May 20, 2021 -- Mark 12:28-30 -- Christian Imagination Unleashed in Holy Service

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Mark 12:28-30 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV

That first imperative “hear” is the translation of the Hebrew sh’ma. It carries the dual meaning of “to hear and to obey”. It is why I title my blog “sh’ma Christian Ministries”. Those who hear the word of the LORD are to put it into practice. A Jewish person would recognize Deuteronomy 6:4 immediately as a devout religion-practicing Jew will recite this every morning. The text is known by its first word. It is called the “Shema” or “Sh’ma”.

Did you notice the subtle difference between the way in which Jesus recited the Sh’ma Mark compared to the way it is written in Deuteronomy? He added that the believer is to love the LORD with all his mind. Yes, the heart. Also the soul. Indeed the strength must be fully employed in service to the Living God—but the mind. Our imagination must be directed to the purpose of obedient living for Jesus.

This is why what a believer watches makes such a difference. Television shows, movies, media snippets watched on various platforms all influence the mind for or against the Living God. What you are watching and listening to, do such things enhance your imagination so that you are whole-heartedly and full on imaginatively living for God? Ouch, I feel the weight of conviction on this as well.

LORD of Heaven and Earth, You Who knit us together in our mother’s womb, direct us by Your Spirit so that even our minds and our imagination will be put into holy service as we seek to hear and obey Jesus. Forgive us for the staggering amounts of time we waste on social media, and gaming and selfish pursuits. With the Psalmist may we apply this Spirit-inspired blessing to our own lives: ^Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways! Amen.

^Psalm 119:1-3

https://youtu.be/sI6ZkTbUgW4

May 19, 2021 -- Colossians 3:5-10 -- Fighting Fit

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Colossians 3:5-10 English Standard Version

Have you ever played Pop-a-Mole? It is a game in which the player has an over-sized, padded mallet, with which to hit down moles which keep popping up from the large game board. As soon as one mole is hit down another one, or several, pop up. It feels like an endless, futile task.

In contrast to this, Christians do not “Pop-a-Mole” when fighting against sin. They put sins to death. Whereas the sins in which you used to walk were once pleasurable, now they are revealed to be sad, a waste of time and worse, an insult against the God of Glory Who has claimed us in Christ Jesus. It is not enough to have old sinful ways put to death, one must be renewed. It is this new life which removes the “Pop-a-Mole” seeming futility of the task. When one is renewed in Jesus Christ, kindness and humility, forgiveness and love rise up powered by the Spirit Who has taken up residence in the heart, mind, soul and imagination of the believer.

Rather than chasing down sins and shadow-boxing the old self, Paul is encouraging the Colossian Christians to put on the new self. Get dressed in the Good News of Jesus Christ. Offer your imagination to Him. Offer your day to Him. Submit your conversations to Him. Renew your mind in Jesus Christ as you read the Bible and listen to godly preaching and good counsel from people whose walk with God you admire! You will find your energies are engaged in what is holy, admirable and good and your life overflows with thankfulness for all that is yours in Christ Jesus.

Kept by God

Jehovah God,

Thou Creator, Upholder, Proprietor of all things,

I cannot escape from thy presence or control,

nor do I desire to do so.

My privilege is to be under the agency of

omnipotence, righteousness, wisdom,

patience, mercy, grace.

Thou art love with more than parental affection;

I admire thy heart, adore thy wisdom,

stand in awe of thy power, abase myself

before thy purity.

It is the discovery of thy goodness alone that can

banish my fear,

allure me into thy presence,

help me to bewail and confess my sins. Amen.

From The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

https://youtu.be/4j_Hz-khSyE

May 18, 2021 -- I Timothy 6:20-21 -- Guardians of Something Greater than the Galaxy

O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

I Timothy 6:20-21 English Standard Version

Paul, the mentor and father-in-the-faith to Timothy, ends this letter with a final imperative, that is a final command. What has been entrusted to Timothy is the sound doctrine of the Gospel (I Timothy 1:10-11). Timothy is to guard this Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Christ and His salvation—against all the heresies swirling around. As the serpent in the Garden of Eden said to Eve “Did God really say” so the enemy uses the same tactic over and over again “Did God really say"? It is an attempt to shake Christians from their sure foundation in the Word of God and the truth of His promises.

You guard this deposit by knowing what the LORD our God says to His people in the Word. Read the Bible. Savor it. Memorize it. Guard the time you spend in the Word of God as precious. Knowing the Truth makes counterfeits immediately recognizable for the false teachings they are.

You guard this deposit by listening to knowledgeable, godly Bible instructors. Make sure the Bible instructor you have chosen knows the Word of God, handles it rightly, and loves the Triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May false teachers have arisen.

You guard this deposit by praying to God. Ask the Spirit of God to show you the error of your ways. The Spirit of God has been poured out on believers so that we can speak with God and be instructed in the ways of holiness. Learn to speak with God and grow in your sensitivity to discerning what He says to you.

