August 28, 2023 -- Psalm 36:1-6 -- The Psalm Series: What are you listening for?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;
there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the louds.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD.

Psalm 36:1-6 ESV

Notice there are two categories of hearers. The first are those who are listening for and meditating on wickedness and self-flattery. The second are those who listen for goodness of God and meditate on His steadfast love always thinking about His character.

The wicked are self-absorbed. They are bent on evil and not even aware of the course of destruction they have taken on. Why is this Psalm written and sung in the congregation of God’s people? It is a warning. Wickedness and trouble and self-deceit are closer than the believers realizes. It is not until one looks to the precious steadfast love of God that he has light enough to discern his own dark thoughts.

The LORD’s love is evident in creation. The clouds and the mountains, the great deeps of the oceans and the variety of creatures on the face of the earth constantly reveal the LORD Who is near, Who is loving, Who is Good, Who is the source of all that is excellent and pure. The believer listens for this, discerning it from the cacophony of life and the clashing noisiness of evil-doers all around. The believer realizes how easily led-astray his own heart would be unless the LORD’s steadfast love, which is stronger, greater, and more persistent than evil, takes hold of him. This steadfast love is known to New Testament Christians. He is Jesus.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Great is Your love, revealed to Your people through Jesus Christ, the Beloved One. By the powerful working of Your Spirit help us, Your children to hear the voice of Your great compassion in the beauty of nature, in the terrible splendor of storms and as we watch history unfolding. By Your Spirit living in us, teach us to discern Your goodness amid the day’s persistent flow of evil masquerading as inviting, tempting, worldly good enough. As Your people meditate on Your faithfulness, righteousness, judgments and providential works, let our hearts sing to You, blessing You and praising You. Through such meditation as we more clearly distinguish and reject evil for the vile poison it is let us instead deeply drink in Your love at every opportunity. Amen.

https://youtu.be/tXQpDDcrN-w?si=bxgljDwksWCmJ-Xd Home Free “How Great Thou Art”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 22, 2023 -- Psalm 35:22-28 -- The Psalm Series: Understanding the imprectory, or cursing, of this psalm cursing,

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

You have seen, O LORD; be not silent!
    O Lord, be not far from me!
23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication,
    for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God,
    according to your righteousness,
    and let them not rejoice over me!
25 Let them not say in their hearts,
    “Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.”

26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether
    who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor
    who magnify themselves against me!

27 Let those who delight in my righteousness
    shout for joy and be glad
    and say evermore,
“Great is the LORD,
    who delights in the welfare of his servant!”
28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness
    and of your praise all the day long.

Psalm 35:22-28 ESV

Imprecatory, or cursing, is the thrust of the third section of Psalm 35. David wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and it is his greatest descendant, Jesus, Who ultimately speaks these words. That the LORD Who is Holy will throw down every enemy and all who oppose the suffering servant of the Living God.

There are two kingdoms in this world: the devil’s and the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The devil seems to have so much power and authority right now. Christians know Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven, and is seated at the Father’s right hand. Jesus has been fully vindicated and all who trust in the devil, follow the devil, and lead others in the pathways of destruction and sin will themselves be utterly destroyed. This is the vindication of Jesus, and the vindication of all who follow Him.

The psalm ends with praise before the Holy One. Even though the circumstances of the one who speaks it likely haven’t noticeably changed, the fact is: Jesus has overcome the world. His victory is sure. Whatever light and momentary suffering we are enduring now pales in comparison to the glory that is in store and the greater glory of ever living in presence of the LORD Who delights in the welfare of His servant. Whatever suffering you are enduring now, hold on! God has not forgotten you. Your tongue shall tell of His righteousness.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. You, O LORD our God, are mighty to save and to rescue from all the troubles we get ourselves into. You are glorious and have already rescued us from Your own anger against our sin and taken us from the domain of death and brought us into the Kingdom of Light, the Kingdom of the Son You love. Guard us by Your Holy Spirit so that Your Name and Your Word are lifted high in praise and honour. May the people around us see the way in which we cope with the troubles and pains and griefs of life and from seeing our response in Christ turn from sin and join us in praising God. Amen.

https://youtu.be/svWaaVbOQps Shane and Shane “Come Thou Fount (Above All Else)

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 21, 2023 -- I John 4:7-12 -- Loved based on the knowledge of God

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Spirit: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
I John 4:7-12

Anyone who loves knows God. Knowing God is a tremendously intimate word. It is not knowing God as like you know the couple that lives across the street. You wave. At Christmas you might exchange a card. No. One Who knows God is also intimately known by God—faults and flaws, joys, but also sins and selfishness.

i.                    One is born of God. Jesus declared “truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. When an unbeliever, confronted with the electing love of God, yields himself to the pursuing love of God he dies to his old nature and he is born again in love. All old patterns and sins are exposed as wicked, ugly.

ii.                 This new birth means we know God as Father. To be born of God, means that by Jesus Christ we are made sons of God, not by a husband’s decision or human will, but by the grace of God. We are known by God and we realize through Jesus we have a Father in heaven—and this knowledge is sealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

iii.               We reveal that we know God when the love of God is made manifest among us. That is, His love clearly, obviously, is our source of love, our endless supply of love. As God manifested His love to us in Jesus, while we were yet sinners Christ dies for us, so too, God’s love is manifest in us. We love one another. We forgive one another in view of the extravagant love of God given to all who believe, all who have been born again.

