November 22, 2017 - - Proverbs 22:6 and Matthew 28:18-20 Joy-Filled Obedience

Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 NKJV

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

In what way are you training up your child? It is easy to binge watch the latest series of your fav episodes. Ordinary activities and schedules all must yield for this. Yet for church services and prayer meetings are low on the list of priorities. Your children are watching. They will follow in your footsteps.

In what way are you training up your child? At Christmas time budgets for presents are made and exceeded. Belt tightening measures are undertaken in the lead up to Christmas so that the little members of the family can be more spoiled than they already are. Yet the tithing for church and belt tightening so that extras can be given to the needy are neglected. Your children are learning obedience to the dictates of the culture rather than obedience to Jesus and his commands.

We are storing up for ourselves treasures on earth where the moth eats and banking fluctuations devour and heaps of presents given to children are soon forgotten. Extended church and bio family members can be so guilty of this as well. The treasure of greatest price which our children and youth need is walking with Jesus. It is a precious gift for the community of faith to see costly obedience to Jesus.

Give to your children the lasting gift of mentoring them in obedience to Jesus Christ. Give to your children the wonder of delving into the Word and teach them the joy of the LORD and the expectation of good which can only flow from the throne of our Father in heaven. Pray that the Spirit of God will wean them from the world and its fool's gold pleasures. The Rock on which to build a life of satisfaction and trust, of joy and hope that can weather any storm is Jesus Christ.

Father in heaven, it feels like it is so late for me, so overwhelming to set things right. I confess I am so set in my ways and so devoted to things and programs and what is familiar that the treasures of heaven seem so far beyond me. Thank You for the love of Your Son, my Savior Jesus, Who rescues me from the present evil age. Thank You that in obedience to Jesus I die to myself, this world and the lies of this world and rise to new life in Him. Spirit of God, let the splendour of Christ and the renown of His Name be my highest pursuit and pleasure. As the world enters this season of excess and heightened materialistic pursuits, let my faith be anchored in Christ and my joy be the worship of His Name and love for Him shown by my obedience to His commands. May my children and grandchildren, my church family and friends not see a grinch, but a man zealous for the things of God and radiant in obedience and so finding the true pleasures You offer. Amen.

November 20, 2017 - - Psalm 99:1-3 Sinners and the Mercy Seat

The LORD reigns;

Let the peoples tremble!

He dwells between the cherubim;

Let the earth be moved!

The LORD is great in Zion,

And He is high above all the peoples.

Let them praise Your great and awesome name--

He is holy.

Psalm 99:1-3

What does it mean that "He dwells between the cherubim"?

In the Old Testament times the LORD commanded that an Ark of the Testimony would be constructed. This was a box made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. In it was kept: a jar of manna, a staff that had budded and proved the leadership of Aaron as priest and the stone tablets that had the Ten Commandments written on it.

The Ark of the Testimony was topped with gold and two cherubim, warrior angels, who facing each other had their wings outstretched to cover the top of the Ark of the Testimony. They looked down onto the top of the Ark of the Testimony and that place they were looking was called: The Mercy Seat. It was the very place where God, the Holy One, lived among His people.

The Ark of the Testimony showed the LORD as: Law-Giver (by way of the Ten Commandments), as Leader-Judge (by way of a dead walking stick that had budded and produced almonds in one night); and Shepherd Who feeds His flock (the jar of manna).

Now the Mercy Seat is in heaven. Jesus sits on the Mercy Seat at the Father's right hand. He fulfilled the 10 commandments perfectly. He went to the cross in our place. Jesus the perfect one bearing the punishment for our sins so that we would be counted as holy before God. He feeds us with His Word and directs us by His Spirit.

Today, if you are aware of your sins and how your mind and heart are rebellious against God, go to the Mercy Seat. Pray to Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Ask for the strength to turn from sin and walk in obedience to the Bible.

Jesus, Friend of Sinners, great and glorious is Your Name! Who is like You? By Your blood our sins are forgiveness. By Your mercy, we are presented to God as beloved sons and daughters. By Your leadership we are directed in holy paths. By Your Word and Spirit we are fed with the bread of heaven. Blessed be the Father Who gives us such a Savior!

