July 16, 2018 - - Revelation 3:15-16; 19-20 When Jesus vomits

I know your works are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth...Those whom I love I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:15-16; 19-20

There are seven letters to seven New Testament churches in the Book of Revelation. Jesus is writing them and warning them sternly so that they do no fall away.

Complacency is the sin of this church, Laodicea. They gather in church, but their lives are not transformed by their proximity to Jesus.

Next two paragraphs from Rev. Stephen Richardson sermon on Revelation 3:14-22:

"[The people in the church of] Laodicea must astonish the hosts of heaven! Jesus did not die for angels but only for fallen sinful humankind, and yet these creatures before His throne must be saying 'He never died for me yet such a God can not have too much of my love!'"

"Look at His mercy--Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He will come in--if the people will be zealous and repent of their complacency and He will sup with them--even Laodicea is not without hope. I suppose all of us are infected by this [complacency] to one degree or another. The danger is we will see this as something small and we will not see the urgency of it. Some of us, for sure, need to go to prayer closet and act on this immediately and repent and weep and cry to God. He will come in!"

Spirit of God, we confess we will give hours to Facebook but only minutes to Jesus; we confess we will watch endless sports recaps but neglect to re-read the Scripture on which the recent sermon was based. We confess, Spirit of God, as those who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, that like Laodicea, we are often very tepid in our faith, ho-hum in our commitment and dull in our speaking of Jesus--if we ever summon the will to speak publicly of Him at all. Spirit of God, re-awaken in us a zeal for Jesus, an awe for all He has done and is doing within us. Spirit of God, help us to hear Jesus' persistent knocking at the door of the hearts of those of us who only appear to be believers. Jesus, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You that as long as we draw breath, there is an invitation to turn away from sin and complacency and turn fully to You. Bring many sons and daughters to the glorious joy of knowing You and living out loud for You! Amen

July 15, 2018 - - Jeremiah 8:6b-8 The One Solution for the abuses in our land

Everyone turns to his own course,

like a horse plunging headlong into battle.

Even the stork in the heavens

knows her times,

and the turtledove, swallow and crane

keep the time of their coming,

but my people know not

the rules of the LORD.

How can you say, 'We are wise,

and the law of the LORD is with us?

But behold, the lying pen of the scribes

has made it into a lie."

Jeremiah 8:6b-8 ESV

It seems many people have an opinion about God, what He is like, what He requires and so on. Yet these very same people have not read the Bible. The very book God has given us so that we can know Him sits on their shelf collecting dust.

No wonder Canadians are going their own way and our society experiences such evidences of moral decay as: gang violence, abortion, euthanasia, disregard for the police, missing indigenous men and women and so outcry from the population. The lists could go on and on.

There is one solution for all the abuses of our society: put down the lies of our age written by the godless and listen to the LORD. The heart of mankind is evil, all the time, every thought of the heart is wicked. It is the light of Christ which exposes our evil. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out so that we delight in the Law of the LORD and run His course.

Today is Sunday. Plan on getting to a Bible believing church. Listen to the Word of God. If it sounds strange to you, it may well be that you have forgotten the precious things of God and have become accustomed to wickness.

Return to God. Now is the day of salvation.

Thank You, Mighty God, for the throngs of faithful people around the world who are gathering for worship. Praise be Your Name, Jesus, King of the Church. Spirit of Power, stir in us a desire to come to church and hear the Word of the LORD. Revive Your church Jesus and by Your Spirit bring revival in Canada so that we will acknowledge Your rule and You will have dominion from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth! Amen.

July 14, 2018 - - Jeremiah 6:6a, 7-8 Turning from violence

For thus says the LORD of hosts:

As a well keeps its water fresh,

so she keeps fresh her evil;

violence and destruction are heard within her;

sickness and wounds are ever before me.

Be warned, O Jerusalem,

lest I turn from you in disgust,

lest I make you a desolation,

an uninhabited land.