iv.                Love and the knowledge of God is revealed in the New Testament. The Bible doesn’t pull any punches. Believers are shown to be flawed, loving, and fighting—in every instance completely dependent on the love of God and His Spirit Who is the deposit guaranteeing our salvation. Just look at the Book of Acts. Believers share their goods in common, share the word, and pray together. In the same book, Paul and Barnabas fight. Paul is estranged from John-Mark, and then reconciled. Believers have a contentious synod, in Acts 15, but find resolution. Peter stops believers from entering the homes of Gentiles—even though he’d visited the Gentile Cornelius. You see, only in the knowledge of God can believing communities be reconciled. To know God is to face the conflicts, the wounds and know through it all God is gracious.

v.                  The world is contaminated, polluted, and threatening to pull against the unity and love which should define Christian community. Jesus noted that the enemy has scattered weeds among the wheat. Even a pure church will face challenges and battle to be place where love is demonstrated through forgiveness and healing. It is costly. Such love comes at the cost of Jesus’ very life. Someone can never “get away with sin” it has been punished at the cost of Jesus’ blood. Anyone who repents is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ and must, like the prodigal son, be received into community.

Almighty God, as we cross the threshold of this day
we commit ourselves, soul, body, affairs, friends, to Your care.
Watch over, keep, guide, direct, sanctify, bless us.
Incline our hearts to Your ways.
Mould us wholly into the image of Jesus, as a potter forms clay.
May our lips be a well-tuned harp to sound Your praise.
Let those around us see us living by Your Spirit,
trampling the world underfoot,
unconformed to lying vanities,
transformed by a renewed mind,
clad in the entire armour of God,
shining as a never-dimmed light,
showing holiness in all our doings.
This we pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.
From: "Morning Dedication" from Valley of Vision
 

https://youtu.be/WNz_s7uV_uo Keith Green “Rushing Wind”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 18, 2023 -- Psalm 35:12-13, 17-18 -- The Psalm Series: Not a victim but a victor in Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

They repay me evil for good;
   my soul is bereft.
But I, when they were sick—
   I wore sackcloth;
   I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

How long, O Lord, will you look on?
   Rescue me from their destruction,
   my precious life from the lions!
I will thank you in the great congregation;
   in the mighty throng I will praise you.
Psalm 35:12-13; 17-18 ESV

Today’s verses are quoted from the second division of David’s lament, the cry of his soul, verses 11-18. The first is 1-10 a call for help; the third division is 19-28 the call for justice. David expresses the anguish of his heart as his good intentions and actions are spurned and rejected by those around him. In fact the expression that seems to govern this part of David’s heart cry is the phrase “they repay me evil for good”. A brief examination of David’s life proves this to be false. One example is enough. He took Bathsheba from his friend Uriah. This same Uriah was one of his mighty generals. David had Uriah killed to cover up his sin. So, no, David is not perfect in doing good. In fact, this Psalm foreshadows Jesus—He alone can perfectly and honesty say: “they repay me evil for good”. As David through the sacrifices of the Old Testament believed on Jesus and as we today as New Testament believers believe in Jesus, we know we are not victims. Jesus stood in our place. He paid the debt we owed to the wrath of God.

This second section lists the wrongs of the enemies: they are like lions. They rejoice against believers. They are relentless in wrong-doing. Yet believers are not victims. Ultimately it is Jesus Who lived perfectly while all evil-doers did their best to crush Him. He was blameless in the pathway of God, at every step honouring our Father and resisting the Devil. Therefore He is the reason David, and all believers, praise God, thanking Him in the great congregation! Believers are never victims because Jesus holds our victory in His hands. Our Father and our Savior Jesus have sent the Spirit to ensure His victory is applied to every part of our lives.

What the Devil intends for evil, the LORD is using for good. Believers are living all the same kinds of heart aches and sorrows and struggles of other people in the world, yet Christians live them as people whose hope is anchored in Jesus Christ. We will thank God in the great assembly because in Christ we have overcome the world. These light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us a weight of glory beyond our current comprehension.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. With David, and Psalm-singers through-out the centuries we declare, “my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation”. King Jesus, thank You for the victory You have won—turning away our Father’s anger against our sin. Thank You Triune God for the gift of the Holy Spirit by Whose presence in our lives we have everything we need for life and godliness. When we suffer, let our lives shine especially brightly for Jesus at those moments so that the people around us will see it is through Jesus we overcome the world. Amen.

https://youtu.be/CQm4gfoAtwk "Yield Not to Temptation" Phillip Carter

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 17, 2023 -- Psalm 35:1-3 -- The Psalm Series: crying out as one who has hope in the LORD

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Of David.

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
    fight against those who fight against me!
2 Take hold of shield and buckler
    and rise for my help!
3 Draw the spear and javelin
    against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
    “I am your salvation!”
Psalm 35:1-3 ESV

The Psalm is a lament—that is a prayer of suffering and tears offered up to God, the Only possible source of help. If you have a good study Bible it will tell you there are three parts to this prayer: 1-10 the call for help; 11-18 the cry of the agonized soul; 19-28 the call for God’s action. Again the study Bible will point out that each section ends with praise. Let that sink in. No matter the depths to which the psalmist sinks, he cannot help himself, he intentionally praises God the LORD Who is strong to save.

David’s overwhelmed heart is being poured out to God the LORD. He is using a mix of law court and war imagery. Contend (used twice for emphasis) is a demand that the God of Justice bring those who are fighting against David into the Divine Court of Justice.

Now the terms become military. He is calling on God, Who is a Warrior (Exodus 15:3), to take over this battle. The LORD has all the resources, all the ability and all the love necessary to take on this fight. The shield and bucker refer to two kinds of shields. A small one to protect the head and a large one that covers the body. The speak is for close combat, the javelin for distance, to close the way to an enemy’s incursion. The LORD as David’s warrior-protector will use all means necessary to keep His servant safe. This is David’s prayerful appeal to the High King of Heaven.

