1 Tim.2: 5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
In the Old Testament God called out prophets to communicate through human mediation. This was our sermon on Sunday, the point being, now we have Christ who is our prophet. He is the very presence of holy God. We have been reconciled by Jesus and now have direct access to God through Him. We must guard our relationship with Him at all cost. He is the word of God brought to life. He is God's glory and our promise. Our pastor brought out an interesting thought on prayer, even heathens pray. In the OT they prayed to the Baals, Molech and various other gods. It is not the act of prayer but who you pray to!!
Lord, protect us from idolatry. Amen 1 Col.3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 1 Cor.:5-6 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Prayer for Mercy
Is.63:15-19 Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.
Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name. Like those who are not called by Your name, that should give us pause!!! What is your relationship with Him? Lord, You are holy God. We need You to guide us. Soften our hearts so that we may truly hear You when You speak through Your word. Amen
Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me. For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name. O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage. Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary. We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name. Like those who are not called by Your name, that should give us pause!!! What is your relationship with Him? Lord, You are holy God. We need You to guide us. Soften our hearts so that we may truly hear You when You speak through Your word. Amen
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Comfort for the Contrite
The definition of contrite is feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming. Well that got me, how about you? I would say the Lord knows us pretty well!!!
Is. 57: 14-21 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way."For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Is. 57: 14-21 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way."For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
The Compassion of the Lord
Is.55:1-9 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I don't think we deserve this do you? His compassion for His people is too great. Aren't we glad He is a forgiving God?
Lord, we deserve Your judgement. How can You love us? Amen
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I don't think we deserve this do you? His compassion for His people is too great. Aren't we glad He is a forgiving God?
Lord, we deserve Your judgement. How can You love us? Amen
Monday, June 28, 2010
Our Precious Jesus
The prophet Isaiah tells of our coming salvation through Jesus.
Is.53 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Lord, Your words are true! Pour out Your Spirit on us so we can take You to the nations. We await Your return. Amen
Is.53 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Lord, Your words are true! Pour out Your Spirit on us so we can take You to the nations. We await Your return. Amen
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Be Still and Know That I Am God
Ps.46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Ps.46: 10-11 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Can we fully understand the meaning of these words? I don't believe we will until we see Him face to face.
Ps.135:5-7 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Job 38:4-11"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
Job 38:19-21 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,
that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
O my Lord, I am speechless at Your word. We have no idea who You really are, do we? Have mercy on us. Amen
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Ps.46: 10-11 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Can we fully understand the meaning of these words? I don't believe we will until we see Him face to face.
Ps.135:5-7 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.
Job 38:4-11"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
Job 38:19-21 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,
that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
O my Lord, I am speechless at Your word. We have no idea who You really are, do we? Have mercy on us. Amen
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Besides Me There Is No God
Is.44 :6-8 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
"I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
Aren't the words of our Lord God awesome? They soothe my soul as well as challenge me to repentance of my sin. Thanks you Lord for the words that change people.
Is.44:24-28 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,'
and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins'; who says to the deep, 'Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers'; who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
Is.45:22-23 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:
'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
"I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any."
Aren't the words of our Lord God awesome? They soothe my soul as well as challenge me to repentance of my sin. Thanks you Lord for the words that change people.
Is.44:24-28 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited,'
and of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins'; who says to the deep, 'Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers'; who says of Cyrus, 'He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose'; and of the temple, 'Your foundation shall be laid.'"
Is.45:22-23 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return:
'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
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