Blessed be Jesus, the Savior, Who pours out the Spirit so that prodigals can find their way home.

Blessed be the Spirit Who leads our wayward feet home and directs us to the Mercy Seat, the place of prayer and blessing. Amen.

November 17, 2017 - - Proverbs 17:16 The price of wisdom

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? KJV

Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom

when he has no sense? ESV

Proverbs 17:16

Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-- 1. God's great goodness to foolish man, in putting a price into his hand to get wisdom, to get knowledge and grace to fit him for both worlds. We have rational souls, the means of grace, the strivings of the Spirit, access to God by prayer; we have time and opportunity. He that has a good estate (so some understand it) has advantages thereby of getting wisdom by purchasing instruction. Good parents, relations, ministers, friends, are helps to get wisdom. It is a price, therefore of value, a talent. It is a price in the hand, in possession; the word is nigh thee. It is a price for getting; it is for our own advantage; it is for getting wisdom, the very thing which, being fools, we have most need of. We have reason to wonder that God should so consider our necessity, and should entrust us with such advantages, though he foresaw we should not make a right improvement of them. 2. Man's great wickedness, his neglect of God's favour and his own interest, which is very absurd and unaccountable: He has no heart to it, not to the wisdom that is to be got, nor to the price in the use of which it may be got. He has no heart, no skill, nor will, nor courage, to improve his advantages. He has set his heart upon other things, so that he has no heart to his duty or the great concerns of his soul. Wherefore should a price be thrown away and lost upon one so undeserving of it?

Matthew Henry Commentary

If today you are curious about God and the Bible, then do not be a fool. Do not throw away the great opportunity to ask and gain understanding. Look up a Christian friend, or family member or minister, whom you know and respect, and find out about the great gift that God has placed in your hand.

God of love and justice, let me be sensitive to the people around me. If there are any who want to know more about You, stop me from carelessly brushing aside their curiosity. Spirit of God give me the perception to clearly show and teach of Jesus to those who have questions. Jesus, You are not a religion, or a theory, but the Dearest Desire of my heart. Thank You for those people in my life who took the time to share with me their love for You. Deepen my devotion and obedience to You, King of kings and LORD of lords. Amen.

November 16, 2017 - - Matthew 5:13 Salt in a Decaying World

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

Matthew 5:13 NKJV

..."for when Christians abandon the fullness of the gospel rooted in the transcendent and triune God, the source of all truth and meaning, society loses the leavening impact of kingdom life working through the believer and moves toward relativistic cultural decay (Matt. 5:13).

"Moreover, when Christians retreat from or abandon the task of cultural renewal in terms of Christ's lordship and the application of his life-giving Word to all things, they have not thereby taken a neutral view of culture, but have unwittingly subordinated the faith and the living Word of God to the prevailing religious assumptions of the day."

The Rev. Dr. Joe Boot

Jubilee; "Law and Cultural Reformation"

Fall 2017 page 23

Wake up, church of the Transcendent and Living God! Recall your purpose and reclaim, art and science, philosophy and culture, music and media, for the glory of the LORD. The world is steeped in sin, and refuses to acknowledge King Jesus. Do not yield, rather, raise your voice in praise to God.

Carry out your work in whatever field of study or realm of influence you have and let it be known it is Jesus you serve. The world and its folly and its pseudo-authority and fake-knowledge are in direct rebellion against the authority and knowledge of the LORD Who made the heavens and the earth.

Restore us, O God of Royal Splendor, Commander of angel armies, so that believers will remember our honoured place as Your children. You have bought us, we are Yours. By the powerful Name of Jesus Christ and in the strength of Your Spirit revive us and we will call on You. Revive us and cause us to work with boldness in every area, from science to philosophy, from the arts to the trades, and to live boldly all of our life from infancy to retirement and grey hairs for the splendour of Your Name. This world is decaying and rotting, let Christians arise as the preserving and purifying salt You have designated us to be for the Name and the Renown of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen.

November 15, 2017 - - II Corinthians 5:7 Faith

For we walk by faith,

not by sight.