As the battle rages all around, David is asking the Father in heaven to bring assurance to his very inmost being. Look at his prayer “Say to my soul, ‘I AM your salvation’.” David can’t save himself. David can’t do the impossible. He needs the assurances that can only come from God and so he asks for this from His Savior. What an intimate picture we have of David’s connection with the Living God.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. You are the Warrior-King, mighty to save to Your people; willing to rescue Your people from Your wrath against sin and from the clutches of the wily Devil who seeks to ensnare people by tempting them back to old patterns of sinfulness. Today, as You did for Your servant David so long ago, by Your Spirit speak assurances to our inmost being, deep reassurances of Your love, Your protection and Your mercy, saying “I AM your salvation”. Faithful God, from that place of safety and protection, lead us to being men and women of prayer, asking that those who seem to be our enemies now will be transformed so that they become family in Jesus Christ. It is in His powerful Name we pray. Amen.

https://youtu.be/svWaaVbOQps Shane and Shane “Come Thou Fount (Above all Else)

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 9, 2023 -- Matthew 27:62-66 -- The Blessings given to us in Jesus' resurrection

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Matthew 27:62-66 ESV

Recently I have been teaching a series on the Apostles’ Creed. This concise summary of our undoubted Christian faith is more than 1650 years old, and has been recited by believers generation after generation. Those studying it  with me are new believers and the richness of the creed has been a blessing to them. Yesterday the focus was on the phrase: “The third day He rose again from the dead”. The text before us today related to the time of Jesus' death. Interestingly enough His enemies—the chief priests and Pharisees who had called for his death—were the very ones who remembered He’d said He would rise again from the dead. It is ironic that Jesus’ enemies remembered this while His own disciples grieved as those without hope.

As the Bible proclaims, history proves, and our faith declares, all the efforts of sinful man to guard the tomb could not prevent Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. And by Jesus' resurrection we have these glorious benefits:

~the single offering by which He has perfected for all time
    those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:8-14)

~those who believe in Jesus Christ are already now raised
     to new life in Him (Romans 6:1-6)

~Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our glorious
     resurrection (I Corinthians 15:50-58)

What a wonderful Savior! What a glorious Father in heaven! He so loved us that He gave His One and Only Son as the single, perfect offering by which believers are being sanctified. What a treasure believers have in the Holy Spirit! The Spirit is given to believers so that by Him we are directed to Jesus in Whom and through Whom we have everything for life and godliness!

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. How deep and wide and high and long is the love You have lavished on Your people in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Triune God, for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, by Whose presence we can celebrate our resurrection life. Let our lives be pleasing in Your sight, Oh Father. Spirit help us to live so openly for Jesus that even our enemies will be confronted with the Truth of Jesus and perhaps turn from their wicked ways and join us in confessing Jesus Christ as Lord to the glory of the Father. Amen.

https://youtu.be/9kowN2rxc0M Low in the Grave He Lay

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 8, 2023 -- Psalm 34:19-22 -- The Psalm Series: The Christian and Suffering

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
Psalm 34:19-22 ESV

It is tempting to think, “Wait a minute, I’m a Christian! Why should I suffer?” The word “afflictions” means something that causes suffering or pain. Afflictions can also be a description of the Christian who is struggling under the weight of things like poverty, joblessness, illness, betrayal, persecution, rejection and so on. For many Christians this truly pushes against their faith and their confidence in God. It shouldn’t. The Bible is clear in teaching that those who follow Jesus will suffer.

Christians suffer when they deny their sinful urges in order to be obedient to Jesus.

Christians suffer when the Holy Spirit shows them the extent of their sinfulness and they grieve over their sins.

Christians suffer for the Name of Jesus, they will be persecuted. Jesus promised this. If the world hated Him, it will most certainly hate all those who love Him.

Christians suffer when the Father in heaven brings them through providential circumstances which are painful in order to purify them and strengthen their faith.

Christians suffer because there is sin in the world. As any person on this earth will suffer, Christians too will suffer. However, Christians stand out because of their willingness to endure suffering for the glory of the LORD.

The LORD delivers Christians from their suffering. While some Christians may suffer as long as lasts their life on earth, the deliverance from such suffering happens at their death. Those who die in the LORD will be raised to eternal life in the presence of the Triune God. Pain will be no more. Sin will not be possible, it is completely expunged from the Christian. Not so the wicked. Their evil will slay them and when they rise from the dead they shall be condemned to spend eternity in hell.

Even in suffering the Christian experiences joy that cannot be taken away. For the LORD has redeemed the life of His servant. To belong to the LORD is the greatest blessing, the highest honour and the most glorious privilege. In fact, it has often been the case that how Christians live for Jesus, despite imprisonment, or poverty, or other afflictions, that has been what has convinced so many of the people around them of the reality of the Father’s loving care.

With David, and the believers and saints through the ages, I declare:
"I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continuously be in my mouth!
My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt His Name together!"
Amen.
The body of the prayer today is Psalm 34:1-3 ESV

https://youtu.be/0iA6IZUW38U “My Life is in Your Hands”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 5, 2023 -- Matthew 5:4 -- The gift of mourning and tears

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 ESV

What does it mean to mourn? This same verb is used in I Corinthians and there it means to mourn over one’s sin, or in context calling the Christians of that congregation to mourn over the sins that have crept in among them. To mourn is to express one's grief at the sins which he has committed. It means to feel terrible about them and hate them. In Psalm 56:8 the Psalmist declares that the LORD has taken note of his tears. In Psalm 51 David’s sins have caused him such grief he feels as if his bones have been broken.