You guard this deposit by confessing the ways in which you have wandered from the truth of the Word and become entangled in irreverent babble. The LORD our Father knows our frailty of our hearts and our propensity to sin. Whenever you confess your sin and turn back to the LORD you bless Him, declaring Jesus the inestimable worth of the Savior.

Today’s prayer is based on Psalm 119:162-166

I rejoice at your word like one who finds great treasures.

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.

Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your testimonies. Amen.

https://youtu.be/IzXnINe12_E

May 17, 2021 -- James 4:13-17 -- Mist that Boasts

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 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. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

James 4:13-17 English Standard Version

In the 1987 the stock market crashed and it was estimated about 500 billion in assets were wiped out. In the crash of 2000 it was estimated 8 trillion was wiped out. Sure, the markets slowly gained these losses back, but for some retirement income was lost with no time to regain it back. Many were ruined.

How long does mist last? It is about as stable as our investments! In the blink of an eye it can all disappear. What is the hope of the Christian, what is our glory and purpose? According to James our lives, though mist and quickly vanishing, are for the glory of God. He wills our living. Our successes and failures take place while we are in the grip of His grace. Given the brevity of our lives we are to do what the LORD commands, for the greatest treasure we have is this—belonging to Jesus Christ.

Blessed God, even as my life is being poured out, may its every part be filled with praise to You. King Jesus direct my faith and service to You so that, filled with Your Spirit, I will accomplish the purposes for which I have been created. Amen.

https://youtu.be/a91_3VYRiZo

May 15, 2021 -- II Timothy 2:15 -- Presenting yourself approved to God

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

II Timothy 2:15 English Standard Version

When your supervisor at work is on the job site, you might be inclined to work a bit harder, to show off your best skills and the good work you are doing. If you love your boss and you love your work, you are dedicated to giving that boss your very best. This is the analogy Paul is giving to Timothy and through Timothy to the Ephesians among whom Timothy ministered.

Tomorrow is Sunday. If you are able to go to church—thanks be to God. Get dressed up. Pray so that your heart and your head are prepared to meet with God Who is not just your supervisor, but He is Your Father through Christ. Ask the Spirit of God to show you what needs to be cleansed and confessed. If you are not able to go to a church building and join with God’s people, I urge you to get dressed up anyways. Don’t slouch around in your PJ’s and half-heartedly listen to the Livestream service as you scroll through your text messages and emails. Put your phone away. Engage your heart and mind. Rightly handle the Word of Truth and prepare to be blessed by the King of Glory Who deigns to call you His beloved child.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Sunday and the blessing of being able to stop work and focus on blessing You. Thank You for Jesus Christ, through Whom we have access to the throne-room of blessing. Blessed Spirit, thank You for Your presence in our hearts and lives so that the joyful awareness of all that is ours in Christ continually dawns on us and revives our soul. Amen.

https://youtu.be/sWUWO4-ddTw

May 14, 2021 -- Psalm 27:1,3 -- Fearless in Christ

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid?

Though an army encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war arise against me,

yet I will be confident.

Psalm 27:1,3 English Standard Version

Really, an army can rage against me and set up all it’s rockets and tanks and I will not be afraid? People of God, this is where it is critical for us to know our Bible.

II Chronicles 32:20-22 The mighty king of Assyria had conquered all the way to Jerusalem and was about to crush King Hezekiah, when the king prayed and Isaiah prayed and the LORD sent an angel to cut his enemies down.

II Chronicles 13:13ff The LORD rescued King Abijah from an army that had surrounded him.

With three hundred men (against an army that was like locusts in number Judges 6:5) the LORD raised up Gideon to lead them and the LORD caused there to be fear and confusion in the camp of the enemy until they fought against themselves and destroyed themselves Judges 7:19ff).

There are many more examples of this. Why is this important? Jesus, the Captain of Salvation, led His people to victory over demons, over nature, over diseases—yes, even sickness is not free from Jesus’ command and control—and over false teaching and over all enemies. When the guards came to arrest Jesus they fell at His feet when He said, “I AM He” (John 18:6).

Dearly loved people of God, with the Psalmist, raise up a song of praise to the LORD our Light, Who reveals we need not live in fear. Sing a song of victory to the God of our salvation. He has promised us and proved to us He is the Ruler. No matter who is in the Prime Minister’s office, or the President or Monarch’s palace, God is the Ruler yet. When the people of the LORD were thrown in prison, they converted cell mates. When the people of God were set before judges and rulers, they declared the power of God. When the people of God faced illness, their confidence was not in doctors or vaccines, their sure confidence remained in God the Father Who has the power of life and death, the power to throw sinners into the eternal punishment of hell or bring His people under the Banner of Jesus into the splendor of the new heaven and new earth.

Therefore, beloved people of God, do not be afraid. In the sure confidence of God and His glorious salvation, live without fear, fixing your eyes on His glory. Know that the troubles of this day are merely the labour pains by which God the All-Powerful is signaling the new heavens and the new earth are about to be. Wherever the LORD has set you, testify to His goodness.

O God of my salvation, with the psalm-writer I declare

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD,

in the land of the living!

