 2:6 (ISV)We must live the same way that Jesus did. He lived in obedience to the will of the heavenly Father, and He operated in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was our example.For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. (Joh 13:15-16 NKJV, emphasis added)

We are called to the same lifestyle, and to the same love for and obedience to our Father God that Jesus had. And God has given us the necessary grace that we need to empower us to do so. Hallelujah!

Complete the Race, Receive the Crown

We all understand that in order to receive the crown (reward, wreath), we must complete the race as a winner. A winner can also be called a conqueror, a victor, or an overcomer. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. (1 Cor 9:25 ESV)We are called by the Lord to complete the “race of life” as a conqueror who will receive an eternal reward. One factor that is required, even as it is required of athletes, is self-control in all things. But we are able. Let’s remember that Romans 8:37 tells us: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.We are “more than conquerors” because the true Conqueror, Jesus Christ, has shared His victory with each one of us through the gift of salvation.Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. (2 Tim 2:5 NIV)Obviously, every race has rules that must be obeyed. In order to receive the victor’s crown spoken about in the Bible, we must obey the Word of God. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Tim 6:12 NKJV)The battle in which we must engage is the battle for our very own souls, and the only way to win this battle is by FAITH. This is emphatically taught in Scripture:For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (1 Joh 5:4 NKJV)Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 Joh 5:5 NASB)But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:57 NIV)

If we stay on the path of obedience to God and to His Word, we shall surely win the race and receive the crown! Glory to God most High!

God’s Mighty Acts Should Provoke Praise from Us

Whenever we witness the great and mighty acts of God, it should activate us to praise and worship Him spontaneously! Am I exaggerating? Absolutely not!

In the Bible, Jesus instructed people who received wondrous miracles—after they had rejoiced and praised God—to go and spread the good news about Him to other people. But FIRST, every single person erupted in praise and thanksgiving.

And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. (Lk 13:17 NKJV) This passage says that the multitude rejoiced! That means that a great crowd of people were happily praising and thanking God. And you’d better believe that they eventually told everyone all about it!

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (Mk 5:19 NKJV)
Here we see Jesus again telling the man who received the blessing to go and tell everyone he knew about God’s love, mercy and goodness to him. This is another form of praise and thanksgiving!

But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these [disciples, crowd of people] become silent, the stones will cry out!” (Lk 19:40 NASB)
Jesus is telling the Pharisees, who criticized the praise that He was receiving, that He not only accepted the worship from them, but that it was reasonable and justifiable for the people to act that way. (See Lk 19:37-38, 39)

For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timbers will answer it. (Hab 2:11 NKJV)
So often in the Bible, inanimate objects take the role of a witness to events. When we refer back to Jesus’ comment in Luke 19:40, we see that Jesus testifies to the fact that if the people remained silent, the very STONES would cry out in praise and worship of Him!

Wow! That’s pretty impressive.

Don’t let inanimate objects upstage you! When the Lord performs miracles for you or around you or for your friends and loved ones, burst forth into praise, rejoicing, and thanksgiving. Let your voice be heard in adoration and thanksgiving to the Living God. God bless you.

Our Talents & Gifts Make A Way for Us

Whatever gifts and talents that the Lord has given to us, individually, will surely open doors and opportunities for us. It is up to us to use these opportunities in service of God and of His Kingdom.

Let’s turn to the Bible:

A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. (Pro 18:16 NASB)

Your talents will bring you before “great” men. What does that mean? It can mean that our talents and skills open opportunities for us with people who are:

Famous.
Eminent in their field.
Wealthy,
Skillful or talented, or
Powerful.

A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; wherever he turns, he prospers. (Pro 17:8 NKJV)

An ability to make wise investments will certainly bring a person to the attention of many. A proficiency with mathematics or statistics will open a multitude of opportunities to an individual. An aptitude for remembering facts and a competence in using those facts to advantage is another skill that will take a person to great heights. These are the types and kinds of “gifts” or “presents” referred to in this verse of the Bible.

And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. (1 Sam 25:27 NKJV)

Even a physical gift can be used wisely to give a person an advantage in a situation. We are called to pray about our gifts and talents and to use them to the best use of the Kingdom of God. Along the way, don’t be surprised if the Lord blesses you with prosperity and favor, as well! Have a blessed day!

Defend the Helpless; Rescue the Poor & Needy

As servants of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we’re called to defend the helpless; rescue the poor and needy; and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. The Bible records this clearly.

