AND THE WINNER IS!

 

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

 

AND THE WINNER IS!

 

Ps 127:1-2

127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

 

           According to Adam Clarke, “The Hebrew, Chaldee, and Vulgate attribute this Psalm to Solomon. The Syriac says it is "A Psalm of David concerning Solomon; and that it was spoken also concerning Haggai and Zechariah, who forwarded the building of the temple." The Septuagint, AEthiopic, Arabic, and Anglo-Saxon have no title, but simply "A Psalm of Degrees." It was most likely composed for the building of the second temple, under Nehemiah, and by some prophet of that time.” (from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

           The building of Solomon’s Temple was a big deal. David earnestly desired to build a permanent temple to replace the Tabernacle, or tent, which housed the Ark and all its instruments. David would not live to see that done so the task fell to Solomon, his son by Bathsheba.

 

           Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and we are now spending sleepless nights and fretful days watching experts try to make sense of our presidential and general election. With no certain winner, each side rightfully wonders if half the country has gone crazy. For believers, caught in the middle, our nation is “on high” and our King rests comfortably on His throne with no adequate challenger. Our future is secure.

 

           For decades I, and others, have been telling you that Jesus is coming soon and now it is sooner still. I feel that we are likely the “Rapture generation.” How much more difficult things may be before Christ comes cannot be calculated. We really never thought it would be this bad, so we cannot foresee it getting worse – but it probably will.

 

           We cannot complain that God is unfair in allowing these things because we deserve worse. Our nation has abandoned moral principles and have codified infanticide. We have laid our children upon the hands of Baal and have given our future to idiots. We shouldn’t expect to skip through life singing “Happy days are here again!”

 

           God is the Builder – Keeper – and the Watcher. For the believer, it is going to be well.

 

Heb 11:10

10 For he [Abraham] looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

Lord, my past is forgiven, my present is protected, and my future is determined. Thank you for watching over me. AMEN

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH!

 

Monday, November 2, 2020

 

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH!

 

Acts 8:1-6

8 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

 

           Yesterday was designated the National Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. In spite of the political restrictions placed upon the American church, we can hardly call it persecution. As the author of Hebrews pointed out: “Ye [we] have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4)

 

Where It’s Hardest to Follow Jesus:

1. North Korea

2. Afghanistan

3. Somalia

4. Libya

5. Pakistan

6. Eritrea

7. Sudan

8. Yemen

9. Iran

10. India

 

           Martyrdoms drop in Nigeria but soar in Burkina Faso. From January of 2016 to 2019, there were 1800 killed. John 16:2-3 says, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”

 

           According to Christianity.com, “Unlike the lazy and complacent Christianity that develops in "safe" countries, persecution fosters a robust Christianity, confident of its faith and bold in its proclamation. The church thrives under persecution.” You see, when being a Christian involves only an occasional entertaining worship service, the church becomes stagnant. The world is much more talented than the church regarding entertainment! When worship is compressed into dark corners with whispered prayers, the church grows.

 

           Persecution is a filter! Even the Devil knows that it is hard to love and worship a God who allows difficulty. This was his complete argument against the faithfulness of Job. He did not count on Job’s resilience when he heard Job say: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:” (Job 13:15)

 

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Dear Lord, bless every brother or sister enduring hardship because of their faith. Strengthen us in our love and dedication. AMEN

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Sunday, November 1, 2020

 

THOU ART MY HOPE!

 

Ps 71:5

5 For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

 

           Hope looks back! The Psalmist was now an old man. Twice he mentions it (See Psalm 71: 9 and 18). When you are discouraged and worried, look back and count your blessings. Remind yourself of the faithfulness of the Lord.

 

           Hope sings! Verses 22 and 23 indicates that singing is done in spite of the “great and sore troubles” mentioned in verse 20. I am reminded of Paul and Silas singing in the dark dungeon while their hands and feet were fastened on the stocks. What power that produced! Acts 16 tells us that their hands and feet were loosed and there was a great earthquake that opened the prison doors. Ah! Let’s sing!

 

           Hope looks to the future! The psalmist looked to the future and moved from "You are my hope" (v. 8) to "I will hope continually" (v. 14; see Ps 36:5; 47:10 ). The future is secure when Jesus is your Lord. The word translated "hope" in verse 14 means a long and patient waiting in spite of delays and disappointments. If we trust God, then the trials of life will work for us and not against us.

 

         A. W. Tozer once said: “We can look backward in time until the dim past vanishes, then turn and look into the future until thought and imagination collapse from exhaustion and God is at both points, unaffected by either.”

   

Ps 20:7

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

 

Dear Lord, we have seen your mighty hand in the past and we are given hope for the future. Let us now look up and see your righteousness reaching to the heavens. AMEN