Therefore, Spirit of God, prompt me and hold me in this sure faith

so that I will be strong in the LORD

taking courage in the victory of Jesus Christ, the Captain of Salvation,

the Author and Perfecter of all true believing. Amen.

https://youtu.be/NjOGX5zT8KU

May 12, 2021 -- Luke 4:18 -- Let Christ's healing overflow

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…

Luke 4:18 KJV

You’ll notice I am quoting from a different translation than I usually use. Yesterday, as I visited the Harvest House Men’s Christian 12-step recovery group, called “Overcomers”, this is the text that was quoted and from this translation. The material is from Charles and Sharon Burton’s Overcomers Recovery Support. The explanation of this passage is beautiful and helpful. So I am freely borrowing their insights.

Jesus is anointed—that is, empowered by God the Father to bring relief to those in need. He has the Spirit of the LORD propelling Him, comforting Him and teaching Him. This same Spirit is given to all who believe and trust in Jesus alone for their salvation and follow Him in obedience. Jesus’ Spirit powered Gospel reaches to those who are in need. Jesus is anointed to reach all those whom the Father has given Him. That means we are chosen by God for His rich blessings! Look at the variety of work Jesus is anointed to perform for all who believe.

Preaching to the poor—those who are emotionally spent. Those who are financially poor. Those who are spiritually emptied. Jesus is preaching His power and revival to You!

Sent to heal the brokenhearted. How many relationships in your life have been destroyed because of your willful sinfulness? No doubt many. How many of us are estranged to our own lives. The very sins we hate we keep on doing. Who will rescue us from this body of death? Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, He has given us the victory! Join the vast multitudes of those who grieve broken-heartedly, often trying to put on a brave face. Jesus is anointed to heal you, you are entrusted to Him for this Spirit-powered healing because the Father has given the wreckage of your life to Jesus for this very purpose. This is then credited to the greater glory of our Father. Who else but the God of Splendour and Power, of Love and Wisdom, could possibly have brought about this change?

Preach deliverance to the captives. What sin has you in its grip, strangling you? Is it alcohol? Drugs? Anger? Sex? Gluttony? Pornography? Pride? Selfishness? Fears? Depression? Jesus has come to deliver us from the strongholds of sin and set us before the Father as loved sons and daughters. He gives us a place where the boundary lines of faithfulness are precious and good. This the the work for which Jesus is anointed and the reason the Father and the Son have given the Spirit to us.

Sight to the blind. When we are caught up in our addictions, slaves to sin, our feelings override God’s wisdom. Sharon Burton noted: “every time we disobey God we are in fact saying ‘God, I am smarter than You’!'“ That is profound blindness.

Freedom or liberty to those who are bruised. The explanation here is beautiful. So many of us have experienced bruised family relationships. Families would rather have their Christmas celebration without us present because our sins make everyone else tired, awkward, ready to rise to the bait of a particular old familiar quarrel. Even touching on it brings the wince of pressing bruised emotions and wounded flesh. Jesus brings His liberty and healing. He forgives us and in turn we are enabled to forgive one another.

Thanks be to God for the Anointed One, Jesus, by Whose Spirit all the blessings and benefits of Jesus are given us. This all because the Father has chosen us in His love before the foundation of the world!

Today’s prayer comes from the Overcomers Recovery Support resource book:

Dear God, it seems that I have so many problems to overcome. I ask You to give me courage and wisdom to examine myself and acknowledge the true reasons for my life-controlling problems. Thank You for beginning the healing process in my life. Amen.

https://youtu.be/-jkMnq2Hfzo

May 11, 2021 -- Psalm 51:17 -- Lifting up a broken heart to God

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalm 51:17 English Standard Version

This is a bit foreign to us as New Testament believers. It seems strange to speak of sacrifices. Psalm 4 notes that believers are to offer righteous sacrifices, not giving in to sin or anger. Ephesians 4 picks this up. When we are angry we are not to sin. This still leads us back to the opening issue we started with, do New Testament Christians offer sacrifices?

No. Jesus is the full and final sacrifice for all our sins. Based on His sacrifice, when we recognize our own sinfulness, our willfulness, our selfishness and anything that is brewing in us that is in rebellion against God we confess it. Our hearts are broken before God. We thank Him that our sins have not driven us to hell, but Jesus had taken our place. We confess, God You are holy and You are right in punishing sin. And in awe and wonder we thank the Father that in Christ our sins are forgiven. When we are unable to move or help ourselves, we turn to the Spirit of God, asking the Spirit to animate our soul and renew our hearts so that we are willing and ready from now on to serve Him.

