Delivered

Micah 4:10 (b)

“There you will be rescued; here the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies."

As prophesied, Judah was rescued, delivered, healed (from idolatry) and strengthened from her enemies. But, she had to spend many heartbreaking years in captivity for her rebellious sins against God.

Lord, thank you for bringing us all out of our own personal Babylon and for whatever it took along the way. Forgive our stubborness and lack of faith. Strengthen us now we pray. Amen.

The Truth

Plowed As A Field

Micah 3:12

"Therefore, on account of you, Zion will be plowed as a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.”

Because the leadership of that country had become utterly corrupt, including politicians, landowners, wealthy men and women, priests, prophets and religious leaders; and because ordinary people had been corrupted as well, "therefore," destruction would come upon the land.

Look to the Lord, lest you end up like "Zion," which was "plowed as a field."

The Truth

Woe To Schemers

Micah 2:1

"Woe to those who scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands."

Schemers, those who plan to take advantage of others and follow through with it, are working out evil.

As He says in this verse, "it is in the power of (our) hands." He will reward us, now and/or in eternity for responding to His will and caring for our neighbor, but we will be judged for our sins when we exhibit unbelief, harm or take advantage of others.

The Truth

“This is My (Jesus) commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)

Retribution On Israel

Micah 1:5

“All this (Micah 1-4) is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel.”

Because of the sin of Samaria (northern kingdom) and Jerusalem (southern kingdom) judgment will come upon them both.

Because the people could not decide between Jehovah and Baal, between the things of God and the things of the world – the Lord said, “I will judge” (v.6-7).

God, have mercy on us individually and this country collectively for we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all deserve your righteous judgment but we plead for your infinite mercy. Amen.

The Truth

"Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1)

Press Toward Heaven

Philippians 3:14

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Heaven is the goal because it is that which every Christian has his eye on.
Heaven is also the prize of the upward calling; what we aim at in all we do.
Heaven is our future home, through the call of God, by the blood of Christ.
And, there is no getting to heaven as our home but by Christ as “the way.”

The Truth

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)

Shalom - Peace Be With You

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom, in Hebrew). You may have already known that the word “shalom” means peace. But actually, it has several meanings in the Hebrew. Shalom means peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest — and not only that. Shalom is the common word for hello and goodbye.

So, when you greet someone or bid them a farewell “shalom”, what you are actually doing is speaking all those blessings upon them — and really, speaking over them the ultimate peace, Jesus, Himself!

‘Tis the season to speak shalom over one another!

The Truth

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

A Submitted Mind

Philippians 2:5

“Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.”

Simply put, we should have the very attitudes and actions that we see in Christ Jesus - selfless, sacrificial and serving. Paul is calling all of us to a daily lifestyle of maintaining a mind submitted to Jesus Christ or (as this hymn says) we could wonder away.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! 
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart. O take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above.

The Truth

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and power controlling

All I do and say. - unknown

To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

This is the single mind we need to think properly and live joyfully in this world. Anything else one might live for will leave you unsatisfied, wanting more.

Paul regarded himself as already dead to sin through the cross of Christ. He saw that “Christ IS… our life” (Colossians 3:4). He said, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, for him to die was gain, for then he would be with Christ.

“The only way to rejoice through life, to be happy in and about life, is to identify solely with Jesus.” (Jon Courson)

The Truth

“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28)

With Repentance Comes Forgiveness

Jonah 4:1

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry.”

We now understand why Jonah ran away from the call of the Lord in the first place. He simply did not like the Assyrians and became very angry that God had forgiven these enemies of the nation Israel. (Jonah 3:10)

Jesus commanded us to "love one another" (John 13:34) and He followed that statement with: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, IF you have love for one another" (John 13:35). Why would people trust that the invisible God loves them, if His people who are visible display no love?

The lesson to learn from the book of Jonah is that forgiveness is for everyone who repents. If God forgave the Ninevites on the basis of their repentance; if He tolerated Jonah and accepted this stubborn man who resisted Him, He will do the same for you and me and anyone else, if we repent.

The Truth

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

God's Gift To You - Merry Christmas

Jesus came to this earth, by Gods' plan and design.
The place of His birth, marked by a heavenly sign.
A new star above, showed the place where He lay.
The Fathers' gift, sound asleep on the hay.

So innocent and pure, this gift to man.
Would soon receive, Roman nails in His hand.
He was born to die, His life He gave.
So all might live, and their souls be saved.

One day all will answer, for what they have done.
With Gods' gift to the world, His only son.
So accept His gift, and your soul you will save.
From the wages of sin, and the death of the grave.

Chris Kinder 10'

The Truth

"For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a "gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)

Message Received

Jonah 3:6

"When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.”

This King was touched to his soul by the message of Jonah. So much so that he put on sackcloth and sat in ashes. He was mourning his sins and the sins of his people. This king was so upset by the message he heard, that he caused not only the people, but even their animals to fast and wear sackcloth; (v.7) commanding his people to turn from wickedness and violence. (v.8)

God can change the hearts of men, even ruthless leaders like this king. As it says in Proverbs, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it whenever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)

Pray for our leaders – as they can be turned from evil just as this king was.