II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

Many things in life require a very long view. Math studies in High School have components that build on one another. Midterm exams will show how much knowledge a student has gained. The third year of High School required the previous two years of instruction along with all the years of elementary school basic math courses in order to give a proper foundation for such advanced studies.

Faith is very much the same. The knowledge a Christian possesses about Jesus Christ is both intellectual and heartfelt certainty fueled by the Spirit over many years. There is no fast-track nor are there short-cuts. Faith grows over years and decades.

There are days when one's head and heart have a razor sharp focus on Jesus and faith is felt. As one matures in faith-filled following Jesus, obeying Him for the long journey of life, there may be times when the deep feelings of joy and assurance are lacking. Do not despair or lose heart. God has not changed. God is faithful and is clothing you with all that is necessary so that your mortal life will be swallowed up with immortality, with the glory of eternal life in Christ.

Make it your aim, this day and every day, to walk in faith and trust that is obedient to Jesus and His commands. On troubled days, reach out to fellow believers for prayer and encouragement. On strong days, be prepared yourself to offer such prayer and encouragement to other such faith pilgrims until that glorious day when our eyes shall behold King Jesus and faith becomes sight in the glory of eternity.

Thank You, Jesus for the promises of Your Word and the Powerful Presence of Your Spirit Who brings the Word to life in believers. Spirit of the Living God sustain the faith of believers in days of sunshine and times of stormy tumult and uncertainty. Remind Your people constantly that whether or not they feel it, the truth is old things and sins and patterns are passing away and the new is here in Christ. To Him, along with the Father and the Spirit, be all praise both now and forever more. Amen.

November 14, 2017 - - Colossians 3:5-6, 9-10

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:5-6,9-10 ESV

"Don't dwell on your sin and let it linger in your conscience, for as long as it lingers, it lives. Christ killed your sin on the cross and it was buried with him."

Rev. Dr. David Robinson "The Sweetest Spectacle" Jubilee Fall 2017

Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow’r controlling

All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

Only through His pow’r.

Words by Kate B. Wilkinson, before 1913

November 13, 2017 - - Exodus 20:7 The glory and honour of God

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,

for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Exodus 20:7 NKJV

The Hebrew word for "take" is "nasa" (pronounced naw-saw) and it means: to bear, lift, or carry. Understand then believers who bear the Name of Jesus, "Christian", whose words or actions bring discredit to the Name of Jesus are violating this commandment.

A gossipy woman bearing the title Christian is making God's Name empty.

A man who calls himself a Christian but neglects worship for whatever sport is in season is taking God's Name in vain.

Christians who, by their association with evil, bring disrepute to the Name and purposes of God are not held guiltless by God.

The Ten Commandments require Christians to alter their attitude towards life, towards others and towards things. Relationship with God changes everything for the believer. How a follower of Jesus Christ lives out these commandments either reveals the glory of Jesus' Name or by association drags His Name into the mud.

Why? Jesus Himself taught: "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother" (Mark 3:35). If we claim to belong to Jesus, but our words, actions or inaction, empty His Name of the very glory which is due His Name, then we are violating the third commandment.

The Spirit warns us: "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away" (Hebrews 2:1). Following Jesus and living out His will for our lives requires intentionality and effort. We must always aim for the highest good in His Name.

Forgive me, God! I confess I am lazy with regards to Your honour. I admit it is easy to just drift from thing to thing and so by my actions link Your Name to my poor conduct. Spirit of the Living God, awaken my soul to the glory which is mine in Christ Jesus. Rouse me from my slothfulness. As Jesus is the Highest Good and Greatest Prize, let my words and my actions, the things I choose not to do or partake in, show my dedication to Him. I repent of my sin. I ask You to empower me, moment by moment to carry Your Name with honour wherever I go. For the sake of Jesus and His reputation I pray. Amen.

November 12, 2017 - - Hebrews 11:6 God the Rewarder

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

And it has started. The idiotic commercials where parents spend lavishly to try and satisfy the gift-greedy mewling of their children. There are slow-mo shots of children tearing paper away with too cute little ones gasping in wonder at their parent's thoughtfulness and close-ups of other children with curled lips throwing into the air fist pumps of victory in getting what they thought their voracious hearts desired.