Let us consider these passages:

Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak, for the rights of all the unfortunate. (Pro 31:8 NASB)

The Lord wants us to speak and fight for those who cannot speak for themselves—for the poor, the oppressed, and the afflicted.

Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless. Vindicate the oppressed and suffering. ⁴Rescue the poor and needy. Deliver them from the power of the wicked. (Ps 82:3-4 NET)

This passage warns us to defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless; to exonerate the oppressed and suffering. The Lord wants us to rescue the poor and the needy, and to deliver them from the power of evil people.

Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work? (Pro 24:11-12 NIV)

In this passage from the Bible in Proverbs 24, someone claims that “they did not know this,” but God knows the contents of our hearts and minds. We can never fool Him when we stand before Him on the day of judgement.

Let us ask the Lord for His grace to enable us to obey His will in our lives. We must trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into the conflicts in which He wishes us to become involved. Depending upon our calling in life, this will be different for every individual. God bless you as you serve Him today!

Jesus Was Taken Up to Heaven

As the Bible tells us, Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection. In heaven, He still intercedes for us and serves as our Mediator. (1 Tim 2:5) He is the same Jesus in heaven as He was on earth, in the sense that His personality and His mission have not changed.

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (Ac 1:9 ESV)

So the Lord Jesus, after talking with his disciples, was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mk 16:19 ISV)

When Jesus arrived in heaven, He sat down at the right hand of God, the Father.

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. (Lk 24:50-51 NIV)

Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” ⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is also He who ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things.) ¹¹He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, ¹²for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ . . . (Eph 4:8-12 MEV)

Upon His ascension, Jesus gave gifts to the Church, and those gifts are shown above in this passage from Ephesians.

Jesus is watching over His body, the Church. He continues to love us, bless us, and to give us His presence. He is worthy to be praised!

Stay Away from Sin & Darkness

The Lord gives us, in His Word, not only wisdom, revelation, and insight; but He also gives us admonitions, warnings, and advice. Let’s review a few of these admonitions today.

. . . and have nothing to do with the unfruitful actions that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what is done by these disobedient people in secret. (Eph 5:11-12 ISV)

Not only should we avoid sin and occasions to sin, but we shouldn’t even speak about other peoples’ sin. The reason is because the Bible alerts us to the fact that to do so is shameful. We are called to expose sin as the dark evil that it truly is.

Night is almost over, and day will soon appear. We must stop behaving as people do in the dark and be ready to live in the light. (Ro 13:12 CEV)

We are called by Jesus Christ, who is the bright and morning star (Rev 22:16), to live in the light of God’s love.

Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) states: But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light . . . We are called OUT OF darkness, sin, and sorrow into the light of God’s salvation, love, and blessings. Glory to God most High!

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints . . . (Eph 5:3 KJV)

Such sins as are mentioned in the verse above should not be participated in by born-again Christians who desire to follow Jesus. They are harmful to us and to the body of Christ.

But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (Ro 6:21 NIV)

The end of sin is death in many forms. Some of the fruits of sin are shame, guilt, and separation from God. Not one of these so-called fruits is desirable.

From this study we can certainly see that it is for our good that God gives us these counsels. Let us draw near to God and avail ourselves of His grace, love, and goodness.

Be Careful of the Words You Speak

We may not always realize how important our spoken words are. The Scriptures have a lot to say about our mouths, tongues and lips. There are too many passages to share with you here, but if this topic interests you, it is a worthwhile study to pursue.

Let’s just look at a few of these verses.

What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. (Lk 12:3 NIV)

This verse above from Luke 12, is warning us that those things that we believe that we are speaking in secret will eventually be shouted from the rooftops! If we keep that in mind, we’ll be much more circumspect with what we say and how much we say when we think that “no one else” is listening.

Words from a wise person’s mouth are beneficial, but fools are devoured by their own lips. ¹³Fools start out talking foolishness and end up speaking awful nonsense. (Eccl 10:12-13 CEB)

This Bible passage in Ecclesiastes reminds us that wise words will benefit the hearers, but foolish remarks and comments can damage and destroy. Foolish conversation, according to this, can devour the very speaker of those words! God forbid!

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. (Mt 10:27 NKJV)

Matthew is admonishing us to share the wise words that he shares. They are wise because they are about salvation—the gift of God. Only whatever is things are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable and praiseworthy should be shared. (Phil 4:8) All of these traits are found in Jesus Christ and in God’s incomparable gift of salvation.

Share the truth of the Good News, and you shall bring blessings upon not only the hearers but upon yourself, as well. God bless you!

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Month: January 2023