July 30, 2018 - - Genesis 1:3-5 - - Which came first the sun or light?

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Genesis 1:3-5 ESV

This morning, as I had my morning jog, I watched the moon's light fade as the sun began to peek over the horizon. A wash of purple and red filled the horizon. Which came first: the sun or light? Re-read the text from Genesis.

"Perhaps one reason God did it this way was to illustrate that the sun did not have the priority in the creation that people have tended to give it. The sun did not give birth to the earth as evolutionary theories postulate; the sun was God's created tool to rule the day that God had made (Genesis 1:16).

"Down through the ages, people such as the Egyptians have worshiped the sun as the pagan cultures around the did. They were commanded to worship the God who made the sun--not the sun that was made by God.

"Evolutionary theories (the "big bang" hypothesis for instance) state that the sun came before the earth and that the sun's energy on the earth eventually gave rise to life. Just as in pagan beliefs, the sun is, in a sense, given credit for the wonder of creation..

"It is interesting to contrast the speculations of modern cosmology with the writings of the earthly church father Theophilus:

On the fourth day the luminaries came into existence.

Since God has foreknowledge, he understood the

nonsense of the foolish philosophers who were going

to say that the things produced on Earth came from

the stars, so that they might set God aside. In order

therefore that the truth might be demonstrated, plants

and seeds came into existence before stars. For what

comes into existence later cannot cause what is prior

to it."

Ken Ham. The New Answers Book 1. Green Forest, AR. Master Books, 2011. pages 102-103

Glorious God, Creator of Light, Day and Night blessed be Your Name. Thank You for the gift of day and night, light and dark, sun and stars. Thank You for the True Light that has come into the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. Spirit Who leads in Truth, guide us by the Word to understand Jesus, strengthen us to obey Him and give us holy delight in the rich blessings of creation. In Jesus' Name we pray~Amen.

July 28, 2018 - - Romans 1:21-27 - - Shame and pride

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:21-27 NIV

Tomorrow is London Shame Day. Pray for the city of London as men and women debase themselves in public, walk around lewdly, and seek to corrupt others. How I miss Dianne Haskett, the mayor of London from 1994 - 2000. She was courageous to state her convictions that she could not open the festivities of the pride parade. For this she was fined. There is no freedom of thought. There is no freedom to express one's views.

Shame on Mayor Brown for issuing an apology for his predecessor's values and her freedom to speak and act.

Ever more perverse, the CBC hosted a contest to find a "worthy" participant to march in this event where people exchange the glory of the immortal God for degrading and disgusting publicly displayed perversions. I grieve for this city and her people.

Pray that those who are under God's curse may find His grace.

Pray that the lies and deceptions of those participating in this shameful event will be exposed so that vulnerable and impressionable people will not be corrupted.

Pray for the police officers who need to patrol this loathsome event and many will be insulted for their efforts. Many police officers will not even be allowed to enforce by-laws on indecent exposure because of the wickedness of the crowds.

Hear my cry, O God;

Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cy to You

When my heart is overwhelmed;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me,

A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in the shelter of Your wings. Selah.

Psalm 61:1-4 NKJV

July 27,2018 - - Psalm 119:120, 136 Holy Fear of God

My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

Psalm 119:120, 136 ESV

What comes into our minds

when we think about God

is the most important thing about us.

Refuse to be average.

Let your heart soar as high as it will.

It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until

He has hurt him deeply.

A.W.Tozer

Who you believe God to be, what He is like

is the single most important factor about your life.

High views to God lead to high and holy living.

High views of God lead to high and transcendent living.

But low views of God lead to low and base living.

Our knowledge of God

is the continental divide in the Christian life.

The most important thing about you

is what comes into your mind when you think of God.

Steve J. Lawson

Spirit of Truth lead me to think on Christ, to follow Him and to believe in Him more and more dearly.

King Jesus, by Your obedient suffering, holy life, death and resurrection You have opened to us the way to our Father in heaven--blessed be Your Name.

Majestic God, Scripture declares You HOLY! So great is Your power that the symbol of Your power--Your robe--so great is Your power that merely the hem of Your robe fills the temple!

Triune God, grant me a righteous fear of You,

Triune God, fill me with the courage and strength to obey You;

Triune God, impel me to declare Your Great Name. Amen.

July 25, 2018 - - Psalm 119:67, 71 - - How affliction is good!

Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

Psalm 119:67, 71 ESV

Affliction as a benefit or even a blessing from God?!

Yes. Consider these facts:

~In times of affliction we seek God

~In times of affliction we consider what we had been doing

~In times of affliction we are most open to what the Spirit says

~In times of affliction we are vulnerable to the Bible

~In times of affliction we find wise Christian pray-ers

~In times of affliction God shows He is present

~In times of affliction God proves He is always near

~In times of affliction God's Spirit leads us to Jesus, Who

endured hardships and affliction, beatings and poverty, and

finally the humiliation of the cross so that we might be set free

to follow the Word and the Will of God

~In times of affliction God's Word anchors our soul to Jesus

~In times of affliction God shows us the sweetest times of prayer

God of all hopefulness, in the darkest hours of suffering and trial, give us the strength to turn to You.

God our Father Who disciplines His sons and daughters in love, let the purposefulness of our afflictions drive us back into Your open arms.

Jesus our Savior, thank You for the suffering You endured for us. Thank You that all our pains and wounds and griefs here on earth are totally meaningful even in the darkest hours when we cannot discern that meaning yet.

Spirit of all Comfort, bring us to the oasis of the Word of God so that our souls and minds and bodies may find refreshment.

Triune God, when our suffering means we can't even lift our eyes to You in prayer, thank You for the prayers of Jesus on our behalf. Thank You for the Spirit of God Who leads other believers to pray for us. Be our rock of refuge until the storms pass. Amen.

July 24, 2018 - - Psalm 119:32 - - When an enlarged heart is good

I will run in the way of your commandments

when you enlarge my heart.

Psalm 119:32 ESV

The second part of the text has a variant reading: "for you set my heart free". What a great truth in these few words.

There are many reasons why we might balk at the idea of following God's commandments:

~our hearts are devoted to a different love

~our understanding of God's intentions are inadequate

~our love for ourselves exceeds our love for God

~our desire for esteem before people is greater than our desire

for God

The Psalmist will RUN in the commandments of God for these reasons:

~God has increased the psalmist\s capacity to love Him and the

psalmist sets aside all idols vying for God's place

God set his heart free from misunderstanding the

commandments so that he now sees them as the path of life

~God has enlarged the psalmist's love for God so that God is

first in his life and therefore the psalmist will serve God above

every one and every thing else

~God has enlarged his heart so that the psalmist does not look

to people who are wavering and fickle in their approval, rather

with this increased capacity to receive God's love and live in

real relationship with Him the psalmist finds affirmation in God

alone.

In Your love, Father Source of all good, we can live as men and women who are secure enough to love You first and best and from the overflow of that relationship love the people You have placed in our lives. As You have enlarged our hearts and set us free, we will with increasing fervor and love run to You in the pathway of Your commandments. Spirit of God, anchor us in Jesus so that the words of this Psalm may be fulfilled in us. Amen.

July 20, 2018 - - Proverbs 20:5 A better version of you

The purpose of a man's heart is like deep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

It is altogether too easy for a man to either have too high a view of himself and always feel misplaced and out of step or to have too low a view of himself and so under-accomplish what he is capable of doing. A good friend is a great gift from God. Such a friend will listen, will act as a B.S. meter and so help draw out a realistic assessment of one's gifts, one's strengths and weaknesses, one's real reasons for doing or not doing a particular thing.

Christian friends have an even deeper bond. The very same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is the Spirit Who lives in us. The Spirit of God searches out the deep things of a man's heart. Christian friends then help one another achieve excellence as we listen to and encourage one another; pray with and for each other; correct one another even as we expect to be corrected. The Spirit uses such friendships to make us more like Christ.

This Spring I was visiting friends I had not seen in a long time. I was apologizing for imposing--I was spending a whole week with them. My friend's wife interrupted my apology and said: "I am glad you are here. My husband is a better version of himself when he is around you." Interesting. I was thinking my friend had exactly the same influence on me, bringing out a better version of me.

Thank You, Spirit of Truth, for the gift of friends who bring out the best in us. Work out Your holy purposes in us and among us so that we will be more like and reflect more of the glory of Christ. Amen.

July 19, 2018 - - Philippians 4:7 Disarming thoughts of revenge

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:7 NIV

Beware of small steps of cheating ie: a few dollars cheated on your taxes, or gypping a friend out of what you rightfully owe--such things leave you vulnerable.