Do Christians offer a sacrifice? Yes. Consider this. You may protest: I don’t feel like it. None of us “feels like it”. We are sinners. We are already aware our sin nature would drown us. So we deny ourselves. We refuse to knuckle under against sin’s siren songs. When we experience the struggle between tempting tugs our old sinful nature and the holy desires of the new creation we are in Christ, then we call on the Spirit, to arm us and equip us for the holy battle ahead. Ephesians 4:30 reminds us we are sealed with the Spirit—Jesus will not “fall out of us” like a snail mail letter might fall out of an unsealed envelope, or fall out of love with us as if He were wavering in His emotions. He is steadfast and faithful in His great salvation. When we have fallen, again (and again and again and again) into old sins—we thank God for halting our slide into sin and giving us a heart that longs for something more. Someone Who is God enough and big enough and terrible in splendour Whom we can serve.

So, we offer our hearts to the Living God. Broken as we are. Sinful as we are. Troubled as we are. In awe and wonder we bless God our Savior for the victory He has given us in Jesus. Each day we start again.

Lord my God, here I am again. A ruined sinner, wavering and uncertain of my welcome. There You are, steadfast and steady, ready to receive those who hold up broken hearts and confused contrition—can You truly love me? Yes. Oh the glory and wonder of it! Yes, You have declared Your love for us through Jesus Christ, Who was punished in our place. He died, was raised from the dead through Your glory O God, and Jesus ascended into heaven, taking the seat of power and splendour at Your right hand. Spirit of God, conquer this heart again and again so that I will be wholeheartedly willing and ready, from now on, to serve Jesus my King!

The song choice today is long. One of my high school favorites from the early days of CCM — Christian Contemporary Music.

https://youtu.be/N3TYkAWRdU4

May 10, 2021 -- Hebrews 1:3 -- Jesus upholds the universe, what glory!

He 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.

Hebrews 1:3 English Standard Version

What does it mean that Jesus upholds the universe by the word of His power? Why is this so important? Yesterday, listening to my pastor, he quoted from Paul Tripp. Tripp describes the universe as a ‘gloryscope’. The quotation from Paul Tripp is a beautiful explanation of the universe and Jesus’ power by which He upholds it.

“…God has designed the world in which we live to be a gloryscope. What does this term mean? Just as a telescope points you to the stars and magnifies them for you to see their illuminating glory, so the earth focuses our eyes on God and magnifies his glory, so it can produce wonder in us.

“Every beautiful and amazing sight, sound, color, texture, taste, and touch of the created world has gloryscopic intention built into it. Every powerful and mighty thing, animate and inanimate, is gloryscopic by design. No created beauty is an end in itself. No physical wonder exists in isolation. Nothing that is, just is. Everything exists for a grand, vertical purpose. The glories of the physical world don’t reflect God’s glory by happenchance.

:No, God specifically and carefully designed the physical world to reflect him, that is, to be the gloryscope that our poorly seeing eyes so desperately need. As the technician grinds the lens of the telescope for the best clarity and magnification possible, so God fashioned his world in such a way that it would bring his glory into view. God created every fish, stone, flower, bird, cloud, tree, monkey, and leaf to be gloryscopic because our loving Creator knows how fundamentally blind we can be.

Taken from Awe: Why it Matters to Everything We Think, Say, and Do by Paul David Tripp, © 2015, pp.65-66. 

Spirit of the Living God, deepen my faith so that I see the glory of Jesus Christ in every part of universe. Spirit of God, move me to bless God my Father for the rich gift of Jesus Christ given to believers, Jesus the radiance of the Father’s glory. Amen.

https://youtu.be/NYe6EOIH1kY

May 8, 2021 -- Hebrews 1:3 -- Jesus Radiance Divine!

He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God…

Hebrews 1:3 English Standard Version

My soul soars and blesses God the Father that He has given us the radiancy of Jesus Christ. Radiance is defined in these ways: brightness and heat. Radiance is also a description of great happiness. Radiance is also applied in the English language to the glow and health of youth. What an apt description of Jesus Christ—He is the radiancy of the glory of God. The brilliance of our Father in heaven shines through Jesus. What we know of the warmth our Father’s love is most perfectly and definitively displayed in Jesus Christ. We need no other prophet. In Jesus Christ our sure hope and great confidence in God is the source of happiness that no circumstance can ever rip from our hearts.

You might, somewhat sarcastically, think well, of course Richard speaks of Jesus as radiancy, hope and blessedness that never ends. Look at how easy Richard’s life is. No one knows the burdens each of us privately bears. Depletion from fighting depression wears me out. This dark cloud has been threatening to overwhelm me with floods of rain so that I would be drowned. Been going on these last four weeks or so. What keeps me going?

It is the radiancy of Jesus. When the day begins with worship of Him Who is the radiancy of the Father’s glory—light and happiness and a glow as if captured and brought back in time from the heavenly fountains of eternity wherein which I’ll be in the presence of the Father—dispel the darkness. I don’t rise up and feel like doing this. I don’t spring out of bed, motivated to worship. In obedience I begin to worship, and in ever greater measures the Spirit captures me as the devotion begins and He revives me. Sometimes this glimpse of Jesus’ radiancy lasts for hours and fills the day with hope. Other times it is just a brief time where the radiancy of Christ dispels the darkness of sin and gloom—but it is enough. More than enough to light the day with wonder and hope.