Jesus refers to such who grieve over their sins as people who are blessed. Why?
   ~When we know our sinfulness, we are aware of our need for
     Jesus’ atoning work at the cross.
   ~When we grieve over our sins, we are prepared for the Holy Spirit
      to restore true community among us, to offer and receive deep
      and true forgiveness.
   ~When we grieve over our sins, the Holy Spirit has awakened our
     conscience and is leading us in the way of Jesus Christ so that we
     can live as children of our Father in heaven.
   ~When we grieve over our sins the glory of God the Father is
     highlighted: while we were still sinners Christ died for us—the
     righteous for the unrighteous. What a glorious, compassionate God
     we serve.
   ~When we grieve over our sins, we are prepared to deal kindly and
     patiently with those around us helping to restore them to the path
     of life through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit.
   ~We we grieve, the hearts of fellow Christians are moved, and believers
     realize as well how deep is their own need for God’s forgiveness and
     how expansive is His mercy.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the gift of tears, the evidence of Your Holy Spirit’s work in us to break down the strongholds of sin and allow the cleansing work of Jesus to reach our deepest need. Triune God, blessed are You; holy and true in all Your ways. Amen.

https://youtu.be/JXyHMMy4YyY “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 4, 2023 -- Ephesians 1:11-12 -- The Basics of the Faith: The decrees of God

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:11-12 ESV

How many projects do you have on the go? Perhaps you have decided to gut your garage and get it cleaned up and hang all your tools and organize all the fiddly things into containers and all the gardening pots will be sorted, and the extras thrown out. Perhaps you’re putting off marriage counseling. You know it’d be good, but you’ve put up with the disorder of your marriage this long, and you’re not sure you want to invest in something that won’t prosper anyways. It might well be that have determined this time it will be different. You’ll lose weight. Until the next wedding, or major anniversary celebration derails your plans and you are right back to the weight where you started at.

Why mention these things? Because they highlight God’s ways are higher than ours and His wisdom infinitely greater than ours. We are fickle. We are waffling. We decide. Forget. Neglect. What God decides to do He accomplishes. Perfectly. Look at the following questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism.

Question 7. What are the decrees of God?

Answer 7. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Question 8. How doth God execute his decrees?

Answer 8. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

The God of Splendor cannot learn something new. Even prior to creating the heavens and the earth and populating the earth with people, He knew those who would be His and those who would be hell-bound. And the glory of the LORD our God shines out through this. It is not possible for God to say, “I didn’t see that coming”! He Who knows all things, carries out all things according to His purposes, His will and His decrees.

Pondering this leads to the praise of His Name. The more you think about the vast wisdom of God and His greatness in governing the smallest sparks that fly upwards over a fire, to appointing the times of exploding supernova, to His absolute lordship over the complexities of human actions and interaction, the more you realize He is unsurpassed in every excellency of His magnificence. Language breaks down to describe Him. He is God. He is worthy of praise.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name, now and forevermore! How illustrious are Your ways and excellent are Your decrees and majestic are the ways in which You accomplish every single one of them. How inexpressibly marvelous is Your salvation given in Jesus Christ and matchless are Your works carried out among Your people through the powerful working of the Holy Spirit within us. Blessed are You, O Triune God. Spirit of God, lead our thoughts to contemplate the superlative qualities of God the Father, and God the Son so that our we shall perceive how our lives are lived in the goodness of God and this will continually lead us to employ our mouths and hearts in ceaseless to praise and honor and glory to offered up to the One, True, Living God. Amen.

https://youtu.be/2OkSi7_xqGA “O Lord, Our Lord”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 3, 2023 -- I Thessalonians 5:16-18 -- Pray without ceasing

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

Recently I heard a podcast on prayer. Alistair Begg was preaching. He was appropriately harsh in his criticism of preachers, Christians, and church leaders who pray “God be with” this person or that person. The Bible is clear, God is everywhere. He is already with that person. Furthermore, Begg was ridiculing preachers and congregations who spend most of their time praying for the health of various people. Neither of these topics are the focus of the apostles’ prayers nor are these part if the instruction Jesus gives for prayer in the Lord’s Prayer. What then should believers pray for?

1. When someone is going through a challenging health crisis, ask God to show this person the purpose for this crisis and increase his faith through this and help him to be a witness to the doctors and nurses and heath professional he meets.

2. Rejoice. How often are your prayers filled with rejoicing before the Father in heaven for the riches of His salvation given to you in Christ? How often do you spend time before Him rejoicing? Believers note with the psalmist that in God’s presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).

3. Are you giving thanks for God’s faithfulness to you despite your lack of faithfulness? Are you giving thanks to God for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who lives in you and sustains your life in Christ? Are you giving thanks that our Triune God will not let you go, but His faithfulness pursues you all your days!

4. It was announced in various media outlets yesterday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife are officially separating. Immediately there are all kinds of Opinion Editorials expressing the notion if he can’t run his household, how can be fit to run a country—but how many people have called for Christians to pray for our leader—exactly as the Bible instructs us to do (I Timothy 2:1-4).

5. There are so many topics that need our urgent prayer. Consider these:

   ~that churches remain faithful to the Word of God and declare it boldly

   ~for judges and lawyers in the weight of difficult decisions that must be made

   ~for newly released prisoners who have “paid their debt to society” and now must reintegrate into society, may the church be found faithful in representing Jesus to this neglected people

   ~for parole boards that every single day have to decide whether or not a prisoner is ready to return to society on parole, or if such parole must be denied

   ~pray for the salvation of your neighbours, family members, friends, co-workers, by name, asking God to show them His great salvation

   ~so many Christians are at odds with one another, and their disagreements are well-known; how often do churches and leaders publicly pray for them that they will resolve their differences through Jesus, the Prince of Peace Who at the cross provided the basis for all our healing?!