Jeremiah 6:6a,7-8 ESV

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman writes:

The desensitization process starts during our children's youngest years, as they eat their meals in front of the TV. Then they snack as they play violent video games and watch violent movies. Quickly, these children learn that violence is fun and human death and suffering make for great entertainment. They sit in a theatre or around their video game consoles with their friends and watch the most horrific depictions of human death and suffering imaginable. They laugh. They cheer. They eat.

We have millions of children who have been classically conditioned from their youngest days to take pleasure from human death and suffering. To them, at a deep, primal level, human death and suffering are a source of pleasure.

These kids are not merely "desensitized" to violence. Coroners and homicide detectives get desensitized, but they never take pleasure from the violence they witness. These kids are taking pleasure from it.

from: pp 54- 55 "Assassination Generation: VIDEO GAMES, AGGRESSION, AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF KILLING"

So our culture is keeping fresh the her evil. Slaughter is celebrated. Ever more violent and wicked movies are churned out. Video games encourage children to kill the police in the most violent ways possible. Now games are becoming more immersive and youth are rewarded with points for kills.

Then horror-surprised hands clap over mouths in when our children act out the violence of these games--in school shootings. These are happening across the globe. We offer thoughts and prayers and allow our children to buy even more heinous offerings of evil.

God have mercy on us, wicked as we are.

Spirit of God open our eyes to the evils all of us keep fresh.

King Jesus may Your righteousness purify us and as You promised well up bringing us to holiness that leads to eternal life

July 12, 2018 - - Psalm 58:1-2, 11 - - Living justice

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?

Do you judge the children of man uprightly?

No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;

your hands deal out violence on earth.

Mankind will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous;

surely there is a God who judges on earth."

Psalm 58:1-2, 11 ESV

Just because the government makes laws, doesn't make it right. Abortion is allowed, decreed by those who are ungodly.

Sexual perversions are celebrated in the streets while what is moral and good is deemed evil.

Yes, this is a generation that is incapable of devising what is right and it continually deals out violence.

Do not lose hope, fellow Christians.

Christ endured injustice, wrong and violence, bearing in His body all that is sin so that those who believe in Him will be clothed in holiness. When the King, Jesus, returns with all His holy angels, justice will roll down. All that evil which ran rampant will be paid back in full and those who embraced evil will be thrown into hell. All those who sheltered themselves under the shield and protection of Jesus Christ will delight in His presence through-out eternity.

From the rawness of these times, which flows as sewage and rot from hearts prone to wickedness, Spirit of God, cleanse believers and keep us clean. Spirit of truth, lead us to Jesus so that in His Name our sins are forgiveness and by His Word we live and act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God our Father. Amen.

July 7, 2018 - - Psalm 32:6 - - How do you withstand trying times?

Therefore let everyone who is godly

offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;

surely in the rush of great waters,

they shall not reach him.

Psalm 32:6 ESV

What are the odds that you'd miss your favourite TV program? You can pre-record it and watch at your leisure.

What are the odds you'd miss a meal? Even at those times you were not hungry beforehand when you began preparing the meal, smelling the wonderful aromas of the cooking food it was at that moment you began to realize how hungry you really were.

Our daily appointment with God--the times of prayer and reading the Bible--these are more precious and important than any TV program or movie or gaming you might do.

Our daily appointment with God--the times of prayer and reading the Bible--feeds our soul. As we read the Bible and talk with God the hunger of our souls is laid bare and our thirstiness exposed. As we spend time in His presence our hunger is satiated and our thirst for Him quenched.