Tomorrow is Sunday. Get to church. Find a Bible-preaching, Jesus come in the flesh. true God, true Man believing church. If you are able to attend, blessed be the God of our Salvation. If not, get dressed up for worship and watch a livestream service. Pray to the Spirit, asking that the radiancy of Christ will fill you and you by faith will glimpse the glory of God.

O Divine Redeemer,

Great was thy goodness

in undertaking my redemption,

in consenting to be made sin for me,

in conquering all my foes;

Great was they strength

in enduring the extremities of divine wrath,

in taking away the load of my iniquities;

Great was thy love

in manifesting thyself alive,

in showing thy sacred wounds,

that every fear might vanish,

and every doubt be removed.

When thou art absent all sorrows are here,

When thou are present all blessings are mine.

Victory. Excerpts of. The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust. page 98

https://youtu.be/chnlE-CnZYU

May 7, 2021 -- Matthew 6:11 -- Daily Blessings

Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 6:11

Seems a strange thing to pray. I mean our pantries are full, the fridge has food and we can order meals to be delivered straight to our doors. Why ask God for our daily bread?

1. Do you remember last year, toilet paper was constantly being sold out at stores? This year wood is crazy expensive. One year to another, one day to the next, we have no idea what the future will hold. But we know Him Who holds the future.

2. Whatever we have now is a gift from the LORD Who has strengthened us for work, blessed us with abundance. As much as we have can quickly be blown away.

3. This prayer request is one Jesus taught us to pray. It is to humble us and remind us in all things we are the servants of the High King of Heaven. It is fully within His power and right to give fruitful years or lean, plenty or famine, sickness or health, and all things come from His Fatherly hand and are designed to draw us closer to Himself in urgent prayer.

4. We are reminded by this prayer, our Faithful Father in heaven gives us everything we need, spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. This leads us to bless Him and praise Him through-out the day for everything and in every circumstance.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory,

forever and ever. Amen,

https://youtu.be/La9Zy917JcQ

May 4, 2021 -- Luke 11:1 -- Jesus, Teach Me to Pray

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Luke 11:1 English Standard Version

Jesus gave to His 12 disciples power to cast out demons and power to heal to the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God with authority (Luke 9:1ff). Yet, when the disciples heard Jesus pray, they asked: “teach us to pray”. All that power and all those signs they could perform lacked something.

This brings to mind I Corinthians 13—if we are gifted to preach, to do great acts of self-sacrifice, but have not love, we are noisy gong or clanging cymbal. What must have touched and moved His disciples to ask to learn how to pray was their observation of Jesus’ close connection with His Father in heaven. Jesus’ dear love for the Father made all Jesus’ suffering service seem but light and momentary in view His devotion to His Father. The disciples observed the love a man can have for the Father in heaven and the profound love the Father has for His children. No wonder they were hungry to know that!

When Jesus teaches us to pray, the Spirit of God lights in us a fire of such devotion that no suffering can ever quench it. It is a fire which was kindled at the forges of ages past at the Father’s direction.

When Jesus’ example of prayer inspires us we begin to bless the Father as the Source of All Good Gifts. As praying continues, day in and day out, month to years, our hearts know Him better and more fully until it is not His gifts we long for, but we desire our Father Himself. He is the chief joy of the heart.

When Jesus’ people pray, persistently, urgently, they see the world as it truly is, under the full control of the Living God and the foolish gnashing and vain speculations of people are shown to be weak, feeble and pitiable in the face of infinite power of the Living God of Glory.

When the Spirit, Who lives in us, moves us to pray, it is no longer a mere duty, something we check off a list and say, okay, on to the rest of our day, no! The Spirit fills us with the knowledge of the Kingship of Jesus and His rule over every part of our lives. When the Spirit empowers our prayers, we see every grand arc of our lives as governed by the Father Whose purposes will never fall to ground in failure. The greatest moments and the smallest things are all brought to Him with attention and child-like wonder. Marvel at this, delight in the fact that He the LORD of all the earth and ruler over spinning galaxies considers the prayers of His children.

Jesus, teach us to pray! As Your disciples asked so long ago, so we Your people, know how urgently we need Your instruction and Your Spirit’s unction. Father in heaven, You have chosen us from before the creation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before You—let the truth of such love for us forged in long ignite in us such a fire of true devotion that our lives are consumed with love for You, dedicated life-long prayer that will finally reach its zenith when in eternity we are in Your presence. Amen.

https://youtu.be/KimkdLCiFBE

May 3, 2021 -- Psalm 139:4-6 -- Guarded in God's grace

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high; I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139:4-6 English Standard Version

Based on this reading, you can say that God our Father knows the words we are going to speak before we speak them. He knows us inside and out. He knows our failures and our self-deceptions. Yet, He hems us in. By His Spirit living in us, He keeps us restraining us from further sinfulness and keeping us from destroying ourselves. He put His hand on us in Jesus Christ so that our sins have been fully punished on the Person of Jesus and we are credited with the obedient life of Jesus, our Savior and King.

