Tag: Works

His Throne Forever

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

“May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!  Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory!”

Psalms 45:6  Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness

Psalms 89:29   I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

Psalms 89:36  His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.  Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.”

Psalms 93:2    Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.

Psalms 145:13   Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]

Daniel 2:44    And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Luke 1:32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Hebrews 1:8   But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Isaiah 9:6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Jeremiah 23:5  “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

These scriptures surely give us a glimpse of everlasting throne of God, His plan to call unto Himself a people, and security in trusting in Him.  What we see and understand now is hampered by our sinful nature, but there is coming a time when we will be raised with new bodies that will never die and will be in the presence of God securely, forever, without end.  This is is promised to all who believe in, rely on, cling to, and trust in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  For this reason we humbly serve, follow, honor and glorify Him, waiting for reuniting with Him forever.  It is hard for us to imagine being imperishable, having a new body that will never die, and live in His presence where there is no more pain, death, or worries.  In Isaiah He tells us that He will create a new heaven and earth.  Live for Him now.  Follow and serve Him now.  This is our purpose this side of eternity.

Old and New Stories of Faith

“Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.”

“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’  You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

Psalms 44:1  O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old; you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free; for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!

Isaiah 38:19   The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

Exodus 13:14  And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Psalms 105:1  Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!  Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!

Psalms 78:3  things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Deuteronomy 4:37  And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,  driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day,

Romans 9:10  And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,  though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—  she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”  As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means!  For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

Zechariah 4:6   Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

God has done wondrous acts of power, might, compassion, and mercy.  We read of these acts in scripture and they give us hope.  We are to retell these stories over and over again to our children and their children – being able to tell of the hope that is within us”.  However God is not dead.  He is still active in the all things.  Walking close to God should and will add to the stories of old, stories of how God was and is active in our life.  Stories of how we were defeated in our heart and God lifted us up.  Stories of how God directed us to help someone at the same time they  were praying for help.  Stories of how God healed our sickness.  Stories of how God provided when there was no means to provide from ourselves.  Stories of how He gave us strength when we were weak, hope when we were hopeless, joy out of sadness, love replacing hate, patience replacing anxiousness, and faith replacing doubt.  These are everyday stories we need to tell our children and each other. We do this because we know God to be true and we honor and glorify Him by telling of His mighty, powerful, amazing, awesome, work in our lives.

Known by his acts

“By steadfast loveand faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”

Psalms 36:1   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.

Proverbs 20:11   Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Matthew 7:16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 12:33  “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Titus 1:16   They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Proverbs 8:13   The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Ecclesiastes 12:13   The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Romans 3:18   “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The heart of man is deceitful and full of arrogance and pride.  We can know this and always be on guard for when it wants to raise its ugly head. Or, we can say it is not there and never be looking.  How sad is it when we choose to deny there is any thing wrong with our thoughts, intents, words and actions?  Out of the abundance of our heart our mouth speaks.  It is also true that what fills our mind and thoughts feeds our heart.  How is a person to recognize right and wrong thoughts, intents, speech, and actions?  A live time could be spend on what it means to Love, and the same for Joy, or Peace, or Patience, or Kindness, or Goodness, or Faithfulness. The only way to understand our own heart is to examine it in light of scripture and seek God to reveal that which is opposing to living, acting, speaking in such a way that humbly serves, honors and obeys Him.  Filling our mind with His word on a daily basis will start this never ending  growth in our service to Him.  Rejecting or putting off time with His word allows our heart to become complacent and hard.  We are unable to grow, unable to display fruits of His indwelling in our lives, unable to serve Him,  and unable to honor and glorify Him.  Our actions, thoughts and words are a direct reflection of our walk with God.  David wanting to humbly serve, honor and obey God put it this way. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”  You know you are on the right path when your prayer is in line with this.

Fill your heart, mind and soul

“and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

Psalms 25:12  Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Proverbs 1:7   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 15:33   The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:6   By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13   The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Isaiah 50:10    Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

Acts 10:22    And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man,

Acts 13:26    “Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

Psalms 31:19  Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Proverbs 1:33  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

Proverbs 19:23   The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Matthew 11:28-29  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalms 32:8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalms 37:23  The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way;

John 3:20-21   For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John 8:31-32  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”  Are peoples lives, who have respect and reverence for God, different than those who do not?  What would be seen in the lives of people who respect and have reverence (fear) of God?  Would they read God’s word more? Would they give thanks more? Would they be more forgiving? Would they pray more? Are they more gentle and kind? Are they encouraging? Do they give more? Do they help more?  Do they speak words of hope, love, grace and mercy?  Do they have more inner peace?  Are they more humble?  Do they acknowledge God and His leading in their life?  Do they reach out to the unsaved? Do they talk of what God is doing in their immediate lives?  There is not a day when reading God’s word I do not see something new.  Sometimes it teaches me more about who God is, or His promises, or convicts me of an area of my life that needs to change.  Without His word I think our soul easily drifts and falls away from being able to hear His quiet voice speaking to our heart.  Think about oxygen and the importance of it on every breath.  If it were given to your lungs at the same frequency of being in God’s word  would your life be hanging on by a thread or would you be declared dead?  God’s word feeds our soul and in it we find know and understanding of God, peace, hope, help, strength, love, mercy, grace, faith….