When the rush of great waters sweep over you--

the diagnosis of cancer

the betrayal of a friend

the hours of waiting with your child in the ER

the unexpected financial crunch

the season when God Himself seems distant

the loneliness which never quite fully recedes

whatever is the great rush of waterery trials for you

it is at that very moment that sustaining grace of Jesus,

poured into your soul by the Spirit

through your regular, intimate times of prayer and bible reading, this sustaining grace will

lift your eyes to Your Father in heaven

Who hears your groaning

Who forgives your sin

Who guides you even when you don't know the way forward

Who reminds us to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Spirit of Truth make me aware of my great hunger and thirst for the things of God. Direct me, Spirit of God, to the riches of Scripture and the blessing of quiet times in the Presence of God. God, Who in times of peace, whispers Your love into my soul and in times of the pounding rush of great waters Thunders above the noise speaking to my heart and mind such assurances that remind me my soul is anchored securely in all that Jesus Christ has accomplished--blessed be Your Name. Amen.

July 6, 2018 - - Jeremiah 29:11-13 - - The Trilemma

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

The trilemma:

If God were all-good, he would only will good,

and if he were all-powerful, he would do all he wills.

But there is evil.

Therefore God is either not all-good or not all-powerful.

Within this lies a threefold assurance, both bracingly rational and comfortingly emotional, which gives it the strength to withstand the worst and still prevail.

The first biblical reassurance address the first prong of the trilemma, the evil of evil: the world should have been otherwise. Evil is totally, radically, and flagrantly counter to the character and purpose of God. It is disruptive and destructive by definition. It is both a perversion and a privation...

Christians have bifocal vision: God created the universe good, Adam and Eve sinned. Christians strive to work for good in a world that stained in every part by sin.

The second biblical reassurance addresses the second prong of the trilemma, God is all-good: no other god has wounds. The God whom Jesus shows on the cross is one who defeats evil by taking it to himself, letting it do its worst to him, and then overcoming it. No wonder the crucifixion of Jesus is the supreme pattern of innocent suffering in history.

The third biblical reassurance addresses the third prong of the trilemma, God is all-powerful: the resistance leader know what he is doing and victory day is coming. The resistance leaders knows best...Only after the war will the secrets be open, the codes revealed, the true comrades vindicated, the traitors exposed, and sense made of the explanations.

from: Os Guinness "Unspeakable: facing up to evil in an age of genocide and terror

Jesus, You are the Captain of our Salvation,Who give us the Spirit: the Resistance Leader extraordinaire! By Your Word and Spirit, King Jesus, lead us to the victory-over-evil you have won for us at the cross. In our darkest days, remind us that we are already, beloved sons and daughters of God the Good, the Holy and the Keeper of His promises. Give us the courage and faith to walk what we believe in our every day life to Your honour and praise. Amen.

June 30, 2018 - - II Corinthians 2:15-16 What do you smell like?

For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient to such things?

II Corinthians 2:15-16 ESV

This morning I lit my PARTYLITE candle which I received as a gift from Julie Hilarides. It has a great aroma which immediately reminds me of my recent visit with our dear friends. It makes me smile just to uncover the lid of the three wick candle and catch the faint fragrance before the wicks are lit and the full, warm scent fills the room.

Oddly, my wife, Carolyn, does not like this particular smell. For her there is a particular note which reminds her of a long time ago perfume that was particularly annoying.

You immediately notice the difference. I breathe in deeply and enjoy the fragrance. Carolyn wants to cover her nose. I smile and remember so many good things as the aroma wafts around me. Carolyn crinkles her nose and waits for me to shut the door.

Christ is the scent of life--a beautiful aroma and pleasing fragrance to those who love Him. Other Christians recognize the allegiance we have to Christ and are drawn to one another. Those who hate Christ inevitably shrink back and cover their noses and react badly. Christians ought not be surprised at this reaction. Instead, we are to pray: God the Father help them to know Jesus Christ as the Lord of Life and the fragrance of life.

King Jesus, blessed be Your Name for the life You give us as beloved sons and daughters of God. This life You have given us at the cross, when in our place You endured the just anger of God and His punishment against sin. Let our lives be a sweet fragrance to fellow believers, that by word and deed we may bring honour to You. We pray for those who find our love for You repugnant. Spirit of the Living God, change their hearts so that they may recognize in us the aroma of life and blessing. Spirit of God bring many of our friends and family members to glory in Christ so that the world and its pleasures may be revealed as stinking garbage and the wonders of Christ as the sweet smell of joyous life. Amen.