   ~the gathering of believers can seem like a social club more than a place where lives are eternally impacted by the glory of God. Fervently ask the Spirit to make the gathering of believers a place where sins are exposed, and thrown down in the powerful Name of Jesus, believers are given the opportunity to speak openly about their struggles and needs, and together men and women re-affirm their graftedness in Jesus Christ (John 15:6).

   ~for the courage of every believer to admit his or her sins, confessing them and hating them more and more; for the willingness of Christian assemblies to call out sin and offer correction, discipline and mentoring in the way of holiness

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. What a treasure You have given those who have become Your sons and daughters by the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. This treasure of speaking with You, the Great, Holy, Eternal, Majestic One Who alone lives in unapproachable light! Spirit of the Living God renew in the followers of Jesus Christ a holy awe at the privilege that is ours to engage in a life-long conversation with God Most High. Spirit deepen our desire to be cleansed of every hindrance that might interfere with knowing and serving Jesus, to that end, give us the ability to be honest, and self-searching in confession. Triune God, as Your cleansed people, made righteous through the imputation of Jesus’ righteousness, help us, direct us, fill us so that we pray without ceasing-to the honour and glory of Your Name and the building up of individuals, families, church assemblies and this for the healing of our land, and the increase of conversion growth until Jesus Himself returns. Amen.

https://youtu.be/Xa5Nh77GDXg “I Love the LORD He Heard My Cry”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

August 1, 2023 -- I John 4:8 -- What do you mean when you say 'God is love'?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
I John 4:8 ESV

Our world considers love to be a feeling that rises and falls, that gets intense and fades. Scripture shows something profoundly different. God is love. God is just. God is faithful. God is good. God is holy.

God allows sinners to enjoy creation, life, health, beauty and family and work. It is amazing. However, those who enjoy such things in this life and do not credit the God Who is love, will be judged by God the Just for their refusal to express thanksgiving and love to Him for all the gifts they had enjoyed from His hand.

God Who is Love gives to believers delight in Him. With the Psalmist we acknowledge that it is in God in Whom is all my delight; at His right hand are eternal pleasures forevermore. Believers enjoy creation, life, health, beauty, family, work, and all things, as a gift from the Fatherly hand of our King. Christians endure hardships in the full knowledge that this life is not all there is. Eternity awaits us. We know God is love and from the fullness of His love we can love.

God is love. He is the source of love. He sustains His love in us through the power of His Spirit so that we can see the most perfect picture of His love, Jesus, most clearly. God is love, in Him we have the ability to love those who we’d otherwise deem unlovable. God is love, in Him we live in true and deep community because He is source of the love we need so that we can live with others who have as many faults as we do. Ah, what an amazing God we serve.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. We confess how greedily we drink in Your love and how stingy we are in showing love to others. From the fullness of Your love extravagantly shown us in Christ, empower us by Your Spirit to be a people who shine Your love out in every area of our lives and to share Your divine love with all the people You put into our lives. Amen.

https://youtu.be/KLTu1xv2-Us “Oh, the Deep Love of Jesus”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 31, 2023 -- Psalm 34:15 -- The Psalm Series: The Eyes of our Father in Heaven

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous
   and His ears toward their cry.
Psalm 34:15 ESV

The reference to 'the eyes of the LORD, there is a parallel expression in Chronicles. “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.” (II Chronicles 16:9 ESV). What an amazing picture this is, the Father in heaven is constantly looking over all the people of the earth, seeing, noticing and examining every single person. He is looking for those whose hearts are blameless, or whole, or righteous. Simply put, He is looking for those who knowing their need of Him, confess their sins. Long for Him. Look to Him. Delight in Him. Who do not find their circumstances to be their source of joy or sorrow—but in whose hearts there is a continual feast because their hearts belong to the LORD.

He hears their cry. What a beautiful statement. Maybe you have experienced something like this. You are visiting a family with many children. You’re talking with the parents when suddenly the mother stops, puts down her coffee mug and quietly says to her husband, “I heard that too”. She goes out to see what’s the matter. It turns out one of the children needed mom. Even though the others were boisterous in their play, loud and there are various ambient noises, mom and dad could pick out the true distress from among all the other sounds. If imperfect parents can do so, how much more perfectly, lovingly and patiently does our Father hear and answer.

Our Father in heaven great and glorious is Your Name in all the earth. Thank You for the loving care You extend to Your people. Thank You for the life given to us in Jesus Christ through Whom we are righteous. By Your Spirit's work in us direct all our living so that in joys or sorrows, riches or debts, sickness or health, loneliness or great company, we entrust ourselves wholly to You, Faithful God. We confess how easy it is to base our happiness on our circumstances, rather than allowing all our circumstances to drive us deeper into Your embrace. Amen.

https://youtu.be/JmGwHdNtpEw “All People That on Earth do Dwell”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 29, 2023 -- Psalm 34:11-14 -- The Psalm Series: being taught the fear of the LORD

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Come, O children, listen to me;
   I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
What man is there who desires life
   and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
   and your lips from speaking deceit.
Turn away from evil and do good;
   seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:11-14 ESV

The question which drives these verses is this: do you desire life? What is the longing of your heart. This week I spoke with a man whose longing and meditation is on the form and bodies of men. He is, by his own admission, homosexual. He also states he is Christian. The question is: if you are a Christian, why do you spend your time meditating on what the bible describes as sin? An alcoholic in recovery was speaking with me and his words might has well have been a pitch for a beer commercial. Why mentally pursue evil while in a Christian drug and alcohol recovery program?