Be honest. It is impossible to please your children because their lustful capacity for more cannot be satiated. In attempting to buy the perfect gift or the "IT" thing of this season you are actually feeding a discontentment which will fuel a life of disappointment.

We have a Father in heaven Who has given every good gift in Christ. We have a Father in heaven Who rewards those who seek Him. He is our life's great Reward. To know that the Sovereign in heaven, Who is above all the princes and rulers and despots of this earth, takes delight in the faith of His children is joy beyond expressing.

In seeking to be like Jesus we realize the purpose of our life is teaching our children to follow Him. They are to catch the vision of knowing Jesus and in turn become those who teach others this great vision of knowing Jesus. Teaching others of Jesus confirms to our own hearts as well what blessedness is: knowing Jesus Christ which means dying to this world and its lies and rising to new life in Him. This is the contentment we find by the Spirit of God, Who teaches us by the Word.

Jesus, we confess faith is not something we can generate by ourselves. Grant to us the liberality of Your Spirit so faith in the things of this world becomes like grit between our teeth and smoke to our eyes and by contrast faith in Jesus takes hold of us so the Word of God is like rich food on the tongue and knowing our Father in heaven is satisfaction which compels us to want to know Him more.

November 11, 2017 - - Psalm 50:23 Boredom and praise, laziness and salvation

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;

And to him who orders his conduct aright

I will show the salvation of God.

Psalm 50:23 NKJV

Perhaps you have had this thought about Bible reading and prayer times: "I don't feel like it right now."

I wonder, how many of us have opened the fridge when we weren't really hungry and stood there scanning for something to tempt us until we grabbed a snack?

I wonder, now many of us have flipped through movie selections, not really sure of what we might be interested in watching and ended up just watching something, anything, even a show we've seen several times already?

I wonder, how many of us have avoided the things we know we needed to do and instead scrolled through FB or emails or YouTube videos?

Like Paul, in Romans 7, we know the good we should do but we neglect it and we do the very things we know we should not do.

Here the Psalmist, inspired by the very God Who made us, writes words that remind us it takes effort to properly order our conduct, to make decisions to stop doing wrong, or making poor choices and instead make the courageous and blessed decision to spend time with God. From there our conduct and decisions flow from the highest place of order and wisdom.

When I am tempted to mindlessly flip channels, inspire me instead to turn to Your Word of Truth, O God of Truth. Entice me by Your Spirit to see wonderful things in the passages of the Bible so that my heart is turned towards You. I confess I am often reluctant and skittish about spending time with You, because I know my own weaknesses and failures. The fact is, You already know the very worst about me, and have invited me to bring glory, praise, and blessing to Your Name. Lift me from the doldrums, or boredom, or laziness (or whatever it is that keeps me from You) and let me choose, again and again, or if necessary force myself to spend time in Your Word and in Your Presence until it is the joy and refreshment found in Jesus alone that keeps me seeking You out. Amen.

November 10, 2017 - - Proverbs 10:32 Righteousness versus wickedness

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:32 NKJV

Not that long ago I went to Service Ontario for help with job counseling. Since Carolyn and I have only one car and she needs it for work, I had to walk to my appointment and I wore jeans and a casual top. While I was there I was not treated with the basic respect I'd expect. The very next day, for my follow up appointment, I still had to walk, but this time my attire was "business casual". What a difference. I was treated with greater respect.

How easily we all can fall into this trap. We can make snap decisions about a person or their circumstances and then treat them according to our fragment of understanding.

The standards of perverse people vary with whatever fad is current. A white male is to be disregarded because of "privilege" while a someone from a particular circle of victimhood is granted more status based on the dictates of current fashion.

The standards of the righteous find their foundation in the Everlasting God and His Word. From this strength the righteous know that every person is made in God's image which means that from conception to the moment of natural death, each person has worth and dignity which has been conferred to that person from God. Therefore the lips of the righteous speak the truth in love to each person, their words are honest and their language mirrors the kindness of God.

