More of Psalms One

Photo courtesy of scockxchng/ba1969

In Let's Get Started Into the Palms, we took a close look at the man who walks in the council of the ungodly, stands in the way of sinners, and sits in the seat of the scornful. Psalms 1:1 (KJV) begins with the promise, "Blessed is the man". I like being blessed! Don't you? If we don't follow the plans and the purposes of the ungodly, if we don't submit to the ways and means where sinners walk, and if we don't join ourselves to those who disdain and mock the Way of the Lord, God promises to bless us with multiple blessings!


Now let's bring a contrast to the ungodly, scornful sinner...


"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalms 1:2 KJV)


This is the description of the man who is blessed. Jeremiah said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoicing of mine heart (Jer. 15:16 KJV)."  A blessed man is happy! I could jump ahead to Psalm 119 and give a listing of the benefits in delighting ourselves in the Word. But I'd like to forge into the New Testament Epistles and establish the case for doing so.


No prophecy, not one word of the scriptures is of any private interpretation (2Pe. 1:20). The men who penned the Word wrote as they were moved on by the Holy Spirit (2Pe. 1:21). All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God (2Tim. 3:16). Therefore the Word, the Law of the Lord, is profitable to for us. It's good for doctrine, reproof, correction, and for instruction in the way of righteousness (2Tim. 3:16). The knowledge of exactly who God is and God's plan for humanity is contained in the Scriptures from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.


We're blessed today to have the Holy Bible, the written Word of God. When David penned the words of Psalm 1, he didn't have sixty-six books at his fingertips. He didn't have much more than the writings of Moses to delight himself in. Yet David was able to exclaim, "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord!"


God's Word, the Scriptures, the Holy Bible should be the daily bread for every Christian believer. How much more should we delight in the Scriptures we have so readily available to us today? How much more should we make it a point to meditate in the Law of the Lord day and night? I ask you, is your delight in the Word of God? Do you take time to read and study such a God-given treasure to humanity? Does the Law of the Lord give you joy, causing your heart to rejoice? If it does, then my friend, you are blessed!


Next time we'll get into the details of the multiple blessings for the one who doesn't walk in counsel of the ungodly, stand in the way of sinners, sit in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the Law of the Lord. Until then, God bless...

Christian Revival and Politics

We've been looking at the requirements for genuine Christian revival this week. It will help us to take another look at intercessory prayer as a key requirement for Christian revival. Let's move into the realm of Christian revival and politics.

The level of Christian participation in the hot issues of politics today somewhat unnerves me. I'm not saying we shouldn't get involved, that today's political climate shouldn't concern Christians. What I want to get across is exactly the opposite message, only from a different angle.

I am bombarded daily with emails and messages concerning today's politics. Do the activities and actions of our government concern me as a Christian? Absolutely. Will I voice my opinion? Absolutely.

So what does politics have to do with genuine Christian revival? Intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the most important activity the Christian can participate in to affect today's political environment.

• "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
• For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
• For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
• Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:1-4 KJV)."

Don't be fooled. God knows exactly what the leaders of the USA are doing. God knows exactly what they're planning to do. I hear of how godless this nation has become, and is becoming, every day. Where are the intercessory prayers of the Christians?

When is the last time you prayed for President Obama? When's the last time you prayed for your representatives in the Congress and Senate? I'm not just speaking of formal lip-service prayers. How about praying for your governor and state representatives?

If we truly want to change the course of direction the USA is moving in, or is being moved in by our politicians, we should seriously start interceding for them with God. 1Timothy 2:3 tells us this is good and acceptable in the sight of God.

If we truly want a nation-changing Christian revival, we should seriously start interceding for our politicians as well as for each other. God bless...

Christian Revival - Putting It All Together

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2Chr. 7:14 KJV)."

I've heard this Bible verse quoted many times over the last few weeks. The formula for genuine Christian revival is contained within its words. Three items are listed:

• humility - if my people shall humble themselves
• pray - if my people will make intercession in prayer
• repentance - if my people will turn from their wicked ways

Humility is coming before the God broken in spirit. The broken spirit will lead us to see and acknowledge our shortcomings when we're in the holiness of God's presence. 

Godly sorrow for our failures and rejections of God's leading will compel us into genuine repentance and intercession. As we become reconciled to the One whose name is Holy, we can't help but feel the pain and sorrow of those we know and love who need reconciled to God.