When you are alone, what is it you think about? Do you plot revenge against your enemies? Do you hate yourself? Do you think you are a failure? Do you plan your next Break and Enter so you'll have enough money for this or that? Or are you entertaining arguments why you are right and this other person needs to know it, feel it, or experience it?

David is taking the role of a teacher of wisdom in this Psalm. He is telling his audience, his children in the faith, to fear the LORD. Let the majesty, brilliance, power, holiness of the LORD so impress your heart and fill your thoughts that evil is driven out. Let the Word of the LORD teach you what is evil and what is good. According to Jeremiah, the heart is deceptive above all things (Jeremiah 17:9) so you can’t trust your own judgment about things. Only trust the LORD and fear the consequences of disobedience towards Him.

Examine your life. Where are you entertaining evil thoughts? What do you think about when no one else is around? Does your heart go to the Word of God? Do you think about the work of Jesus Christ? Do you remember passages of Scripture that you mind need to puzzle out until you have explored the depths of what they really mean? Are you attending church? Are you doing the good you know you need to do?

This is not working in order to gain salvation. David is writing to his children, that is, his spiritual children. Believers who already now belong to God through the blood of Jesus and have been given the power of the Spirit for life have pledged to drop all their sins and all their shame and all their wrong-doing and follow Jesus. Are you in fact following Jesus in your words? In your alone times? In what you watch? By your actions?

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Spirit of the Living God, help me to honour the LORD in my thoughts and my actions. Spirit of all comfort bring to mind the ways in which I have previously seen and experienced the goodness of God and as I think of such things may my heart sing to bless the Father based on the accomplished work of Jesus. Spirit of God strengthen me deep within so that I will turn away from evil and do good, seeking peace and energetically pursue it so that by my thought-life and my activities I will show I am truly a child of my Father in heaven. Triune God, as Your people live in joyful obedience to the ways of wisdom, may we grow in true community and love and this be a powerful witness to the world around us of Your goodness to Your people, the Church. Amen.

https://youtu.be/DciMh_ciwkk Shane and Shane “Psalm 34”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 28, 2023 -- Luke 5:16 -- Appointed Meeting Times with the Father in Heaven

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 5:16 ESV

Don’t you hate getting stood up? You plan. You anticipate the get together. You alter your schedule. You keep the time free. And you wait. And the friend you’d expected doesn’t show. You might make excuses for the other person while you wait. But at a certain point you get exasperated. You realize this is just not going to happen.

The Bible records the fact that Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray. In fact, sprinkled through-out the Gospels are numerous references to this. It’d be easy to miss these notes if you weren’t looking for then. Once you start looking, you see it everywhere. Jesus was a man of prayer. He kept His appointments with the Father.

His times with His Father, prayer-times, were held in desolate places. Notice the meaning here. Humanly speaking they were desolate. They were without people, entertainment, distractions. They would be, humanly speaking, lonely places. For Jesus’ purposes they were desolate places transformed to rich meeting places blessed by His time with His Father in heaven. 

Jesus would pray. He was human. He had the same struggles, weaknesses, hunger pains, tiredness, and so on, that we experience. But He would push past these. He would withdraw and pray. Why? Because it is in the time of prayer that His soul was revived. No doubt prayer was just as much a struggle for Jesus as it is for us. Keeping the time free. Avoiding people who would crowd out His time with His Father. Not yielding to the tyranny of the urgent, but staying in place and pouring out His heart to God.

Dear fellow believer keep at it. Zealously guard your appointment with God. Don’t stand Him up! Call on Jesus, Who is seated at the throne of grace and mercy, to help you and to send His Spirit on you so that your soul is encouraged and strengthened to meet with the Father. Fight your flesh and your laziness and get close to God.

Our Father in heaven honor and praise, worship and blessing be unto Your Name! Thank You for the gift of life lived in Your presence. Thank You that You have prepared the possibility of meeting with Your people because of the blood of Jesus, poured out so that Your just anger against our sin has been set aside. Show us the spiritual pleasures awaiting us at Your right hand that begin now and stretch into eternity. Forgive us for the times we've stood You up and the many times we rushed through our appointments with You. Help us to rest in You. Help us to praise You so that the dividing walls of hostility will be broken down and nothing will hinder the ever-increasing felicity of meeting with You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/rNuGOFMvvAk Keith Green “My Eyes are Dry”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 25, 2023 -- Isaiah 43:22 -- Fighting the flesh in order to renew our first love

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob;
but you have been weary of me, O Israel!”
Isaiah 43:22 ESV

One of the men I correspond with regularly has been reading “The Enemy Within”. I made a commitment to read this work as well. I have been finding it an inspiration. Very convicting. The book is written by Kris Lundgaard. His goal is to update John Owen’s book “The Mortification of Sin”.

Lundgaard writes:
   The greatest destroyer of first-love is the neglect of private communion
   with God...Two lovers who never speak to each other are not lovers.
   A husband who avoids his wife, who reads the paper when she wants
   to talk to him, who takes up hunting or reading to busy himself so that
   he won't have to commune with her, simply doesn't love her. Period.
      The person who calls himself a Christian, who says he loves God,
   yet does not seek his company and delight in it, can't be a true lover
   of God. His own flesh has deceived him. If he doesn't daily give his
   heart to God and receive God's heart in return, if he doesn't daily 
   renew his hatred of his own sin and his delight in God's mercy, he
   has no relationship to God. page 118

Interesting that in today's passage the LORD Who, at the opening of this chapter, declared His love for His people and explained His saving work for twenty one verses, now refers to His people as "Jacob", which means deceiver. Beloved, how has your heart deceived you? Are you daily recommitting yourself to the LORD Who formed you, Who redeemed you, Who has called you by name?