When wicked people vent and spew their perversity, the vile culture nods approval if it accords with the latest celebrated fad. When the righteous vent and treat others with unkindness, it is hypocrisy and requires confession and restoration.

The wicked continually stir up strife and bitterness because of their devotion to the father of lies. The wicked are confirmed in their perversity and vileness because of the one they follow. The righteous seek the restoration of community because of their devotion to Jesus Christ, Who has broken down the dividing walls of hostility and restores the righteous in relationship with God and with other people. Believers are righteous, not in and of themselves, but they are made righteous by the One Whom they follow.

Rushing Wind flow through this temple, cleanse me from the dust and debris within so that my thoughts and my words conform to the standards of Jesus, the Captain of my Salvation. Amen.

November 8, 2017 - - Hebrews 11:8-9 NKJV God's land and lands

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11 NKJV

"Men must understand, that not every people have the right to their place on the earth. Men - - and especially men who have fallen into sin - - have no rights to anything. This is what the LORD makes clear, whoever would live there and if there is any talk of rights, then it is only conferred by the right of grace. Abraham and his seed received The Land, which the Canaanites had forfeited through their own godlessness. And when the measure of their sins - - you have only to think of Sodom - - is full, then the people are wiped out by God's legitimate wrath."

W. L. Tukker 'Abraham de vader aller gelovigen'

translation from Dutch to English is my own

The testimony of this passage of Hebrews, and that of Genesis which is the basis for the passage in Hebrews is this: God Who created the heavens and the earth and all peoples, tribes and nations, has the right to set the boundary markers for tribes and nations. All people exist by the grace of the Living God. All people are under the authority of His Son, Jesus enthroned as King of the Nations.

This passage is both a blessing and a warning of a coming curse. Christians, like Abraham, live as strangers and foreigners in lands that are not their own. All the nations of this earth, in which and among whom Christians live as foreigners and strangers, are accountable to the Living God for their conduct. Christians, like Abraham, await the coming day, when the blessing of God will be poured out in Christ so that godlessness will be wiped out. Then God will fashion the new heavens and the new earth and those who believe in Christ will live there and God Himself will be their light and joy.

The debate between Bible-believing Christians and evolution-believing atheists is this: who has the right to dictate our behaviour? For the evolution-believing atheist, man is his own judge and ruler and therefore men are ruled by tyrants and judged by fools. For the Christian, man is ruled by Jesus the rightful King appointed by the Father in heaven. Christians are those who confess their sins and find forgiveness in Jesus' Name. Christians are those whose conduct and life are transparently lived under the right of grace.

God, Creator and Sustainer of all mankind and all the universe, great is Your Name and great is the glory that is Yours. Your Spirit confers wisdom and understanding to believers so that they can live within the gracious boundary lines which You, God, have appointed. Let believers, by their holy conduct, shine as witnesses to Your grace in this age of godlessness. God keep our land glorious and free by bringing people, by the thousands and millions, back into believing and faithful service to You. Amen.

November 7, 2017 - - Matthew 6:7 Talking to God

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Matthew 6:7 NKJV

Talking to God doesn't require fancy words. Praying doesn't require certain words and phrases carefully crafted. Prayer is a conversation between God and a believer. The path of prayer is opened by Jesus, Who took on Himself God's punishment for our sins. Those who believe on Jesus and follow Him are declared forgiven because of the work of Jesus.

Weep before God. Or be still and know His forgiving power and love. Ask. Confess. Know, that it is the Spirit of the Living God Who is welcoming, encouraging, you to go to your Father in heaven. Your Father will hear you.

God in heaven, my thoughts are racing. I am crying out to You, from the ends of the earth because my heart is overwhelmed. Hear me. Help me for the sake of Jesus. Amen.

November 6, 2017 - - Ephesians 5:2 Love and sacrifice

And walk in love, as Christ has also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:2 NKJV

Each moment of each day, walk in love. Be prepared to sacrifice your comfort, your convenience, your schedule and your finances for the sake of others. Love is not some schmaltzy feeling, it is the action of sacrificing self for the sake of the welfare of others.