We consider revival to be when countless sinners come to the knowledge and acceptance of God's saving grace. Look closely at whom this verse is directed. "If my people, who are called by my name." This is a direct statement to the church, not to sinners.

True, lasting, genuine revival must start with the believer. It must start with the Church, the body of Christ. We can choose to humble ourselves or eventually the mighty hand of God will do it for us.

We can choose to come to repentance, turning from the wicked ways of our flesh, or we will one day stand before God and plead for mercy.

How can we lay claim to so great a salvation in Jesus Christ and not take the time to share it with at least one person we know? How can we be so justified in the presence of God when we know friends and loved ones who need reconciled to God?

The key ingredient to bringing mighty Christian revival lies in intercessory prayer. The burden for the lost will grow when we begin interceding for them, standing in the gap between mercy and wrath. God turned Job's suffering when he interceded for his friends (Job 42:10).

2Chronicles 7:14 says God will hear us in our brokenness. He will respond to our genuine repentance. He will answer our intercessory prayers. He will forgive the sins of all and heal the land.

My friends, Christian revival is about the forgiveness of sin for all humanity. It's about the healing and restoration of all things God originally created humanity for. Genuine Christian revival is about Jesus Christ. "For God so loved, he gave... that whosoever believeth in him should not perish."

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12 KJV)."

Let's humble ourselves before God, turn from our iniquity, and begin interceding for the lost souls of our families, our friends, our communities, and our world. Let's begin to proclaim the name of Jesus to a world which is so desperately trying to abolish it. God must respond with genuine Christian revival. He promised it in 2Chronicles 7:14. God bless...

Prayer and the Christian Revival

We're praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a wave of major Christian revival. We speak of praying for revival. We continually request all to pray for revival. We're all in agreement we should be praying for Christian revival.

I must bring 2Chronicles 7:14 to the forefront today. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (KJV)."

This verse lays out three requirements for revival. We focused on humility yesterday. We 'll focus on prayer today. The verse tells us we're to pray and seek God's face to reap the reward of Him hearing, forgiving, and healing us.

What exactly is this verse speaking of when it says, "and pray, and seek my face?" We often interpret it to mean praying for revival. However, the word pray used here means to intercede. The word seek means in worship or prayer.

To intercede means to intervene between two parties to reconcile their differences. We are to pray for those who need reconciled to God. We tend to make prayer for revival all about us. Yes, we need revived. For this to happen, we are instructed to begin interceding in prayer for those living apart from God.

I have friends who aren't living for God. I have family and relatives who have need to be reconciled to God. I'm not alone in this situation. Everyone of us can identify with this. We need to begin intercessory prayer for these friend, family members, and relatives. Genuine Christian revival will be the resulting answer to these prayers.

Genuine repentance as a requirement for Christian revival will be the next topic of discussion. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments. They are much appreciated. God bless...

Suffering and Intecessory Prayer

"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before (Job 42:10 KJV)."

Job suffered horribly. God trusted Job to remain true. Satan was convinced Job would curse God and die. The end of Job's story excites us. He endured and God gave him double what he lost.

Are we missing something in the excitement of Job's blessings? We love knowing God reversed the fortunes of Job. We lay claim to this as a promise God will do the same for us.

There's a nugget of truth in this verse we may be overlooking. Focus on the phrase "when he prayed for his friends." There's tremendous power in this statement.

God had instructed Job's friends to bring a sacrifice and Job was to pray for them. God required this because Job was accepted by God (Job 42:8). The word pray, as used in these verses, means to intercede. They brought their offering to Job. It was Job who was to intercede for their errant ways.

The word captivity in verse 10 means prisoner. Job was a prisoner to his suffering. God set Job free from the prison holding him captive when he interceded for his friends.

We pour our hearts out to God when we suffer, looking for God to intervene. Job's restoration came when he prayed for his friends. Is it possible that God would release us from the bondage of suffering if we were to start making intercessory prayers for our friends? Just my thoughts for today. God bless...

God Appoints Our Leaders

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God (Ro. 13:1 KJV)."

Higher Powers
The word powers is the plural form of the word power used throughout this Bible verse. It means a magistrate, potentate, delegated influence, and authority. The word subject means to be under obedience.

"Let every soul be subject to the higher powers" means every person is to be obedient and/or to their governing authorities. This is a pretty strong statement being made by the Apostle Paul.

