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A Refreshing Breeze of Hope

I remember attending a prayer meeting where some weighty matters were discussed. There was a heavy spirit upon the group as each person discussed their difficulties dealing with their emotions and uncertainty. Then a remarkable thing happened. As we prayed through the issues, our sense of hopelessness turned to hopefulness, and our fears turned to joy. After we had finished praying, the room was full of laughter as we all enjoyed fellowship with one another in Christ. We all had experienced a great blessing from the Lord. A fresh breeze of hope blew through the room and our joy returned. The greatest blessings often come in the darkest hour. I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to...

God Gives the Power To Make Wealth (Deuteronomy 8:16-20)

“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.' "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. "It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. "Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:16-20) As a powerful, wealthy nation, you always risk forgetting who made you great. God gives the power to make wealth. To forget this truth is perilous. Therefore, beloved of God, stay humble, and “In everythi...

God Will Be With You and Sustain You (Isaiah 43:2)

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2) When illness strikes, or calamity looms, despair can often set in. No one is prepared to hear a doctor say, "You have cancer." Yet in these challenging times, Isaiah's words offer encouragement. The verse above contains two precious promises. First, God promises to be with us during our trials. Nothing is more comforting than having the very real presence of God in your life. It is wonderful to have brothers and sisters visiting and praying with you, but at the end of the day, you are facing the unknown alone. Only God can give the comfort needed. The second promise is for protection. That doesn’t mean that God will keep us from all calamity. Clearly, we will suffer in this world for a plethora of reasons, both physical and mental. However, the promise is that the ...

God Will Complete His Work

As much as we would like to live our lives to the glory of God, we often fail to trust Him. So remember that God is at work in us for His glory. “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Even when we sin, God does not abandon us or His purpose for us. Take Abram, for example. “The LORD appeared to Abram and said, 'To your descendants I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7). Even while knowing this promise, Abram, fearing the people, lied about Sarai, calling her his sister. He not only lied about Sarai, but also involved her in the deception. What was Abram thinking? His thoughts were not likely on the promise God made to him. How could God give the land to his descendants if his wife was tak...

Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection

Acquiring Peace and Zeal for Perfection Commentary from Imitations of Christ WE SHOULD enjoy much peace if we did not concern ourselves with what others say and do, for these are no concern of ours. How can a man who meddles in affairs not his own, who seeks strange distractions, and who is little or seldom inwardly recollected, live long in peace? Blessed are the simple of heart, for they shall enjoy peace in abundance. Why were some of the saints so perfect and so given to contemplation? Because they tried to mortify entirely in themselves all earthly desires, and thus they were able to attach themselves to God with all their heart, and freely to concentrate their innermost thoughts. We are too occupied with our own whims and fancies, too taken up with passing things. Rarely do we completely conquer even one vice, and we are not inflamed with the desire to improve ourselves day by day; hence, we remain cold and indifferent. If we mortified our bodies perfectly and allo...

A Better Understanding of the Lord’s Love

This One Is From Several Years Ago A Better Understanding of the Lord’s Love Scripture “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things [are] naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we [must give] account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:13-16 NKJV) Commentary I had to take my son to the dentist yesterday morning. He has braces, and there were a couple of baby teeth that needed to be extracted so the orthodontist could close the gap where these baby teeth would eventually fall out if not removed. I purposely didn’t tell him when his appointment was because I didn’t want him to worry about it ...

Guard Your Words (PS39)

“For the choir director, for Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence." I was mute and silent, I refrained even from good, And my sorrow grew worse. My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned; Then I spoke with my tongue: "LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. "Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah. "Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. "And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. "Deliver me from all my transgressions; Make me not the reproach of the foolish. "I have become mute, I do not open my mouth, because it is You who hav...

Preach the Gospel in Love (The Stoning of Stephen)

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:54-60) Stephen, after recounting the Jews’ history, ends his message with this condemnation. “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in...

Do Not Envy the Wicked (PS73)

“. . . My feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalms 73:2-3). Maybe you have thought, “Why do I have to live this way?” “Why do the lost prosper while God’s people suffer?” Don’t envy the wicked; they have their reward, and it is fleeting. Listen to the Psalmist and learn. “When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form. When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterwar...

Maintain a Good Testimony (Numbers 20; Deuteronomy 34:1-5)

Leading God's people can be challenging, as they often express complaints when faced with difficulties. Leaders must maintain a loving attitude while addressing these objections. This matters because teachers face a stricter judgment (James 3:1). Moses was tested when God’s people complained about a lack of water (Numbers 20:2-9). God told him to speak to the rock, and it would give out water (Numbers 20:8). He let his frustration get the better of him. He did more than speak. “And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, "Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?" Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank” (Numbers 20:10-11). God’s people can be difficult at times, but as a leader, it is important to maintain decorum among the people. You are to be an example. Not doing so may levy a heavy toll. T...

The Law of Faith (Romans 3:27-31)

The Law of Faith “Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Or [is He] the God of the Jews only? [Is He] not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since [there is] one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:27-31 NKJV) Here Paul concludes that justification is by faith apart from the deeds of the law. This is crucial since God’s grace is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. By faith, a person becomes a child of God, a child of promise. Later in this same book, Paul addresses the confusion the Jews had about God’s promises. They looked for an earthly kingdom, and missed the true kingdom of God. However, for now Paul concerns himself with the law. Paul wanted us to know...