When sin comes with its proposals it is always

excessively modest in its proposals

but it is always aiming at the highest wrong

J. Owen

Our brief text from Philippians challenges believers not to see how much we can get away with, rather, how deeply we can walk into the grace and goodness of God. Contemplate what is true. Think about noble and good pursuits. In such a way we will always aim for the highest good: the glory of God.

God of Excellence, You are worthy of all awe and praise! Forgive us our petty thoughts and those moments we either truly or in fantasy plan revenge for slights carried out against us. Lift our thoughts and hearts to Your right hand, where Christ Jesus is seated in glory. Let the forgiveness which Christ won for us at the cross be the costliest gift we give to those around us. Spirit of God, flood our minds with all things noble, lovely, pure and admirable so that the filthiness of worldliness and sin will be washed out of us. Let our words and actions shine with the splendour of Your goodness King of Righteous! Amen.

July 18, 2018 - - I Corinthians 15:10a The impact of my sin

But by the grace of God I am what I am,

and His grace toward me was not in vain.

I Corinthians 15:10a ESV

Over the last number of months I have been listening to Al Martin and his teachings on pastoral leadership. The most recent one I am listening to is on earning the respect and confidence of the people whom you serve. It applies, I think, to all Christians.

Martin notes that respect and confidence are earned over many years and can be lost in a moment of time. You invest in the people around you, depositing nickels and quarters at a time. A kind act here. Evidence of faithfulness there. And slowly, over years, as a steady, faithful follower of Christ you build a bank account filled with the respect and confidence of others. From time to time, you can draw down on that account if there is a small misstep or failing.

However, a major failing can in one moment drain your account of all respect and confidence. The people around you will no longer see you are one steeped in the grace of God. Instead there will be the lingering association with your name as one who has betrayed His Savior and His people.

Can God restore people after a major failing? Yes He can. That is the mighty grace of God shown us in Jesus Christ. However, what follows is that people will, for a long time afterwards, have to look past the failing to see the goodness of God. It takes such a long time to rebuild respect and confidence.

And I do pray that those who have experienced a major fall and scandal will find refuge in the arms of Jesus. May it be that the Spirit will empower such people with the strength to know how long and deep and high and wide is the Father's love shown to us in Christ and that his love be so sustaining it can withstand the withering criticism and cruel stares.

Are you willing to discredit the name of God for a fleeting pleasure? I pray that the Spirit in you cries out: No! Are you willing to attach to the Name of Jesus to your scandal? A thousand times "NO"! May God's good Name be praised by what we choose to do and by the things we will not do. May it always be our theme and our testimony: It is by the grace of God shown me in Christ that I am what I am and His grace toward me was not in vain!

Jesus, may Your grace rule in us hour by hour. Let Your Spirit control all we do and say. Let us be a community of people who disdain wickedness because of the grace of Christ and turn from sin because of love for Him. Spirit of the Living God, help us to warn those heading into the clutches of temptation and vice. God our Father, when, in Your goodness You snatch someone from the fiery trial of sins of their own making, may we, as the family of God, be firm and faithful in the steps of restoration. May we in all situations be able to proclaim: by the grace of God I am what I am. In our homes, in our work and in our play may Your Name be praised. Amen.

July 17, 2018 - - Psalm 84:9 "Am I good enough for God?"

Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

Psalm 84:9 ESV

How much good would we have to do in order for us to be accepted by God? Our every word, our every thought, our every action and our every intentional decision to avoid even the appearance of sin must be 100% perfect from conception to the moment of death. I can't achieve it. No one can. That is why every person who ever lived deserves the punishment of God against sin. Every person that is except our Saviour Jesus Christ.

From conception to His death Jesus was perfect. He is the One anointed by God. He is our shield in this sense: when God looks at someone who believes on Jesus Christ, God sees Jesus' perfection covering us. Jesus took on Himself the punishment against our sin so that we would receive His righteousness and fullness of life. Jesus is our shield against the punishment of God against our sin. Jesus shielded us and now we are set free to serve Him forever.

Thank You, Jesus, for the fullness of life You give us.

Thank You, Jesus, our Shield.

Thank You, Father in heaven, that by the blood of Jesus all who believe on Him are Your sons and daughters.

Thank You, Spirit of the Living God, for sealing this great blessing to all who believe.

Spirit of God, help us to live as soldiers of the cross of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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.