Remember His benefits 

Psalm 103:2  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

God has many benefits for us

      The song writer said, "Count Your Many Blessings" and we would be surprised what the Lord has done. In this Psalm, David lists numerous benefits from God. This is a partial list of His many benefits to and for us.

      1. Forgiveness -- Verse three says that He forgives all our iniquities. The one song writer said, "My sin not in part, but the whole, is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, O my soul." God does a complete work on us and forgives all and not only forgives, but cleanses (1 Jn 1:7).

      2. Healing -- In verse three also he says God heals all our diseases. While we may not experience the healing of all disease in this life, He has given man so much knowledge and understanding that many diseases have been either eliminated or nearly eliminated from existence. All disease will be wiped away in the kingdom age and in heaven there will be no disease. The last enemy of

Rejoicing and trials

1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Condition of the Christian life

      Some have the idea that once they are saved and begin the Christian walk that there will never be any troubles to bother them. Some preachers even preach this to gullible people and it brings distress and problems for many. Jesus never promised us a life without problem (Jn 16:33). Cults often lure people into them by promising utopia after their experience and many follow their teaching because  they cannot overcome in the world.

      The Christian paradox is that we can at one in the same time experience rejoicing and heaviness, yet Peter says this be the case. Heaviness means to be grieved, troubled. It is not just suffering but the suffering brings us grief and pain. Paul tells of his and those with him and their experience (2 Cor 4:8,

Ready Armed 

1 Chronicles 12:38  All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

      After the death of Saul, David reigned over one tribe, Judah, for seven and one-half years. Ishbosheth was made king over Israel by Abner and there was war between David’s men and Abner. Finally, the other eleven tribes were of one heart to unite with David making him king over all twelve tribes. This united kingdom would last through the remainder of David’s reign and Solomon’s reign.

      The text speaks of men of war who came to David to make him king. These individuals had certain physical characteristics that can be spiritually applied to us today.

Ready armed

      1 Chron 12:23 tells us they came ready armed for war – to do battle if necessary. Paul tells us to be prepared for battle (Eph 6:10, 11, 13) so we are not taken by surprise. Our strength is in our Commander and not our own because we are not warring with flesh and blood, but

Confusion and Puzzle Pieces 2

Matthew 5:38-42   Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Putting others first

     Putting others first is not popular in our world today. The other way is the way of the world -- me, myself and I -- know yourself, be yourself, express yourself, respect yourself, be honest with yourself, and stand up for yourself. We value independence, not sharing -- we have our own phones, cars, TVs, etc. We have the fastest internet service, online shopping, chatting and news. Our default setting seems to be "self first".

Unselfish Ruth

      Ruth loved and provided for her mother-in-law and at the same

Confusion and puzzle pieces

Proverbs 26:4-5  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Contradictory advice

      Sometimes we are confronted with good advice from “folk proverbs” as well as Scripture, but they seem to be giving us opposite and contradictory counsel. An example of folk proverbs is: “look before you leap”. It is good advice that we should all heed. But, then you have a seemingly opposite one: “strike while the iron is hot”. Equally good advice and true, but can they both be true? When we place them in proper context they are both true and beneficial.

      In the same way there are seemingly contradictory Scriptures that are equally true and equally beneficial, but they must be placed in proper context. Our text tells us opposites in two verse following one the other.

      “A mean second grader” told her classmate, “I can’t hang out with you because you stink”. If she replies, “You stink too” she would be answering according to her folly; however, if she replies, “Now that I see how you

The provisions of the cross

Galatians 1:1-5  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our replacement

     When we want to buy something and the product is out of order or defective, we are given a replacement – something of equal worth in hopes it will satisfy us (often it will be replaced with something of greater value). But in the world of spiritual things, such as our salvation, the replacement for us was of much greater value and it was not a customer/businessman relationship, but one of a gracious God to unworthy people.                 

We often say “Jesus took my place” and the song writer says, “I have should have been crucified . . . “Paul tells

Christ arose

(Mat 28:1-7)  In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. {2} And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. {3} His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: {4} And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. {5} And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. {6} He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. {7} And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

      In the Easter season of 1874 a Baptist minister by the name of Robert Lowry was so impressed by the passage in Luke 24:6-7 that he found himself sitting at an organ

Prerequisites for unity

Philippians 2:1-2   If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The church is the same

     Churches have not changed much in 2,000 years – the call to unity in these verses is as needed now as it was then and always will be. In these verses there are four prerequisites for unity.