June 29, 2018 - - Colossians 3:23 Pace your race

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men...

Colossians 3:23 ESV

Yesterday I was going to jog 5km. Since I have been working on upping the distance I run, I didn't consider 5 kilometers to be too much of a challenge. Boy, was I wrong. I was slower than my usual pace. I kept checking my watch and wondering why the distance seemed so long.

This morning I knew I was going to run 6 km. I needed to focus, be wise with my pace and not get distracted looking at my app to see how much time and what distance was already completed. What a difference that focus made. I ran the 6 km in better time per kilometer than yesterday's 5 km run.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to work each day knowing the challenge that is before us. We are serving the Lord, at work and play, in our recreation and in every part of our lives. If we are not prepared to pace ourselves and focus on Him, the day will be long and we will waver. However, if we know the enemy is against us and even our own thoughts and sinful flesh will betray us, we will look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith and find in Him the strength to carry on and go from victory to victory.

King Jesus, we are Yours, bought at the price of Your precious blood. Give us the grace we need to work this day, in all things, for Your honour and glory. Forgive our casual and callous attitudes which can lead us to falter. Jesus, by Your Spirit motivate us from the inside out so that in all things we work heartily and joyfully for the glory of God in the strength of Your great grace. Amen.

June 26, 2018 - - Genesis 50:19-20 Divine Concurrence

But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God mean it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Genesis 50:19-20 ESV

The doctrine of divine concurrence is well displayed here. One of the seeming paradoxes of our faith is the interaction between the Sovereignty of God and the free will of man. God knows all things and all possible outcomes. Yet, people are free to act and will and do.

R. C. Sproul explains it this way. In Pittsburgh two rivers meet: the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers. Where they converge it is called the Ohio River. Sproul notes each river has its own source, its own water and course. Yet the two merge and form one river. So it is with God's Sovereignty and man's free will. On the one side God acts and wills and accomplishes His purposes and on the other there is the stream of man's will and activities.

The story of Joseph illustrates this very well. Joseph's brothers had sold him into slavery. That took place as much as twenty years before this reading before us this morning. He was the favourite son of a doting father and 10 of the 11 brothers hated him for the favoritism he received.

While in slavery in Egypt, he was falsely accused. He was imprisoned. He seemed to have been forgotten in prison. But whatever the circumstances he faced he served God and gained a good reputation. When Pharaoh had a set of dreams he could not interpret, his cupbearer, who had been in prison with Joseph, remembered that Joseph had correctly interpreted his dream. He brought this to the attention of Pharaoh. Joseph, by God's grace, told Pharaoh his dreams were God's way of telling him there would be famine in the land for 7 years.

Joseph was appointed to collect the harvest in years of plenty against the 7 years of famine. So he was raised to second in the land and was able to care for his family when they fled to Egypt.

So we have a glimpse of divine concurrence. What the brothers, intended for evil (getting rid of Joseph who was so heavily favoured by their father) God intended for good--bringing Joseph to Egypt, training him through various hardships so that he was suited to gather in the abundant harvests and build storehouses, administer all that was necessary against the famine and then while govern the land in the times of turmoil.

God of Glory and Perfect Purpose, thank You that You govern our lives in Christ so that for those who love You all things work together for the good of those who believe in You. Spirit of God, move in us so that our love for God is daily increased and thereby our desire to walk in holy obedience expands. Give us the eyes of faith to see how God is working out His good purposes in us and through us and in all circumstances. And where we cannot see this, to hold on in faith, knowing the justice of God meted out at the cross of Christ will result in all things being settled on the Day of Judgment according to Your great love, justice and mercy. Amen.

June 25, 2018 - - John 16:13-15 Doctrine has legs

When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to the you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

John 16:13-15 ESV

Be careful with compromise.