For some, love means admitting their needs. It is offering their vulnerabilities so that members of the community can share from their abundance and so bring blessing.

We are wise to remember that here, in North America, we are incredibly rich. We have great resources and therefore great responsibility to walk in love.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the love You showed us at Your incarnation, Your humble service to the Father in heaven and Your extravagant gift of sacrifice at the cross so that our sins were paid for, the punishment meted out to You so that all who believe in You are free. Help me to walk in love this day. By the Spirit You have given, let me be discerning enough to know when and how to show Your love. Amen.

November 5, 2017 -- Luke 24:46-53 The Suffering Savior and Empowered Believers

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

The Ascension

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.

Luke 24:46-53 NKJV

Today, as every Sunday, Christians recognize Jesus Christ as the Suffering Savior Who took the punishment for sin upon Himself at the cross. Christians worship Jesus Who rose to new life and anyone who believes on His Name and worships Him receives abundant life. Sins are forgiveness in Jesus' Name. Believers renounce sin and walk in holiness. Yet while believers live sin afflicts and old patterns trip them up; but Christ endues His followers with the power of His Holy Spirit so that the hold of sin becomes weaker and the joys of serving Him become all the greater.

Join with God's people. Plan on going to church. Receive the blessing of Jesus Christ. Know the joy of gathering with fellow believers, sinners who are being changed, by the power of the Spirit, from weakness to strength in the Name of Jesus Christ unto the glory of our Father in heaven.

Praise be to Your Name, Father in heaven. By the mercies shown us in Jesus Christ You have taken ruined, lost sinners, and cleansed them so that they have become beloved sons and daughters of God. Thank You, Father in heaven, that Your Spirit guards the followers of Christ Jesus so that the raging of hell cannot win the victory against them. Thank You, mighty God, for the great blessings poured out in Jesus' Name. Let the great company of saints here on earth--wherever it is they gather, in persecution or in freedom, in house churches or in cathedrals, in secret or openly--bless You and delight in You and be strengthened by You. Build Your Church in the Name of Jesus Christ until all believers see You, face to face. Amen.

November 4, 2017 -- Psalm 14:1 & Hebrews 11:1-3 Governor General, Missteps and Faith

The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.
Psalm 14:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:1-3 NJKV

Gov. Gen. Julie Payette strayed far afield from her role as the representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to ALL Canadians, when Ms Payette offered her godless and fool's view that God did not create the heavens and the earth. Many, many Canadians do in fact believe in a young earth, created by God in six literal 24-hour days, and on the seventh day God created the Sabbath and rest. See link to the article below.

Oddly enough, the godless view of Ms. Payette requires the blind, faith-filled belief in pseudo-science which claims nothing acted on nothing and caused the Big-Bang which made everything out of nothing. The fool says there is no god.

Ms Payette and our Prime Minister, owe Canadians an apology for their unwillingness to include all Canadians in their scope of service. It is a poor beginning for our new G.G. and another stumble on the part of our Prime Minister.

Fellow believers and Christians, pray for our Governor General and our Prime Minister and the pseudo-scientists following them who claim too much for the field of science by mislabelling their godless beliefs about origins as science.

Blessed be Your Name, Lord God, creator of the heavens and earth. Blessed be Your Name, Glorious One, as the heavens declare Your power and presence. Blessed be Your Name, Lord Jesus Christ, that by Your Incarnation, You have proved God to be true and faithful. Blessed be Your Name, Spirit of the Living God, by Whom, all Truth is revealed. God of mercy, guide our Governor General Julie Payette, and our Prime Minister in the work to which You have called them. Give them wise advisors as they serve. Grant them the humility to admit errors and give us as citizens the compassion to acknowledge errors and yet to be forgiving even as we uphold the Truth of God's Word. Let us, as citizens of Canada, continue to hold in high regard the freedoms You have given us and remind us to ever pray for one another. Amen.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-applauds-payette-for-standing-up-for-science-in-convention-speech-1.3661058

November 3, 2017 - - Luke 6:6-11 Rich and poor

On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Luke 6:6-11 NIV

Jesus stood there with the power to help and to heal. He asked the religious people of His time if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath? They knew Isaiah, every one of them knew the Sabbath requirement to loose the chains of injustice, to bring bread to the poor and house the homeless, clothe the naked and care for family members in distress (Isaiah 56). The religious leaders were silent. They were sullen. They were being challenged as to the veracity of their faith.