There's No Power But of God
The delegated authorities exist only because God allows them to.The authorities which exist do so only by the direct appointment of Jehovah God.

"By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth (Pro. 8:15-16 KJV).

Our president, our congressman or woman, our senator, our governor, our state legislator, our mayor, our county councilman or woman, our Supreme Court justices, our federal judges, our local judges, each and every one of them can only do what they do because God permits them to.

What's A Christian To Do?
Our current government leaders can make no new laws which God hasn't allowed them to make. Does that mean Christians must agree the leaders decisions are right? Not at all.

The United States Constitution gives American citizens the right to exercise free speech. We Americans can say anything we want about anything or anybody we want. But does being a Christian grant us license to do so?

I don't agree with the current administration of the United States. I'm deeply concerned with the direction they appear to be taking us in. I possess serious misgivings concerning some of the laws being passed by this administration.

Are Christians surprised by the beliefs, speech, and activities of not only this administration, but previous ones as well? You shouldn't be. God is in control. They do what they do only by God's permission. It means they're doing exactly what God wants them to do. This is a hard concept to grasp. This concept is exactly what Paul is telling us in Romans 13:1.

So what are Christians supposed to do? If you must speak out, speak out. Yet do so in a manner that isn't derogatory or defaming. Speak and act in a manner which will bring glory and honor to God.

The most important thing Christians can do right now is pray. I don't mean talk about it. I mean on-your-face, on-your-knees, pouring you heart out to God. We must pray for our leaders whether we agree with what they're doing or not. We must pray for our leaders even if we don't like them. We must continue to pray for our leaders even as they keep passing legislation contrary to Christian beliefs and doctrine. God bless...

Lord of Hosts, God of War

"Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies (Isa. 1:24 KJV)."


This verse references God as the 'LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel'. The word hosts means a mass of people organized for war. A one-word definition would be army. The mighty One of Israel, Jehovah, is the LORD of armies.


What is the purpose of an army? Is it to fight? How then could a loving God Almighty be a God of armies? How could a loving, peaceable God be a God of war?


"And there was war in heaven (Rev. 12:7 KJV)."


"That old serpent, called the devil: ... he was cast out into the earth (Rev. 12:9 KJV)."


"And I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Lu. 10:18 KJV)."


War began when Lucifer rebelled against God. Lucifer lost the battle in Heaven. He was cast to the earth. He launched another offensive against God in Eden with the deception of Eve.


Satan may have thought he'd won when Christ took his last human breath on the cross. We know, however, ultimate victory was declared when Christ rose from the dead. The devil must be aware of his final demise, yet he continues to battle.


We love to read of and hear sermons about the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6. We get excited when we read and hear of the Apostle Paul having fought a good fight (2Ti. 4:7). Do we understand the concept that our God is a God of war? Do we comprehend that those whom God has chosen are called to fight? Paul does refer to those whom God chooses as soldiers (2Ti. 2:4).


The chosen ones of God, the people who are called by his name, the redeemed of the Lamb, are in a fight for eternity. The destination of our eternal soul hangs in the balance of victory or defeat.


Christ won complete and perfect victory at Calvary. The war, however, still rages in our minds because the enemy is a master deceiver. We must keep fighting the good fight. We must keep the faith and finish the course. Defeat should not be an option.


Prayer is communication with the Commander, the LORD of hosts. Prayer is where we receive our orders. God did not call us as soldiers to fight his war without equipping us with a weapon. He has given us, and we should learn to use, the Sword of the Spirit. The Sword of the Spirit is quick, powerful, and sharp (Heb. 4:12).

I encourage all who follow Christ to put on the armor of Ephesians 6. I encourage all to endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ (2Ti. 2:3). I encourage and admonish all who fight the good fight to not get tangled up with the affairs of this present life (2Ti. 2:4).

The moment will come when we rise victorious as we look directly into the eyes of Jesus Christ. The moment will come when we relish the victory when we hear the words, "well done my good and faithful servant". God bless...

My Prayer For Today

My devotional for today is a simple listing of verses from Psalms rendered as a prayer. All verses are from the King James Version.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well (Ps. 139:14)."

"Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them (Ps. 139 :6)."

"But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute (Ps. 141:8)."

"When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path (Ps. 142:3)."

"Wash my throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me (Ps. 51:2-3)."