Be careful with what false prophets focus on

rather than what Christ focuses on.

Doctrine has legs, what you believe moves you into the

direction of your beliefs--

because their doctrines are wrong their actions are wrong.

from sermon "Thyatira" Stephen Richardson

Spirit of Truth, there are so many voices in our world calling out their version of truth without any reference to God. Spirit of Truth, guide us into all truth as it is found in Jesus Christ alone. Work Jesus' truth into us so that in word, thought and action our lives will conform more and more to Christ all to the glory of the Father. Amen.

June 24, 2018 - - Psalm 119:24 Finding delight

Your testimonies are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Psalm 119:24 ESV

Who are the influence leaders in your life? An influence leader is someone who's opinion and views you highly value. When this person speaks, you listen, you examine your ways and your attitudes and perhaps change your own opinions.

The writer of this Psalm considers the testimonies, the laws of God and His Word, to be his influence leader. It is the Word of God that is so highly valued the writer of this psalm says he will put into practice.

The Bible is true, reliable and not altered by opinion polls, the rule of the majority or the iron fist of the tyrant. The Sovereign King of heaven and earth has revealed Himself, the order of creation and the way of life. The wise delight in it and consider the Bible to be their influence leader.

Today is Sunday. Get to a bible believing church where the authority of the Word is obvious so that you too can find such delight and get spiritually fit.

Jesus, King of Heaven, thank You for the richness of the Word. Thank You Father and Son, for Your Spirit Who has preserved the Word through-out the generations so that we can trust what is written. Draw many into various churches today and give us great delight in the counsel of Your Word. Amen.

June 18, 2018 - - John 20:21-22 When peace is elusive

Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

John 20:21-22 ESV

One does not need peace unless he is going through great trials and battles. One doesn't appreciate peace until the absence of peace results in a mind that is racing and a heart that is stretched to the point of breaking. One cannot receive peace unless the Father and His Son, Jesus, pours out the Spirit of Peace on him.

The peace of Jesus Christ is this: all things, every single trial, pain, grief, battle, loss, brokenness has been redeemed by His cross. Now Jesus shows to our Father in heaven His hands, His feet and His side and these are intercession enough so that those who are in Christ will be sustained and kept in the Father's care until we see our King face to face.

We have peace now not because our battles are done, but because Christ's victory is already won and no matter what we face, He has got this.

Jesus, Captain of our Salvation, in the raging battles, when peace is so elusive, help us to fix our eyes on You so that we will be assured again and again You have sealed Your Spirit within us, Your victory banner is waving over us and we are secure in the Father's love. Our Father's love for us rests on us and does not depend on whether or not we feel it. The Scripture assures us of His love in Christ. So Jesus, receive the reward of Your victory, by Your Spirit lead many sons and daughter through the fierce cacophony of battle into Your peace. Amen.

June 15, 2018 - - Psalm 125:1-2 Rock solid security

Those who trust in GOD

are like Zion Mountain:

Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain

you can always depend on.

Mountains encircle Jerusalem,

and God encircles his people—

always has and always will.

Psalm 125:1-2 MSG

"We wander like lost sheep, true, but God is a faithful shepherd who pursues us relentlessly. We have our ups and downs, zealously believing one day and gloomily doubting the next, but he is faithful. We break our promises, but he doesn't break his. Discipleship is not a contract in which if we break our part of the agreement he is free to break his; it is a covenant in which he establishes the conditions and guarantees the results...

"All the persons of faith I know are sinners, doubters, uneven performers. We are secure not because we are sure of ourselves but because we trust that God is sure of us. The opening phrase of the psalm is 'those who trust in God'--not those who trust in their performance, in their morals, in their righteousness, in their health, in their pastor, in their doctor, in their president, in their economy, in their nation--'those who trust in GOD.' Those who decide that God is for us and will make us whole eternally."