Today, Jesus the Saviour, questions you and me. In view of His great salvation, in view of His accomplished work at the cross, is it lawful for YOU to do good? Is it lawful for YOU to remain silent or should you do good to those in need? Yes, write a cheque for hurricane victims, yes, give used clothes to mission thrift stores, but more importantly, give yourself, your time, your attention and your ears to those in need.

Jesus invoked curses on the rich, the full, and the pleasure seekers (Luke 6:24-26). Those who have everything they need now and do not expend themselves in caring for those who are poor, hungry and mourning are subject to Jesus' curse. It is sobering given how rich we are here in North America. What can you do today, in Jesus' Name, to change the life of someone around you?

Lord Jesus, thank You that You did not pass me by. Thank You that You rescued me, sinner though I was. Thank You for the work of Your Spirit leading me to change my ways and alter my habitual thinking so that Your thoughts become my thoughts and Your focus of concern becomes mine. Forgive me for the many times I focus on my own situation and ignore the plight of those around me. Help me to give myself in the cause of those who need Your mercy still. Let my thoughts and my actions bring blessing to the Name of God. Amen.

November 2, 2017 - - Luke 3:31 Faithfulness

the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

Luke 3:31

There are two genealogies listed for Jesus. The first, in Matthew 1, follows the line of Jesus' father, Joseph. Joseph was descended from King David through the line of Solomon. Interestingly enough, in our passage, the line of descent is traced through Nathan, the fourth son of David and Bathsheba, and this has been proposed to be the line of descent through Mary. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born, Incarnate, in the flesh, from His mother Mary.

You will recall that Solomon did not serve God with his whole heart, but allowed his many wives (700 hundred wives) and concubines (300 concubines--this you'll find in I Kings 11:3) to turn his heart to other gods. It is interesting that God preserved Solomon on the throne, God kept His promise to David "I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom." (II Samuel 7:12) So the line of David was preserved, but not through Solomon, but rather through Nathan. I wonder, did Nathan serve our God with more faithfulness? Did the Living God keep His promise to David and build up the house of a humble, godly man in Nathan?

What will you be remembered for by your children and grandchildren? Will it be your humility and love for God? What a great legacy that would be to leave to your descendants!

May God be praised. May Jesus Christ shine through whatever is said or done! May His Spirit keep the faithful believer in the way of righteousness. Amen.

November 1, 2017 - - Proverbs 1:28-33 Stewardship

“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,

And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

Proverbs 1:28-33 NKJV

One little second, lustful glance won't matter, will it?

Just one piece of my kid's Halloween candy doesn't wreck my diet, does it?

If I leave work 15 minutes early, it isn't a big deal, right?

The federal Finance Minister, Bill Morneau, neglected to put his shares in his family company, Morneau Shepell, into a blind trust. He has been accused of profiting from his position as Finance Minister. The Toronto Star noted he is now selling the shares of his family company (the very ones he did not put into a blind trust) and he will donate the profits and the profits he realized when the shares should have been in the blind trust. (The total donation could reach $10 million according to the article in the Star.)

Every single decision, however big or small, has consequences. One Halloween candy will not add 20 kilos to your waist, but the action will lead to fruit-bearing either for good or evil. Our fancies and our pleasures will kill us. Every action comes from our thoughts. Every behaviour leads to consequences. All the consequences are the fruits of our actions. We are responsible for our sins--great and small. All of our sins, great or small, show us that we hate knowledge.

While it is critical that all our MP and Cabinet Members are held accountable for their actions, all of us must examine our own hearts and ask: where am I compromising? Where am I letting my own complacency destroy me?