When shame would seek to drive me away from God and away from confession and healing, I should listen to the Spirit of God Who is telling me: “go to the throne of God. Go to God and find healing and help.” No wonder the Psalmist ends these few verses with marvel and awe—this is such lofty knowledge. This is such great blessing—I cannot save myself. I cannot help myself. It is only the LORD our God Who has rescued us in Jesus and keeps us in His great love through the power of the Holy Spirit. Blessed are You, God of gods, LORD of lords!

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. Wonderful are Your works, my soul knows it very well. Amen

(The prayer is Psalm 139:17-18; 14b)

https://youtu.be/3rT8Re1EIQc

May 1, 2021 -- I John 4:2-6 -- Test for Faithfulness

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

I John 4:2-6 English Standard Version

The beloved disciple of Jesus gave the test by which a Christian knows whether or not he is dealing with another Christian. That is, the test of believing Jesus is fully the Son of God therefore divine and fully the Son of Man, therefore a human being. By this test a man knows a fellow believer. Together believers face the challenges of the world, the spirit of the antichrist, the spirit of error. To that end we constantly study the Bible and delight in the fact God reveals Himself and strengthens us in our precious faith.

C. H. Spurgeon once wrote: “Bible study is the metal that makes a Christian. This is the strong meat on which holy men are nourished. This is that which makes the bone and sinew of men who keep God’s way in defiance of every adversary.”

Have you been nourished today? Are you preparing for church tomorrow? If you can attend a service, get to a place where true believers meet and feast on the word. If you can not meet in person, find a church that knows and preaches the Spirit of Truth so that as you watch church you are nourished and will able to understand He Who is in you is greater than the spirit of error which is in this world.

Spirit of God, create in me a hunger for all that is holy and true. Spirit of God direct me to Jesus Christ, in Whom my soul shall find all truth. Truth which can nourish my soul and strengthen me for every defiance of the adversary. Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus Christ, Who has overcome this world and by Whom all who believe are victors to the great honour and blessing of Your praise. Triune God, as those who are Your ambassadors in this world, help us to declare Your praise and proclaim Jesus to a weary and broken world tyrannized by the enemy. Thank You, King Jesus, that the sure defeat of this enemy is near. Jesus, I long for the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Your Name to the glory of the Father. Amen.

https://youtu.be/aD-7LcQVNac

April 29, 2021 -- Luke 9:23 -- Am I a Disciple of Jesus?

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me,

let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 ESV

Doug Milne’s excellent study Let’s Study Luke has this commentary on these verses:

Jesus gave an open invitation to discipleship. A disciple was someone

who committed himself to be with and learn from the one he wanted to

follow as his mentor and authority. Jesus had no objection to this but

wanted would-be followers to be clear at the start what this would mean.

Jesus was never one to play down the terms of discipleship for anyone

(Luke 18:18-23). The way of Jesus is one of repeated self-denial. At the

centre of human life there operates a principle of self-will on the basis of

self-interest. Following Jesus means bringing our will into subjection to God’s

will. This is the cost of discipleship.” Milne, page 137

How do I know if I’m a true disciple? Just like an overweight person can determine whether or not he’s sticking to his diet by standing on the bathroom scale, so a disciple of Jesus can weigh his actions. A disciple of Jesus will use his free time to learn more about Jesus—talking with fellow Christians, exploring questions of faith and so on. A disciple of Jesus will read the Bible—daily. Of course this is difficult. Our minds wander. Our time is busy and we can feel the pressures of the day crowding in when we start to read the Bible. We have stated Jesus is our all-in-all. Weigh your actions. What you are saying, is it matching what you are doing?

A man on a diet will step on the scale and know whether or not he his sticking to the plan or cheating. Here are some direct questions to help you determine your level of commitment. Do you find yourself thinking about Jesus during the day? Are you praying? Are you finding your thoughts turn to Him? Are you asking questions about the bible? Are the things of this world, old patterns of sin, becoming less attractive? Are you finding it more interesting to read the Bible? Are you talking with other Christians about their walk with God? Are you finding that you are examining your actions more closely and becoming uncomfortable with things you used to do? Does it truly matter to you whether or not you are growing in your devotion to Jesus? Answering yes to one or more of these questions means you are growing in discipleship.

The Spirit of God loves to lead you to Jesus. The Spirit of God invites you to ask for more understanding as to Who Jesus is. The Spirit will give knowledge about Jesus through the reading of the Bible. The Spirit will give you assurance that God truly is your Father. Ask the Spirit to help and direct you so that you will be a fully committed, joyful disciple of Jesus.

Spirit of God, lead me to Jesus. You have put in me a desire to know Jesus now fulfil this desire. As I read the bible, train my soul and mind to find in it the glories You placed there. As I seek to live for Jesus, help me to make a fearless examination of my own life and actions in order to make course corrections back to Jesus. Help me to live for the honour of my King Jesus. Spirit of the Living God, thank You for guarding me close to Christ in Whom I am a beloved child of the Father in heaven. Amen.

https://youtu.be/M37eRA8OMS4

April 28, 2021 -- I Corinthians 14:1 -- What are you zealously pursuing?