E. Peterson "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" p 89

Who is like You, Sovereign GOD, faithful and steadfast?! Blessed is Your Name! Great is the sure salvation which is ours in Jesus Christ. Mighty is Your Spirit planted deep within our hearts who keeps us under the spout where the grace of God pours out everyday, in every way. Amen.

June 14, 2018 - - Hebrews 1:3, 2:1 Are you sleepwalking through life?

He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 1:3, 2:1 ESV

Consider what that first passage from Hebrews is teaching. Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God--in Jesus we see the love of the Father, the justice of the Majestic One in heaven--sin is punished in the body of Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus have their sins punished in Christ and walk in Jesus' purity and therefore have direct access to the Father in heaven. The Spirit of God is sealed into us so that we are aware of the glory of Jesus and live for Him.

Jesus upholds the universe. Scientists are disproving the theory of dark matter. The very real question remains, what holds this universe together? The testimony of the Bible is that Christ, the Captain of our salvation, the Disarmer of the Enemy and the One Who makes us pure--He upholds the universe from the smallest atoms to the furthest reaches of the universe, Jesus has it all under His control.

Do not drift away. How easy it is to drift away. How easy it is to let the cares of the world overwhelm you. How easy it is to assume familiarity with the things of God so that Bible study and prayer are neglected and our hearts grow cold.

Pay closer attention! Wake up to the wonders of the splendour of our Father in heaven. Dig into the Bible and see Jesus, glorious and upholding the universe. Plead with the Spirit to revive your soul so that you will not drift away but glow with the thunderous reflection of His dazzling majesty.

Spirit of Truth arouse us from our *somnambulation so that with watchful, wonder-filled eyes we see the radiant Son of glory. Spirit of Help we confess how in our laziness and inattention to all that matters we neglect the fullness of life that is ours in Christ. Forgive us we pray. ^Vivify us so that our mind and digits, our soul and actions declare the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light and life~in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

*somnambulation: sleep-walking

^vivify: bring us to life

June 13, 2018 - - Isaiah 5:20 Courage to call evil evil

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20 NIV

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:19 ESV

...the categories in which we speak about evil have been transformed: "sin" became "crime" which in turn became "sickness", which in its turn became "dysfunction".
What is true of categories is true of institutions too. Professionalism, most people would agree, is infinitely better than being unprofessional, amateurish, and mediocre. But professionals, experts, and specialists not only enable but all too often disable--by removing traditional ways of handling human responses to problems and creating dependency on a layer of experts, such as the "grief counselors" who descend on communities after catastrophes such as the Columbine School murders. 
Such broad ways of marginalizing traditional responses to evil and suffering can be seen throughout the modern world. But what matters even more are the specific ways in which this sidelining affects each nation's capacity to recognize and resist evil. When none dare call it evil, evil does not disappear--it is all the freer to surprise us and do its deadly work.
Os Guinness: "Unspeakable--Facing up to evil in an age of genocide and terror"

It is evil to teach children about sexual promiscuity in our schools and then be surprised that we live in a culture where there is all kinds of sexual misadventure. Courts are filled with cases of rape where women are made to feel victims all over again. It is because sex has no boundaries in our culture.

It is evil to allow Muslims in Canada to call for the destruction of Israel without the penalty of calling this hate speech.

It is evil for provincial and federal government to overspend their budgets, budget for deficits and put our generation, our children and following generations into terrible debt.

It is evil to murder pre-born children in the womb. There is no excuse for it.

What can bring transformation? It is a repentance from sin and evil and turning to Jesus Christ. He is our peace. Following Jesus Christ obediently means we call evil what it is: evil, and we choose to walk in His light.

King of Justice and Mercy, one of the most devastating expressions of Scripture is this, Isaiah 5:13: 
Sheol has enlarged itself
And opened its mouth beyond measure;
Their glory and their multitude and their pomp,
And he who is jubilant, shall descend into it.
People shall be brought down.
In Jesus' body on the cross sin has been punished and the wrath of God poured out. All who go to Him for sheltering forgiveness are saved, but the frightening truth of Scripture is this: evil-doers will parade into jaws of hell which had been widened to receive them. Spirit of the Living God bring revival across our land. Let the glory of God cover this great nation as the waters cover the sea. Let evil be thrown down and the glory of all that is good, all that is found in Christ, be exalted once again. Amen.