"O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is (Ps. 63:1)."

"Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water (Ps. 65:9)."

"But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more (Ps. 71:14)."

I pray this prayer today in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless...

Humbling, Seeking, and Turning

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2Chr. 7:14 KJV)."

This verse is often quoted as a call to prayer for God's people. This verse contains an if/then conditional clause. The if portion of the clause requires specific action to move into the then portion of the clause. The words humble, pray, seek, and turn are all words requiring action. Let's take a look at each word.

The word humble literally translates to bend the knee. Bending the knee, or bowing, is a physical sign of subjection or surrender to a higher authority. The first portion of the if/then clause is subjecting ourselves in total, unconditional surrender to God.

I will combine the words pray and seek. The word pray means pray. The word seek means to search out specifically in worship or prayer. The second condition of the if/then clause is to seek God's face in prayer to search out His will.

The final condition of the if/then clause is the word turn. This word literally means to turn back. When put into the context of the phrase, "turn from their wicked ways", it means to repent, or turn back and away from sin.

This oft-quoted verse calling God's people to prayer is straightforward. We are to bend the knee, subjecting ourselves in total surrender to God's authority. This is humbling ourselves. We are to pray, searching out the face of God for His will. This is seeking. We are to repent of our wicked ways. This is turning.

When the conditions of the if portion of the clause are met, we move forward to the then portion. Then God will hear. Then God will forgive. Then God will heal. Remember, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (Jas. 5:16 KJV)." God bless...

Blessed Be the Lord

"Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications (Ps. 28:6 KJV)."

A detailed is prayer recorded in the first five verses of Psalm 28. The prayer ends by blessing God in worship and praise for hearing it. Take notice it wasn't answered prayer the psalmist was blessing God for.

The Prayer
David begins the prayer of Psalm 28 with these words: "Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me (Ps. 28:1 KJV)." He continues the prayer in verses 3 and 4, and I paraphrase: "Don't take me away with the wicked. Give them according to their deeds. Render to them what they deserve."

David understood the demise of the wicked. This is evidenced in Psalm 28:5. He finishes his prayer by referring to it: "Because they regard not the works of the LORD... he shall destroy them."

The key to understanding this prayer is found in the first verse in the word rock. The word denotes God as being a rock, a strong refuge or a fortress. What's interesting is the Hebrew word for rock is derived from a root word meaning to confine. When we insert this key into Psalm 28:3, "Draw me not away with the wicked (KJV)," or to paraphrase, "don't take me away with the wicked," we have David praying for the salvation found only in God, the strong Rock. He's praying to be confined within the strong Rock.

Blessing the Lord
Psalm 28:6 is David giving thanks to God for hearing his prayer. He prayed in faith (Ps. 28:1-5). By the same faith David offers thanksgiving and worship. As he placed faith in his prayer for salvation, so he placed faith in the fact that God would hear it.

Psalm 28:6 tells us those who pray in faith have hope of an answer because by the same faith in which we offer the prayer, we have faith that God will hear it. Like the psalmist David, we should offer up praise and worship to God thanking him because, by faith, we believe he hears our prayers. This thanks is offered before the answer is received.

Allow me to conclude with these golden words of truth from the great commentator Matthew Henry, "What we win by prayer we must wear by praise." God bless...

In My Distress I Will Call On the Lord

In My distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears (Psalms 18:6 NKJV).

In my distress I called on the Lord. What an amazing inspiration this statement should be. Let's dig into this concept of calling on the Lord.

Distress
The word distress is used as a noun. The Hebrew word translated as distress literally means a narrow or tight place. The modern definition of distress is the state of being in serious trouble or in mental or physical anguish.

When things go seriously wrong, it does feel like the world is closing in on you. When you're suffering in mental or physical agony it can become the only thing you focus on. That's a narrow or tight place to be in.

I Call On the Lord
We do have the Lord to cry out to when we get into the tight place of trouble. Instead of crying out to God after we're in serious trouble we should consider calling on Him at the first sign of distress.

Our God will hear us when we cry out to Him. The sound of our voice will reach His ears in the throne room of His habitation in Heaven. God promises us that while we are speaking the words of our prayers He will hear them (Isaiah 65:24).

I would encourage everyone today, including myself, to cry out to God in our distress. He will hear our prayers in His holy temple of heaven. When God hears our prayer, sooner or later, He will respond.