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. It is easy to speak that phrase in prayer as a throw-away line. Just some opening that need to make so that we can get through today's prayers. But it is by the blood of Jesus Christ that we are reconciled to You. It is His work which allows us to call You Father. It is the Spirit of God Who breaks down every stubborn wall of resistance in our hearts so that we can hear Your call of love and know You as God our Savior. Spirit of the Living God renew in us a holy hunger for a deeper walk with God the Father. Spirit of Power, help us to fight our flesh, our wandering minds and our rebellious attitude so that we will call on the LORD, our Father, and this through the accomplished work of Jesus Christ. Amen.

https://youtu.be/nGlPk7Vzy2M "The Lord's Prayer" Susan Boyle

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 23, 2023 -- Romans 8:5-6 -- Setting our minds on the Spirit

People loved by the Father, by the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6 ESV

Paul has just completed that famous passage where he exposed his spiritual wrestling: “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” Romans 7:15b. He confesses his spirit longs to obey God and his flesh fights him every step of the way. He then praises God the Father for the redeeming work of Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25).

Notice the intentionality of both paths. Those who strive for the things of the flesh—pride, greed, position, money, selfishness, laziness, an undisciplined thought life—their lives end in spiritual death. They will receive the reward of their labours, which is eternity in hell. Those who intentionally pursue life according to the Spirit will find life and peace.

The flesh hates God. Even godly men and women who desire to serve God must fight their flesh. The flesh makes excuses: "I’m too busy to pray right now". Or, how about this one "I’ve been doing my bible reading and prayer this week—more or less—so I don’t necessarily need to go to church". What about this classic excuse "It is too hard to be consistent, God accepts me where I am as I am". Your own flesh, your worldly desires will try to drown you in your patterns of old sins.

The spirit which belongs to Jesus, will delight in the things of His Spirit. Those who by the Father’s adoption as His heirs, know that Jesus is their elder brother, and because of this they will fight the things of the flesh and every rising, worldly impulse that persistently strives to pull them away from life and peace. Notice the intentionality of today’s passage. It is not automatic. The believer must set his mind on the Spirit. There must be a day to day commitment to live according to the Spirit’s rule in your life. It is the fight of your life and requires all your thought, energy working under the power of the Spirit.

• Read your bible. Make the choice. Keep the commitment.

• Pray. This is a tough one. What do I pray about? Whatever you have read in the Bible. Whatever you know is fighting your commitment to stay true to Jesus.

• Get to church. It is a spiritual battle. As soon as you commit to going to church so many other things will pop up, urgent things. Good things. But not the best things that will help keep you true to the LORD and directed by the Spirit.

• Stay close to Christians friends. I have been re-committing myself to eating healthier. It was hot yesterday. So hot. I offered to take a friend to a popular ice cream place. A few hours earlier, he’d just heard of my commitment to healthier eating. He declined the offer of ice cream! His steadiness overcame my lazy, fleshly desires.

Our Father in heaven praise and honour, blessing and worship belong to You. How great is the salvation You have given in Jesus Christ! Who is a God like You? You save Your people from sin and You strengthen them for this new life by the powerful presence of Your Spirit. Triune God help us as believers to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. Help us to fight our worldly desires submitting ourselves instead to Your law and Your will and so find the abundant life and plenteous peace that You so richly promise. Amen.

https://youtu.be/tQUTvMtUhw4 “The Doxology” Anthem Lights and Selah

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 21, 2023 -- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 -- The Basics of the Faith: the Only, Living and True God

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“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. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ESV

One common misconception of the non-believer, that also infects far too many believers as well, is the notion that there are many titles and labels for God and all religions are basically different paths to the same God. God is exclusive. He is in a category all on His Own. There is no other gods. That is scandalous to the people of the world. It is the blessed assurance of the Christian. The Shorter Catechism puts it this way:

Q. 5 Are there more Gods than one?

Answer: There is but one only, the living and true God.

One of the source texts for question and answer 5 is our text. Those believers of the Old Testament who anticipated Jesus, and New Testament believers in Jesus, are joined together in the revealed knowledge that the LORD God is the One, True, Living God. There are none beside Him.

The New Testament fully confirms the teaching of the Old Testament, that Jesus is the only way to knowing God, John 14:6. The LORD, the Living and True God, is all-knowing, all-wise. It is to His great honour and glory that He has revealed Himself through the creation, then through the Bible and the greatest revelation is Jesus Christ Himself.

Knowing this fact, that there is but one only, the living and true God, makes one more devoted to the Living God. Knowing this fact deepens the worship the believer offers to Him, because we realize it is the lovingkindness of God that stoops to our weakness and frailty so that by His Self-revelation we can know Him. Knowing this fact motivates our evangelistic zeal. Knowing this fact is brought ever closer to our hearts and minds as we teach others. The teaching of it confirms our knowledge of Him and strengthens our faith in the Only, Living, True God.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for making yourself known through the wonders of creation, and more directly making Yourself known through the Word, and then most perfectly revealing Yourself through Jesus Christ. Father, pour out Your Spirit so that believers can grow in their understanding of Who You Are, so that we will worship You in spirit and in truth, and more willingly tell all those around us of Your greatness. This we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

https://youtu.be/u0a1Pq9avbg “O Worship the King” Chet Valley Churches

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 19, 2023 -- Psalm 33:6-9 -- The Psalm Series: The Fear of the LORD and the Creator's touch

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
he puts the deeps in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him!
For He spoke, and it came to be;
He commanded, and it stood firm.
Psalm 33:6-9 ESV

This morning I’m traveling back from Ontario to NB. I took the Go Train from Hamilton to Union Station. After arriving at Union I had more than 3 hours before my flight would leave from Billy Bishop Airport, so I thought I’d walk the 2.5km to get there. Amid all the buildings and concrete, construction and traffic, there are wonderful signs of God’s creation. There are birds picking up seeds. Quick pigeons weaving in and out of traffic, landing, picking up a tidbit and then jumping into flight. Along the waterfront some gardens have been planted and the green space is doubly appreciated, like an oasis in the city. Truly God’s creation is magnificent. Plants, green-leaved boasting multi-colored flowers, flourish in the summer sunshine. Those who notice such things notice the touch of the Creator.