June 7, 2018 - - Isaiah 46:8-9 "Do you leak?"

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Exodus 20:8

Remember this, fix it in mind,
take it to heart you rebels.
Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:8-9

But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. John 16:4

You will find this command, "Remember!", all through the Bible. Why does God place such an emphasis on remembering? Why do preachers repeat the story of Jesus and His love over and over again?

Listen to this great explanation from Thabiti Anyabwile, it is from his main session talk at the 2018 T4G Conference:
Christians leak.
We are like those old Saturday morning cartoon characters.
When one is shot full of holes and he tries to drink water, it leaks out of him through all those holes.
Pastors, repeat the truths of the Bible because
your people leak!

Who is a God like You, O LORD?! You made us, knitting us together in the womb. You remember our frame and our weakness, our proclivity to sin. By Your Holy Spirit cause us to remember Jesus Christ, our Saviour and King. By this same Spirit of Power cleanse us from our sins and help us, every moment of every day, to remember to walk in His will and in His way. Amen.

June 6, 2018 - - Proverbs 4:23 Exhausted?

Guard your heart above all else
for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23 NLT

Sin is not where the enemy most often gets his foothold on the godly. Rather...the enemy more often latches on to weakness--or maybe I should say a hidden spot of vulnerability. Of course, Satan knows that weakness can turn into sin in a heartbeat when exposed to just the right amount of pressure.
Beth Moore "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things" page 56

According to Susie Larson, the Chinese word for busyness combines two symbols made up of these two words: heart killer.
From "Your Sacred Yes" page 21

O LORD my God, I cried to You for help,
and you have healed me.
O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
you restored me to life from among those
who go down to the pit.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints
and give thanks to his holy name.
Psalm 30:2-4 ESV

June 5, 2018 - - Hebrews 2:10 Jesus the Captain of our Salvation

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10 NKJV

What a glorious title for Jesus 'the captain of their salvation'! Let me be direct, there are enough songs and mushy sayings in Christianity that make me, as a man, feel very uncomfortable when speaking or singing them in reference to Jesus. There are phrases like: "I am crazy loving You" or "I am so in love with You." Okay. Um.

Here in our text we have a strong name and title for Jesus: the captain of our salvation. I can follow a leader like that. There is something that stirs the soul of a man and emboldens the heart to think of Jesus with sword drawn, ready to lead into battle. My soul shouts--Yes, I will follow You to victory! His drawn sword has already won the greatest battle, He has conquered sin and death, destroyed the power of hell and now He is leading HIs people to victory.

William Gouge says:
Let us therefore take courage, and being instructed in the right way, and led on by so skilful a guide, so valiant a captain, so tender a shepherd, so merciful an high priest and a mediator, so gracious with the Father, let us look unto Jesus, ‘the author and finisher of our faith,’ Hebrews 12:22; ‘let us go boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,’ Hebrews 4:16. Doubt not of entering into glory, having such a Captain.

Lead on, O King Eternal, the day of march and of battle has come. Lead on, O Captain of our Salvation, that in the middle of fierce temptations and seething battles for our thoughts and hearts we will see Your banner unfurled and Your sword of victory raised high and we follow You without fears. Bring many sons and daughters to glory--to the fullest awareness that this continent, this world and this universe are overflowing with the evidence of Your power and Your triumphs and those who follow You will delight in You now and spend eternity with You. Hallelujah! Amen.