The Truth

“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” (1 Kings 18:37)

Ready To Do Thy Will

Jonah 2:9

"But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord."

Jonah, right from the beginning of this book had been running from God and the call of God for his life. He now says (after 3 days in the belly of a great fish), "that which I have vowed I will pay." Jonah is now willing to place God's will ahead of his own.

May we not have to reach the bottom in our own lives before we are willing to follow His call, as it could be too late.

The Truth

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

Follow The Call

Jonah 1:3

"But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord."

Any step away from God is a step down the wrong path. Whenever we run in the opposite direction of the Lord’s call or command, you can be sure Satan will have a ship ready for us to set sail on - and we’ll pay a heavy price for it. I’ve been on that boat, to my Tarshish. I have experienced the cost and like Jonah, I knew it was wrong when I did it.

But thankfully, our King is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger and desirous that all should be saved (2 Peter 3:9) - Me, You, the Ninevites, that person you don’t want to forgive who has wronged you in some way. The Gospel is for everyone, not just a chosen few. So, share it and do not flee from the call.

The Truth

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Never Rejoice Over The Fall Of Others

Obadiah 1:12

"Do not gloat over your brother's day, the day of his misfortune. And do not rejoice over the sons of Judah in the day of their destruction; Yes, do not boast in the day of their distress.”

The message to us is to NEVER "rejoice" over the fall of others; friends and enemies alike. Instead, pray for them and if possible, reach over to their need and lift them up.

The Truth

"He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 17:5b)
"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles." (Proverbs 24:17)

Forces of Wickedness

Ephesians 6:12

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Behind any kind of confrontation our struggle seems to be, against flesh and blood. After all, there are physical flesh and blood human beings who take a stand against us. But there is more. Behind the anger of the moment we are also encountering the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Life is much more scary than one may think. There are spiritual forces of wickedness - rulers, powers and forces of darkness that are bent on your destruction and mine.

You and I need protection - more accurately, a protector.

The Truth

“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)

Follow God

Ephesians 5:1

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

Here Paul is telling us (with the word therefore), that it only makes sense to follow the one who has forgiven you. Ch.5 explains how to walk (follow) after Jesus; in love, in “the light” of scripture, in wisdom and in harmony with our marriages.

In following Christ’s examples we become servants, as opposed to being served. Our focus is on others and not ourselves. As Jesus said, “Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant, and whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.” (Matthew 20:26-27) And then He continued, “just as the Son of Man (Christ) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

The term Christian signifies we are followers of Christ. May we, by the power of the Spirit, walk by His example daily.

The Truth
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

Forgive Each Other

Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

As God has forgiven us so much in Christ, can we do any less for others?

Kindness, tenderness, forgiveness (unconditional), this is what Paul is requesting of the church body, even when others don’t forgive you.

That’s tough to do on our own but, the impossible for you and I is possible for God, especially when you and I are “forgiven” in Christ. Then, we find ourselves acting in His strength, His love and not in our own. Jesus said, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.”(Matthew 7:12) Be kind to others and more often than not, they will be kind to you.

Forgiveness is not a burden God places upon us, but rather a safeguard for our mental health and emotional stability. If there is someone toward whom you’re bitter, do yourself a huge favor and forgive them – even as God has forgiven you.

The Truth

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25)

For Your Glory

Ephesians 3:13

“Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.”

Here the Apostle Paul is saying, “Don’t worry about what I am going through, it is meant for your edification.

Tribulations are not all about punishment. Yes they can be corrective in nature but they also reshape us, refine us, that we might help others. How else can the world see the mystery of Christ in us – not when things are easy, not when things are comfy, but they see the mystery when things get rocky.

Yes, God allows Situations to be difficult, (the rain falls on the just and the unjust) but it is always for a purpose and it is always based in His love. The world gets to see the mystery of Christ in you, your hope of glory. And in seeing this mystery, they are drawn to the Master.

A.W. Tozer was right when he said that, “before God can use a man greatly, He must also allow him to be hurt deeply.”

The Truth

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

FORMER Children of Wrath

Ephesians 2:3

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

That’s you, me, Paul, everyone who has ever lived – “All have sinned.” (Romans 3:23) We are all by nature, “Children of Wrath.” It’s not only the gross “lusts of our flesh” that plague humanity, but also the secret “desires of the… mind” that are a deep and very real problem. God knows our thoughts and we are condemned by them.

But the good news is that “wrath” is the FORMER state of all who trust in the LORD Jesus Christ. For by His grace, “we have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Thank you LORD!

The Truth

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Forgiveness

Ephesians 1:7

“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

Redeemed, purchased, liberated, ransomed, freed – by His death, through His blood and His total payment for the sins of man on the cross.

Many think it was unwise of God to lavish such redemption and forgiveness on guilty sinners. But it was in all wisdom and prudence that He gave this to us. (Ephesians 1:8)

Thank you LORD.

The Truth

“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:12)