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts,

especially that you may prophesy.

I Corinthians 14:1 English Standard Version

The command of Jesus our Lord, given through the apostle Paul, is this—run swiftly towards love and towards showing acts of love and kindness. Corinthians 13 taught that love is patient, kind, doesn’t keep a record of wrongs—we are quite familiar with this. When believers deny themselves and their selfish indulgences in order to show the humble love of Christ to others, they build true community. In the very act of extending love to those in need, the Father in heaven gives to us the awareness of His great love poured out on us in Christ Jesus.

Desire spiritual gifts—it is an emphatic statement—burn with zeal for spiritual gifts. Look to Jesus and His perfections and the Spirit of God will stir in your soul a longing passion to be more like Him. Love fuels this urgency for spiritual gifts. Prayer is the means by which the Spirit answers us and equips us. It is work on our part to push out sloth and sinfulness and slanderous gossip. Think about it. Our world is rife with conspiracy theories. Imagine for a moment, if Christians, who already know the extent of the wickedness of the human heart, rather than breathlessly posting the latest Covid conspiracy instead put in equal or even greater energy towards honing spiritual gifts. Teaching or administration, shepherding God’s people or acts of mercy, prayer and giving, faith evangelism, just to name a few of these gifts believers are to passionately desire.

What is prophesy? This is so disputed. Many people believe prophesy is vague feelings and restless forebodings or the Spirit giving impressions and signs which speak of ominous things to come. Simply put, prophesy is knowing the Word of God so intimately that one is ever and constantly drawn to speak of Him Who gave the Word. God Who decreed, the Son Who demonstrated the love of God fulfilling His Father’s decrees takes away the sin of the world and the Spirit Who has moved men to write the Bible which reveals this all. A prophet who is not anchored in the word of God is not to be heeded—don’t give credibility to his or her words. All we need for life and godliness are written here in the Bible. Know it. Live it. Speak it. You will be declared a wise prophet if you do.

Forgive me, God of Mercy, for my pursuits of the latest gadget, i-this or that, and embracing things which pull me away from You. With the psalmist I renew my vow “You are the LORD, apart from You I have no good thing”. In this day rekindle my zeal to speak Christ and His perfections in all circumstances to all people. Amen.

April 27, 2021 -- I Corinthians 9:24-27 -- What's the prize you're going after?

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

I Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV

Every Thursday morning I sit with a group of men who are in recovery—from drugs, alcohol and other addictions. One thing stands out for me. They are aware this is a life or death struggle. If they do not discipline their hearts and minds, if they do not immediately recognize the first teasing whispers of temptation seeking to destroy their sobriety, then they know they will soon be chasing after death by way of addictions, rather than running the race of new life in Christ.

An athlete is clearly aware of what is damaging, constantly reminding himself of things like—here are foods I should eat for strength and these are foods that will make me lethargic. An athlete knows how to fight past excuses not to train—it is raining, it is too cold, I am tired, I’m not going to win anyways—and the athlete exercises self-control. An athlete knows the LORD our God, Who knit us together in the womb, has given us the gift of joy which surges through the body of the athlete who has fought excuses and went out to train anyways. It is called the runners’ high. I believe the LORD blesses Christians with a joy-filled high which is only given when we are serving the Most High!

The men in Harvest House are teaching me to examine my life with careful attention so that I am not aimless in my preparations, but honing my head, heart and hands for holy service. Sometimes I find fellow church Christians far less aware of the insidious nature of sin. While applauding the efforts of men and women who are openly crying for sobriety, these church-goers are in danger themselves of being disqualified because in church there is the devil-inspired sense of having already crossed the finish line. Therefore Christians, instead of being clear-headed enough to know we are athletes still running to receive the final prize they have become lazy, side-lined and out of shape.

Ah beloved, see the prize of life eternal in the presence of God our Father, a prize made all the sweeter in the knowledge that we will see our Savior and celebrate such blessings and glory in the Presence of the Spirit Who has given us both a desire for and an ability to run the race set before us.

LORD God Almighty, I confess my excuses. I confess the times I spend rehearsing reasons why I can’t, rather than reciting the victories You have given saints through-out the ages. Spirit of the Living God, renew in me the courage of a lion, ready to tear down any excuses. Spirit of the Living God, with the view of Christ as the ultimate prize, reassert in me all the reasons to discipline my body and through Your leading a godly control of my mind so that in all things I will not the problems and excuses and challenges, but I will see the prize of the imperishable wreath of glory which crowns the head of all who by the Triune God have overcome the world. Blessed are You, God the Mighty, Able to Save all who cry out to You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/hwc2d1Xt8gM

April 25, 2021 -- John 10:4, 14-15 -- Jesus' Voice

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:4,14-15 ESV

Today is Sunday. Get to a Bible-teaching, Christ-exalting, church. If you are not able to attend church in person, make sure the sermons you are watching are spoken by credible ministers who preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. The goal of our lives is to know the voice of Jesus Christ. His Spirit, poured out at Pentecost, is given so that believers read the Word and listen to preaching, and know the voice of Jesus Christ—the same Jesus Who leads us in triumphal procession to the Father.

