What Are The True Riches?

Luke 16:10-15; The true riches are found in the Kingdom of God.

Everyone Will Know He Is Lord

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 KJV)

You may not bow before the name of Jesus now. You may not confess that Jesus Christ is Lord now. But, there will come a day when you will. There will come a day when you will come face to face with God Almighty and you will recognize that Jesus is the truth and he is the way that was meant for you to follow. Prayerfully, on that day, when you meet him face to face, you will already know him and love him. 

Many will say that I do not need love. I do not need anyone. The truth is that we all need to be loved and to love. We were not created to live in isolation. Without love, we may exist. But, we will not thrive and God intends for us to thrive. He intends for us to live abundant lives and not so much abundant in more things that we need or even can use; but, to live life in peace and with joy in communion with God as well as in community. 

Make no mistake; whether you will bow at the name of Jesus now there will come a day when everyone will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Don't wait too long to live life knowing our Lord and Savior.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

It All Glorifies God

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.

For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

                                                                                                           (2 Cor 12:1-10 KJV)

Thanks be to God for both the awesome experience of visions in the heavenly realms as well as the suffering that we endure for Christ's sake in this world.

St. Paul said that he knew a man who visited the heavenly realms. Whether it was physically or spiritually as in a vision he was not sure. He claims it was not him who had this glorious experience and he would be a fool to claim otherwise. However, as this event is related it revealed to us the awesome things that God can do and how He can speak to us in anyway He chooses. In the telling of this event the glory of God is revealed to us. 

St. Paul's personal  experience of God's glory was experienced in some sort of infirmity which called a "thorn in his flesh." His experience of God's glory was found in trusting that God was with him in his infirmity, in persecutions, and in distresses for Christ's sake for when he was weakened God helped him through and made him strong to endure all things. It is not we; but, the abiding presence of Christ in us that gives us strength resulting in giving glory to God.

Therefore we take pleasure in our weaknesses because our ability to overcome by the power of the Spirit of Christ glorifies our Father in heaven and to Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Sing His Praise

PSALM 47 KJV

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.

He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.

God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

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Sing praises to God with a joyful spirit for He is the King of all the earth. He sits on His throne above all princes of the people and He reigns above all of them.  

There are many who would like to control our lives; but, they cannot for we have been freed from bondage by the blood of God's only begotten Son Jesus the Christ.

Thank the Lord and sing praises to Him for He has done a marvelous thing!

God' Peace - Pr. J.

God Calls The Lowly

 

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

                                                                                      (1 Cor 1:26-31 KJV)

David a mere shepherd boy; the youngest in his family, was chosen by God to be king over Israel. 

Joseph, the youngest son of Israel was despised by his older brothers. They sold him into slavery. Yet, God had a plan for Joseph. Although, he began his life as a slave in Egypt he became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt saving the country including his brothers who had betrayed him from starvation. 

And... there in a time when women were nothing we find Deborah leading the Israelite army and defeating the Canaanites. Yet, it was not Deborah who defeated the enemy. Deborah gave the honor and glory to God for making them victorious. 

God can and does use some of the least expected of people to save the people.  He sent Jesus to us to be born of humble beginnings; born of a virgin, born in a barn, to save the world. Even as an adult he had no place of his own to call home. (Luke 9:58)  He and his disciples stayed wherever someone would invite them in. He lorded over nothing in this world; yet, he is the Lord of all. 

All glory belongs to God! Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. According to words of Jesus: 

"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."

                                                                                       (Matt 23:11-12)

The disciples also wanted to be first in Jesus' life. They let their egos take charge of them and they argued about who among them were the greatest. 

"But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all." 

                                                                                        (Mark 9:34-35)

God calls whom He will call and most often he does not call those who depend on or glory in their titles and their own honor. He calls those who trust in Him. He most often calls those who the world would least expect to lead them. He calls those who are willing to serve Him and not themselves.

The last shall be first and those who place themselves first in this world; above all; better than others, shall in the end be last. 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Praise The Lord!

    

       Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,
you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth,
young men and women,
    old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
And he has raised up for his people a horn,
    the praise of all his faithful servants,
    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

                                                           Psalm 148 (NIV)

All of God's creation praises the Lord! That is what this Psalm of David's reminds us. 

There are a few things that we have in common with all of His creation. For starters, the LORD created everything upon the earth and in the heavens above the earth. We are all God's creation. With creation, we bow down and praise the LORD!  With all of earthly creation and all the heavenly host, we praise the LORD!

Thanks be to God for His whole creation!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Every Knee Will Bow!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11 NIV)

Every knee should bow at the name of Jesus today; but, every knee does not. But, there will come a day when every will bow. St. Paul wrote to the Romans (14:11-12): It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

There will be knees will be bowed in complete adoration and genuine gratefulness for all that he has done for us. There will also be knees bowed in fear and trembling for not having acknowledged nor loved Jesus before they faced the day of judgment. 

Do not delay! It is not too late. Today is the day to give all praise to the Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Work Of His Hands

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
   though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
   you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;

   with your right hand you save me.

The Lord will vindicate me;

   your love, Lord, endures forever—

   do not abandon the works of your hands.

                                        (Psalm 138:8 NIV)

I was cleaning out spaces the other day. I was getting rid of those things that I have not used and have had hidden away for many years. Some of the things I ran across were hand-drawn or colored pictures; paintings; short-stories, that my children and grandchildren had created many years ago. I did not throw them away. I hung on to the things that had been created by the work of their hearts, hands, and minds.

If we who are human attempt to preserve those things that we have created; how much more do you suppose that God would preserve those things that He has created. You have been created by the works of His hands. He will never abandon you. He is there with you no matter what befalls you; both good and bad, to preserve your life; to preserve your eternal life. His right hand saves you.

Thanks be to God! He loves you; the work of His hands.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Give God The Glory!

Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (1 Chron 29:11 NIV)

I don't seem to be able to help it; but, I get just a little crazy (maybe a better word is overwhelmed) when things or people other than God are exalted over God. Yes, it happens. It seems to happen way too often. I'm not sure if people are even aware that they are doing it when they are doing it. It is just the way things are today. The thing being that we take God for granted. He is there when we need something; like a fairy god-mother. But, we are not there for Him. We are not there to lift His name above all others. In fact, when things seem to be going our way, we often forget Him.

May God help us to always exalt Him; to glorify His Holy Name, above all others.

God's Peace - Pr. J

He Is God And We Are Not

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

                                           Psalm 46:10-11

We can run around trying to fix things all we want; but, we need to understand that we may just be spinning our wheels. Things don't always have to go our way. It is more important that they are done according to the will of God; after all, He is God and we are not.

It is best to try to avoid trouble by seeking the will of God and doing as He would direct you. When trouble does come sometimes we have to consider if maybe we've been going in the wrong direction and need to change our course. But, sometimes, the best and only thing to do is to just be still and trust the Lord. After all, He is God and we are not.

God's Peace - Pr. J