Be wise, be warned

  • “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them”

“Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

 

Psa 2:10
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

Isaiah 49:23
Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

John 8:47
Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

John 18:37
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Romans 9:32-33
Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Be wise! In light of God’s word what does it mean to be wise? Serving Him, loving Him, fearing Him, listening to Him, hearing Him, trusting Him, resting in Him, seeking Him, relying on Him, and obeying Him are all scriptural.   Spend time in His word, listen for His voice, and humbly obey His leading.

Tell them

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Joe 1:3
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.

Deuteronomy 6:7
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.

Exodus 13:14
And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Psalms 44:1
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old

Psalms 71:18
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Isaiah 38:19
The living, the living, he thanks you, as I do this day; the father makes known to the children your faithfulness.

Psalms 145:4
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts

Psalms 78:3
things that we have heard and known, that our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

I don’t know why but the Lord has continued to lay on my heart the need for His word.  He has shown verses of what happens when it is neglected, and as well what happens when it is forsaken.  Do you wonder why He says to teach your children and to their children?  In Judges more than once the results were a total generation that did not know God.  How close are we to seeing this happen in our own families.  He tells us to write them on our door posts, meditate on them day and night, and to teach our children in from morning to night.  Is it possible to teach something we spend little or no time in.  Do we think one morning a week at Sunday school does the deed and we will not be held accountable for neglecting His instruction?  If we don’t spend time in His word how do we hear His voice speaking to our heart?  If we don’t spend time in His word how do we expect to be able to teach our children?  If we don’t spend time in His word how will we be able to make disciples?  We will be held accountable for what we allow to occupy our time away from Him.  Choose to know and understand Him deeper and learn to hear His voice and talk to your children about all you learn .

Jealous and Avenging

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty

Joshua 24:16
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.

Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Nahum 1:2
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well- doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self- seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil.

We talk much about God’s grace and mercy but we seem to forget to mention that He is a jealous, avenging, and wrathful.  Just reading these scriptures should give us a renewed perspective on this.  Wrath and fury on every human who does evil.  Issuing punishment of fathers to the 3rd and 4th generation of children.  Yesterday we read about the benefits of following / serving God and consequences of not.  Today these consequences are even more proclaimed.  The question we have to ask our selves is “am I limping along or am I fully committed to living a life that honors and glorifies God”?  There is no middle ground in serving God.  Notice how Joshua responded to the people when they said “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods” – He said “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God”.  I think Joshua, over the course of His life saw how many times their commitment was shallow and how easily, in times of peace and blessings, they so easily drifted away from God.  It is absolutely critical for us to examine our heart, mind, and soul on a daily basis and alignment with God’s word and the leading of the Holy Spirit – “ARE WE OBEYING”, “ARE WE FULLY COMMITTED”, “DOES MY WHOLE LIFE HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD”, “DO I SET MY MIND ON THINGS ABOVE AND WHAT IS PURE, HOLY, AND GOOD ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE AND NOT CULTURE”, and as one friend said to me recently, “ARE YOU ASKING GOD TO SERVE YOU OR ARE YOU SERVING GOD”.  God open our eyes, heart, mind, and soul to your holiness and lead us on paths that honor and glorify You.

Do Not Fall Away

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

Do you ever wonder why people come to God and receive His forgiveness and then fall away?  Or wonder why others who have been so on fire and thankful for salvation just seem to have little depth in their conviction anymore?  We are to hold dear that which has been entrusted to us.  Which is: an understanding of who God is, our sin, His plan of salvation, the death and resurrection of His Son, our forgiveness, and promise of eternal life.  How is it that we choose to stay so close to the world and what it has to offer and lose sight of the blessings of being a humble servant of His that seeks His will for their life with all their heart, mind, and soul?   I have stated this line from an old hymn before but there is so much truth in it : “Turn you eyes upon Jesus and look full into His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”.  Let Him be the light of everyday and seek His will for every minute of every day.  Do not be one that is spoken of in the scripture ” went after worthlessness, and became worthless”

Matthew 24:10

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Jeremiah 2:5
“What wrong did your fathers find in me
that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?

2 Kings 17:14
But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. And they abandoned all the commandments of the Lord their God

Sacrifice of Fools

Why do we try so hard to earn our way before God?  Do we think we can perform in such a way that it will make us right before God?   This type of thinking/life replaces the work of Christ and dilutes faith to keeping a ledger of the good and bad that we do and serves no purpose before the eyes of God. We can never do enough good to replace Grace.  Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to God but through me.  Choose to humbly confess sin and by faith know it is forgiven rather than trying to replace it with a ledger of good/bad.

Matthew 9:12
“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. ’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners

Hosea 6:6
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings

1 Samuel 15:22
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to listen than the fat of rams

Ecclesiastes 5:1
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil

Isaiah 1:15
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow’s cause

Doers of the Word

What keeps us from being more than hearers of the word?  Do we treat our commitment to being doers like New Years resolutions? People are trying to find something to give purpose (light) to their lives.   We are to be the light, isn’t it a shame to let that light shine every day.  Will we fail some days, absolutely.  Each of our lives have to be more than a partial commitment (a light so dim that it has no effect in the darkness).   Our desire must be to know, live, honor and glorify God continually.

Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven

Romans 2:13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

James 1:22
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

Luke 6:46
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you