June 3, 2018 - - James 4:14-16 Sixty Seconds

...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
James 4:14-16 ESV

Sixty seconds? Time to start munching into a
hamburger, to listen to the opening bars of a
symphony, to read the first page of a book or
to get an initial impression of a stranger--but
time too to shatter a family's world forever.
Moments heavy with pain and suffering far out-
weigh moments light with casual happiness.
~Os Guinness from "Unspeakable"
Context: accident where a man lost half his family

It saddens me to think how many people are okay with the bizarre thought of a godless universe starting itself by a Big Bang, okay with survival of the fittest without any reference to a deity and then these same people shout and accuse the very God they claimed they don't believe in when suddenly faced with very real pain and tragedy.

The Sovereign LORD of Heaven and Earth knows our pain as His beloved Son, innocent and blameless though He was, endured a trial by sinful men, mocking, humiliation and death on a cross. At the cross of Jesus Christ all wrongs are addressed. At the cross of Jesus Christ, critics are disarmed.

Those who believe on Jesus Christ are saved from the fears of the randomness of this world and the ghastly thought mere chance rules all. At the cross sin was disarmed. All who believe in Jesus Christ have their sins forgiven.

One day this same Jesus will return in power for the Day of Judgment. All the people of the earth, despots and kings, paupers, ordinary folks and billionaires, will face the Judge of Nations. Every single wrong will be redressed. Every single injustice will be answered for and punished.

King Jesus to You I bring my tears--of joy and of pain, of bewilderment and wonder. By Your Spirit rule my life in every thing and every situation. Thank You, King Jesus, that because of Your cross my sins are forgiven and my Father in heaven sees me through Your covering of righteousness. All I have and all I possess is Yours, lead me in the way everlasting. Give me the strength I need to follow You when all is well and give me the humble hope and faith to trust You when life is, according to my accounting, upside down. Renew in me the conviction and sure hope that on the Day of Judgment Your glory will be revealed, the Father's love made plain, the Spirit's steadfast presence in all things exposed and all wrongs redressed. Great are You Lord, and worthy of glory; great are You Lord and worthy of praise and worship. Amen.

...yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
James 4:14-16 ESV

Sixty seconds? Time to start munching into a
hamburger, to listen to the opening bars of a
symphony, to read the first page of a book or
to get an initial impression of a stranger--but
time too to shatter a family's world forever.
Moments heavy with pain and suffering far out-
weigh moments light with casual happiness.
~Os Guinness from "Unspeakable"
Context: accident where a man lost half his family

It saddens me to think how many people are okay with the bizarre thought of a godless universe starting itself by a Big Bang, okay with survival of the fittest without any reference to a deity and then these same people shout and accuse the very God they claimed they don't believe in when suddenly faced with very real pain and tragedy.

The Sovereign LORD of Heaven and Earth knows our pain as His beloved Son, innocent and blameless though He was, endured a trial by sinful men, mocking, humiliation and death on a cross. At the cross of Jesus Christ all wrongs are addressed. At the cross of Jesus Christ, critics are disarmed.

Those who believe on Jesus Christ are saved from the fears of the randomness of this world and the ghastly thought mere chance rules all. At the cross sin was disarmed. All who believe in Jesus Christ have their sins forgiven.

One day this same Jesus will return in power for the Day of Judgment. All the people of the earth, despots and kings, paupers, ordinary folks and billionaires, will face the Judge of Nations. Every single wrong will be redressed. Every single injustice will be answered for and punished.

King Jesus to You I bring my tears--of joy and of pain, of bewilderment and wonder. By Your Spirit rule my life in every thing and every situation. Thank You, King Jesus, that because of Your cross my sins are forgiven and my Father in heaven sees me through Your covering of righteousness. All I have and all I possess is Yours, lead me in the way everlasting. Give me the strength I need to follow You when all is well and give me the humble hope and faith to trust You when life is, according to my accounting, upside down. Renew in me the conviction and sure hope that on the Day of Judgment Your glory will be revealed, the Father's love made plain, the Spirit's steadfast presence in all things exposed and all wrongs redressed. Great are You Lord, and worthy of glory; great are You Lord and worthy of praise and worship. Amen.