Assurance

Almighty God,

I  am loved with everlasting love,

clothed in eternal righteousness,

my peace flowing like a river,

my comforts many and large,

my joy and triumph unutterable,

my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,

my sense of justification unclouded.

I have scarce anything to pray for;

Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.

How sweet is the glorious doctrine of election when based upon thy Word

and wrought inwardly within the soul!

I bless thee that thou wilt keep the sinner

thou hast loved,

and hast engaged that he will not forsake thee,

else I would never get to heaven.

I wrong the work of grace in my heart

if I deny my new nature and my eternal life.

If Jesus were not my righteousness and redemption,

I would sink into nethermost hell

by my misdoings, shortcomings, unbelief, unlove;

If Jesus were not by the power of his Spirit

my sanctification,

there is no sin I should not commit.

O when shall I have his mind!

when shall I be conformed to his image?

All the good things of life are less than nothing

when compared with his love,

and with one glimpse of thy electing favour.

All the treasures of a million worlds could not

make me richer, happier, more contented,

for his unsearchable riches are mine.

One moment of communion with him, one view of his grace,

is ineffable, inestimable.

But O God, I could not long after thy presence

if I did not know the sweetness of it;

And such I could not know except by thy Spirit in my heart, nor love thee at all unless

thou didst elect me,

call me,

adopt me,

save me.

I bless thee for the covenant  of grace.

Prayer: Assurance. "Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions”, page 92-93

https://youtu.be/ZpyIc7aR8BQ

April 23, 2021 -- Psalm 20:1-3 -- Armed for Battle

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

Psalm 20:1-3 English Standard Version

This is a Davidic Psalm—the King is about to go into battle. The people are offering up a prayer for His success. The King desired to be faithful to the LORD his God, evidenced by way of the cultic sacrifices he offered, the offerings which are prescribed. Besides these the King offered the burnt offerings which are gifts of thankfulness to the LORD. Here the King and the people pause, selah, means to reread, pause and reflect on these things.

New Testament Christians read this, understanding the daily battle we are engaged. It is a battle against our flesh, the devil and the world and we strive to be faithful to the LORD our God. In a world where our government has proclaimed abortion as a core value, and is constantly redefining the nuclear family out of existence, we realize how much we need our King, Jesus, to lead us into victory! He is the only sacrifice we need in order to be right with God. Jesus is our righteousness, therefore, when we engage in living for Him in this world, we are everything we need. Jesus, as the descendant of David, is the True King, the Eternal King. Pause and reflect on that.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence II Peter 1:2-3. What a glorious truth, as soldiers all the strength and help we need has already been given to us! Go out and serve your King!

Mighty King Jesus, forgive us for our quivering hearts which have been directed by fear rather than flushed with the fresh courage of Your cross lifted high over us. Spirit of the Living God, send us out as witnesses for Jesus, hear and far so that the glory of our God and Father is proclaimed throughout the world. Amen.

https://youtu.be/GzlponYvF30

April 22, 2021 -- Isaiah 40:27-31 -- Who Wouldn't Want Strength?!

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:27-31 ESV

Try gingko. It is a superfood. Try adding fish oil into the diet, you’ll notice a big change in your mood. If you would just exercise more, well, I’m telling you, you’ll have energy to burn. Whatever. As the Covid crisis drags on suicide rates are shooting up. Despair is greater among the people of our nation. How can we withstand the soul-sucking measures put in place to ‘help us’. How can people navigate all the regulations which seem to be shifting all the time?

Isaiah declares we serve the Super God above all governments, greater, infinitely greater even than we can imagine. When we are fainting and weary think about the One Who is called the everlasting God. Nothing wears Him out. Nothing lessens His power. He also has infinite understanding to help those who are worn and spent with grief and anxiety.

To wait on the LORD carries the sense of braiding, like one braids hair or weaves together the strands of ropes to repair a fishing net. Weave the LORD into every part of your thoughts. Meditate on Him as powerful, greater than all your worries or fears. Pray. Ask Him to do as He promised, to revive you. Read His Word. So many times people say “If I only had the time I’d do this”. Well, for many people this latest lockdown means you have plenty of time to wait on the LORD and see His faithfulness in every part of history and so see His ability to bring His compassion, faithfulness and strength even to these days of crisis. Reach out to other Christians and ask them to pray with you and encourage you.

Creator of the ends of the universe, Everlasting God of Infinite power hear my cry for mercy. Help me to truly wait on You, trusting that as You have responded to Your people in every crisis through-out all generations, so You will now, build Your people up once again. Guard me in these days which seek to crush me with weariness and though I am not busy or active as usual, still am feeling exhausted. As I lift my eyes to see the heavens declare Your glory and the Spring raise plants to new life may my confident hope in You be revived. Amen.

https://youtu.be/kkxbEzfIUHE