While many of us do not have fortunes and responsibility over millions of dollars, God our Father has placed into your hands and mine whatever resources He chooses so that by them and the decisions we make about them we will be found to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ. If we ignore this trust, we will cry out to God and not be heard. If we are bearing the consequences of our bad intentions and wrong-headed actions, cry out to God now while He may use painful circumstances to draw you back to Himself.

Father in heaven, the Scriptures clearly teach, You are the Giver of every good gift. The greatest gift is our new life in Christ. You also, Father of Love, make us stewards responsible for whatever it is You entrust--for some it is wealth, for others it is responsibility over large families, for some it is learning to be content whatever our lot. By Your Spirit and in Your mercy, help our government leaders to cry out to You for mercy and forgiveness when they are caught in wrong-doing. Let us all, as believers, be kind-hearted and empathetic enough to know soon enough we too will need Your mercy for the wrongs which are (or will be) exposed in our lives. Cause true believers to be warriors on our knees for the sake of Jesus, the Captain of our Salvation, for Whose glory we serve. Let Christians be found to be first of all warriors in prayer for all those who are in authority and then show us to be defenders of truth in the public square. Let us all, on behalf of our own needs and then on behalf of our leaders, call on You, O God, for wisdom and justice, for forgiveness and love, for justice and judgment. May we live the blessed promise held out to us in these verses from Proverbs: that listening to You we will dwell safely and be secure, without fear of evil." Amen.

October 31, 2017 - - Psalm 16:6-8, 11 True Pleasure

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

You make known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:6-8, 11 NIV

Ravi Zacharias, Oct. 2017, Public Question and Answer time:

When Tiger Woods went the way of all flesh, and sinned as he did the media asked him a question, the most ironic question I have heard of the media:

How could you lie to so many for so long?

(RZ: Pause and think about it. Now that came from a journalist and I thought I had heard it all.)

Woods responded to the journalist by saying: Because I had first lied to myself.

RZ: I would love to have had a follow up question: “What did you lie to yourself about? Did you lie to yourself that you would never get caught, or did you lie to yourself about the fact that in doing what you did, therein you would find your happiness?

RZ:The real poisonous lie in our system is to think you can violate the sacred boundary lines God has set. This is simply not true. Pleasure, unbounded by sacredness, will leave you emptier than before.

O God, the true and only joy of Your people, the hope of Your elect, blessed be Your Name. Thank You for life that You have given in Jesus Christ--life that is stench in the nostrils of this world and the fragrance of all that is good to those who believe. By Your Spirit help those who believe in Jesus to forsake the world and its lies about what is good and what is fun so that believers can embrace true life and true pleasure in the sacred life offered in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

To Titus, a true son in our common faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Titus 1:1-4 NKJV

Recently I saw a post that encouraged folks who give out Halloween candy at the door to welcome older teenagers and give them treats. Some people criticise older teens who go out and refuse to give them candy. The author was suggesting that these teenagers could be doing bad things or worthless things so support their clean fun.

What is interesting in Paul's writing is that he is a bondservant of God, a slave of God and sent in the Name of Jesus Christ to declare the common faith. His focus is solely on the glory of the Living God.

According to the magazine: Money, the Oct. 28th/17 article, Americans spend on average: $86 on Halloween; $134 on Father's Day; $136 on Valentine's Day; $151 on Easter; $186 on Mother's Day; $589 for gifts at Christmas and an additional $796 for all the other costs associated with Christmas.

How much do we as Christians give of ourselves and our money for the cause of Christ and the expansion of His Kingdom? We willingly and slavishly toss money after all these celebrations which focus only on our own pleasures. How much do we give for helping missionaries? How much do we spend in giving help to widows and orphans? How much do we pour out in order to sustain those who preach and minister among us? These gospel ministers show us our addictions to that which kills us and bring us to the healing and freedom that is found in Christ alone.

Jesus, I would be Your willing slave. By Your Spirit help me to see what is keeping me chained to the world and its lusts and foolishness. Break every chain and keep me as Your bondservant so that I will not wander away into old patterns of sin. In all of this, Father of Love, thank You that You have rescued me from bondage to sin and death and given new life in Christ. Let my life and my words declare Your love and goodness. Amen.