The LORD Who made the heavens also crafted the beauty of the earth. He most perfectly revealed His glory in Jesus Christ, the Living Word, Who always declares the nearness of God. All the inhabitants of the earth are called to stand in awe of Him! Those who delight in Him now, will find their delight increasing through-out all eternity. Those who refuse Him now, will fear Him through all eternity. It will be a terror in hell, to realize through-out endless ages what a scandal it was to refuse Him while alive on earth.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! With the righteous we shout for joy in the LORD! We make melody to You, King of kings. Oh Jesus, Master, our souls wait for You; for You are the Help and Shield of Your people. Let Your steadfast love be upon us, O LORD, even as we continually put our hope in You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/ysf1Dhoku_o “My Redeemer is Faithful and True” Fountainview Academy

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 12, 2023 -- Psalm 32:1-7 -- The Psalm Series: the LORD's amazing protection

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech,
so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
    and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him
    and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34:1-7 ESV

The background of this Psalm is likely I Samuel 21:10-15. David, fleeing from King Saul who was trying to kill him, went to Gath. The King of Gath, whose title is Abimelech and name is Achish, was musing that he had his enemy in his grasp. When David realized the trouble he was in, he pretended to be insane. The King of Gath then sent him away.

Prior to this, David had been anointed by Samuel, the servant of the LORD, to be the next king of Israel. The current king of Israel, Saul, was furious and was seeking to kill David. The LORD protected David and used the situation to teach David warfare. As David fled from Saul, he learn the lay of the land of Israel--its hiding places and good places for warfare. David learned the fine art of keeping his own band of soldiers loyal. Despite this, readers of the Bible know that David was not perfect. It was unwise to go to the King of Gath. He’d made a major misstep. Even so, the LORD protected him.

No wonder David praised the LORD. It was obvious the angel of the LORD was camping with David, keeping him from harm, like the attack of Saul. The angel of the LORD was even keeping David from the foolishness of his own actions. And the angel was protecting David from attacks he did not even realize and likely would not understand until David stood before the King of Glory in heaven and understood the mercies of the LORD. I wonder if it is not like that in our lives as well. It is only when we look back over the events of our lives that we realize how fully and how truly the LORD rescued us. And then eternity, what glory that will be! Then without the weight of sin or its blinders, we will realize how fully, how masterfully and how gracious our Father in heaven was protecting us all through our lives.

All of our Father's faithful rescues of His people is based on the greater descendant of David, Jesus. It is for the radiance and glory of Jesus Christ that we are saved. Rather than an angel camping at our doorstep, we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. The Spirit is the gift of the Father poured out to us on the basis of Jesus’ accomplished work. When we struggle, the Spirit is here. When we are foolish, the Spirit redirects our steps. When we feel far from God, it is the Spirit Who reminds us because of Jesus’ accomplished work, we shall never be forsaken, that is abandoned, by God. No wonder believers, with David, cry out, I will bless the LORD at all times!

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. What kindness and love You show to Your people. The stories of the Bible show us how You always persist in protecting Your people and believers can extrapolate from that how You continue to show Your love and protection in their lives as well. With David we cry out: "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all". We bless You, O LORD, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at all times. Amen.

https://youtu.be/DciMh_ciwkk “Taste and See” Shane and Shane

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

July 11, 2023 -- Revelation 15:3-4 -- The Basics of the Faith: What is God?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Great and amazing are your deeds,
   O Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are all your ways,
   O King of the nations!
Who will not fear, O Lord,
   and glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
   All nations will come
   and worship you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.
Revelation 15:3-4 ESV

Q. 4 What is God?

Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

The text this morning is the hymn of heaven. Those who’d conquered the beast by the blood of the Lamb and in the power of His Spirit are by the sea of glass with harps in their hands and are praising God, singing the song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb. What a glorious picture it is. This picture of heaven highlights a couple of the attributes of God. It is one of the reasons the Shorter Catechism includes this as a source text for question and answer 4.

It is the common error of our time to think of the Living God as a buddy, but not to fear Him. The Shorter Catechism includes many passages which focus on the greatness of God, and these show that He is to be feared and worshiped. Why feared?

Awe and reverence before God, the all-powerful One, should fill our imagination. Looking to Him with humble and contrite hearts should affect how we act, what we do, and what we choose to run away from as we realize it would be dangerous to true obedience.

Yet this God of terrible splendor is also our good Father, the source of every good that fills our lives (James 1:17). Spend some time today thinking of Him, Who is perfect in holiness and justice, full of goodness and the only source of Truth on all the universe. Praise Him that He has chosen to reveal Himself through Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Hope in Him in times of extreme suffering and worry—for His Spirit is near to all who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

The Opening phrases of today's prayer are from Revelation 16:5c-7

Just are You, O Holy One, Who Is and Who Was,
   for You brought these judgments.
For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
   and You have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!
Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
   true and just are Your judgments.
Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name.
Teach us to reverence You and honour You.
By the powerful presence of Your Spirit within us,
   cause us to meditate on Jesus, the Lamb of God,
   in Whom we triumph, and
   by Whom we are brought into the radiant glory of Your presence.
Amen.

https://youtu.be/4oGuGzCFEWI “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” Chet Valley Church

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.