Worship in Spirit (Matthew 15:8-9 NKJV)

Worship in Spirit Scripture “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9 NKJV) Commentary This is a no-brainer, but it's a serious problem. It's easy to slip into external worship. Just stop reading and praying; stop depending upon God, being thankful to God, and you are there. Obviously the situation to which Christ refers in the above passage has gone beyond mere slothfulness. These men were teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. They would put aside the commandments of God to satisfy their greed. Notice the context. “For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me [is] a gift [to God] —— then he need not honor his fathe...

A Steadfast Heart (PS 11:1-7)

A Steadfast Heart Scripture “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee [as] a bird to your mountain"? 2 For look! The wicked bend [their] bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? 4 ¶ The LORD [is] in His holy temple, The LORD’S throne [is] in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. 6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind [Shall be] the portion of their cup. 7 For the LORD [is] righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” (Ps 11:1-7 NKJV) Commentary How Can You Say Flee? There may be times in your life when everyone says to you, “Give up or give in.” That was the case for David. His friends saw how harm sought af...

The Field of Blessing (Ruth 2:17-23)

The Field of Blessing Scripture “So she gleaned in the field until evening, and beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. Then she took [it] up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. So she brought out and gave to her what she had kept back after she had been satisfied. And her mother-in-law said to her, "Where have you gleaned today? And where did you work? Blessed be the one who took notice of you." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, "The man’s name with whom I worked today [is] Boaz." Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "Blessed [be] he of the LORD, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!" And Naomi said to her, "This man [is] a relation of ours, one of our close relatives." Ruth the Moabitess said, "He also said to me, ‘You shall stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’" And Naomi said t...

The Joy of Fruitfulness (John 15:8-11)

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:8-11). The greatest joy a believer can have is to glorify the Father. We glorify the Father by keeping the commandments. Why? Because it is an act of love. Many of us, at some point in our lives, have experienced legal repentance. That is repenting for fear of judgment. This kind of repentance is born not of love but of fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1Jn 4:18). Beloved, if you learn to obey out of love and gratitude for what God has done for you, your heart will be f...

Be Holy (1 Peter 1:13-16)

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY’” (1Peter 1:13-16). Peter outlines three steps or conditions for overcoming sin as we await the Lord's return. First, we are to prepare our minds for action, signifying that we need to be ready to respond and move forward. The metaphor here is pulling up one’s loose clothing in preparation for work or running. In this case, have your mind saturated with truth. It is the same idea found in Romans chapter twelve. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect...

Breeder Sins (Part Three) (1Ti 6:8-10)

“If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Ti 6:8-10). Here is another sin that leads to more sin. The greatest sin mentioned here is apostasy. However, the love of money may manifest itself in other ways. Examples include selfishness, greed, envy, and stealing. These are all rooted in idolatry. Valuing anything more than God is idolatry. Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). Furthermore, read what Jesus said to this rich man who desired salvation. “And he said to Him, 'Teacher, I have kept all these t...

Breeder Sins (Part Two) James 1:14-15

“But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death” (Jas 1:14-15). James teaches us about the nature of lust. Fundamentally, serves as a stepping stone to other sins. It entices like fish bait. This could be called a breeder sin, as it gives birth to sin. This sin targets two main areas of our lives: the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eyes. Consider King David. “Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house” (...

Breeder Sins (Part One)

“. . . That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man” (Mrk 7:20-23). Jesus clearly teaches us that sin is a heart problem. No one may blame the devil, circumstances, or the actions of others for their sin. We must own our guilt and confess it. God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we do (1 John 1:9). However, we must realize that sin originates in our heart. James confirms that. “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to ...

Renew Your Mind, Think About Your Inheritance (1 Pet 1:3-5; Rom 12:2)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1Pe 1:3-5). The Bible tells us: “. . . do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). It is important to renew your mind and adopt right thinking. Having a clear understanding of your position in Christ is foundational. Peter provides three aspects of our position in Christ. God saved us, not ourselves. He caused us to be born again according to His great mercy. Therefore, you are secure in Christ. “For I am convinced that nei...

God Is Our Refuge Psalm 62:5-8)

“My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psa 62:5-8). In whatever situation you find yourself, learn to trust in God and not your own strength. That is not to say do nothing. Do what is reasonable and suited for the situation, remembering to honor God. But recognize that the Lord is your refuge. Times will come when no clear path is obvious. Don’t panic. Panic often leads to further trouble. Instead, wait. Pray to the Lord for a resolution. Recognize that these trials are often a test of faith. As James tells us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you ...

Have Compassion for the Lost (Jer 1:4-8; Matt 28:18-20)

“Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. "Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD” (Jer 1:4-8). “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Mat 28:18-20). The parallels between these passages are unmistakable. The mission is cle...

Grace Among Us (John 1:14)

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). The thought that the God of creation made himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men is simply glorious. It is wonderful to realize that God is gracious and truthful. Without His grace, we would all be lost, bound up in our sin, doomed to an eternity of darkness and agony. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph 2...

A Great Ministry (Matthew 11:9-15)

“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. "For this is [he] of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. "And if you are willing to receive [it], he is Elijah who is to come. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:9-15 NKJV) What is the believer to understand about this elusive statement? How can those in the Kingdom of Heaven be greater than John? Matthew Henry suggests that the kingdom of heaven refers to an eternal state. However, the context does not seem focused on providing comfort...