Consolation in Christ

      The word “consolations” is translated elsewhere as exhortation and means calling near; entreaty; consolation, encouragement; that which affords comfort or refreshment. We are told to come together and encourage one another especially as we see the last days approaching (Heb. 10:25). We are told to exhort one another daily so that we might not become hard hearted (Heb 3:13). Paul says that we are to comfort one another together (1 Thes 5:11) and this would imply that we meet together for fellowship, worship and study of His word. In verse three of the text passage, Paul narrows down the problem of some disunity –

Ezra 7:10  For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

The heart of mankind

      When Scripture speaks of the hearts it is not meaning that organ in our body that pumps the blood thru the vessels to keep us alive. Just as when speaking of feelings the eastern people speak of the bowels (2 Cor 6:12; Phil 2:1) not the heart. The heart is the center of our being; it keeps us alive by pumping the life-giving blood thru our bodies. Therefore, when you speak of the center or driving force of our lives the heart is used. The command center is the heart and that is used in our language today – heart of the matter, heart of the issue, etc. Since the heart is our command center (Prov 4:23; Matt 12:35; Mk 7:21) Jesus speaks of loving God with all our heart.

Jeremiah tells us that our hearts are very deceitful (Jer 17:9) and only God knows the true state of our heart. The Psalmist seeks God to search him and know him thoroughly (Psa 139:23; 26:2). When Samuel went

Praying with all prayer

Ephesians 6:18   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Paul tells us in (Eph 6:18) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

      What does he mean “praying with all prayer”? Does he mean that we pray with all prayer all the time? Or does all prayer mean to make all our requests at one prayer time setting?

      First, Paul says all prayer and supplication. The word “supplication” literally means need, indigence, want, privation, penury. We do not use most of these words in our common conversation, so they do not shed much light for us. However, looking them up you would find that it is a request, usually for a personal need or desire of your own. Paul ends with “supplication for all saints” so this would indicate that we are to pray for particular needs of other Christians as well as our own.

      Most do not realize that there is more than one type of prayer mentioned in Scripture and that we are to

Prayer thoughts 2 

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The righteous pray

      The words effectual fervent are one word in the Greek and it is where we get our word “energy”. So, when James says the effectual, fervent prayer, it is one that is active and one that works .It is not just saying a prayer, but really praying with vested interest and power (in the Spirit). He also says the “righteous” which indicates our standing before God (1 Jn 1:7) and our present walk in this life. We are righteous in Christ, but we also do works of righteousness. (Psa 34:15). If our prayer avails much, what then shall we pray for? As we look at the epistle of James we see several things.

What to pray for

      We will be a blessing – ask God to help us be a blessing to others especially with our speech (James 3:8, 10; Col 4:6). Solomon tells us some interesting things about the tongue (Prov 18:21; 10:19-21), so when we ask God to help us be a

The pillar and ground of truth

1 Timothy 3:14-15  These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Three aspects

     The church has been ordained by God to be the primary instrument through which His work on earth is to be accomplished. Jesus founded the church upon His deity and authority (Matt 16:16-18) and declared that the gates of hell could not prevail against it.  Paul used three phrases to describe three aspects of the church.

The house of God

      In the text Paul uses the phrase house of God to describe an aspect of the church’s function on earth. Jesus used the idea of the tabernacle being a house of prayer (Lu 19:46; Psa 93:5; Isa 56:7) thus indicating that it is the house of God.

      When you used the phrase “house” you think of a family and the human family on earth made up of husband, wife and children is a good illustration for God’s house.

Jesus and Peter

Luke 5:1-11   And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2  And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3  And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. 4  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8  When Simon Peter saw it, he

The perfections of God

Matthew 5:48   Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Our perfect Creator

      Since God is Creator of the universe, all that He does is right and all He says is truth. The world He created was perfect; the Word of God is perfect, every work He accomplishes is perfect; all the ways He follows are perfect and the will He reveals is perfect.

His perfect world

        In Gen 1:31 it tells us that all that God created was good. We can only imagine what this world was like when it was first created. We can only dream of what Adam and Eve experienced before the fall. It was the perfect place to live – no rotten fruit, death, pain, sorrow or anything of that sort. Now, because of sin, it groans in pain waiting the day when the curse will be lifted and we will once again experience a perfect world (Rev 21:5).

His perfect word

      God’s word is perfect (Psa 19:7) and it is given to us that we may become perfect (2 Ti 3:16). God’s word is much to us (Psa 119:96-100) and we

The power of forgiveness

Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

      All too often we either consider forgiveness a mysterious and spiritual transaction that has little to do with our present everyday life or we take it for granted and neglect the principles and/or qualities of it. Forgiveness has a historical setting in our Christian life, where the forgiveness of God through Christ, was granted, but its effects on our daily living it over looked.

Christ has subdued, cleansed and forgotten our sins:

      One, if not the greatest part of forgiveness, is our sins and iniquities being forgotten and cleansed (Mic 7:18-19). Our sins are blotted out from the record that stands against us (Isa 43:25; 44:22; Col 2:14; Psa 51:1, 9). In Micah God says He will subdue our iniquities – subdue means to bring into bondage or as Wesley said in his hymn – “He breaks the power of canceled sin and sets the prisoner free”. Paul relates to this fact