I AM GOD...not me HIM!

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless.

Genesis 17:1(NASB)

Little by little throughout scripture God gently and gradually unveils His gracious character and His eternal attributes.. first to one person and then to another. To David, God proved Himself to be his Shepherd. To Hagar, God was revealed as the all-seeing One. He became a Banner and Standard to the wandering Israelites in the wilderness and to the frightened Gideon He became Shalom - the Lord is my Peace.

There was one occasion when the Lord revealed Himself to Abraham as his Provider, but in this unique and touching episode, God disclosed Himself to the aging Abraham as: Almighty God (El-Shaddai). 

'EL' adequately speaks of God's tremendous work of creation and the mighty power He displayed during the great deluge of Noah's day. It speaks coherently of His majesty, strength, greatness and power, as further exhibited in the tremendous plagues that ravaged Egypt's fertile plain. And yet the name, ‘El Shadai’, identifies our heavenly Father as the all-sufficient God - the God Who is totally adequate to provide ALL we need according to His riches in mercy.

Insufficient emphasis has been placed on the meaning of the nourishing nature of the word ‘Shadai’ in this astonishing revelation of God. While the word 'EL' signified the strength and power of the great Creator EL-ohim, the word 'Shadai' additionally speaks of tender nourishment; gentle reassurance and the provision of strength that a tiny babe derives from the comforting breast of his mother.

Abraham had been promised the Seed through whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. His advancing years appeared to contradict God's former Word. It seemed impossible that the 90-year-old Sarah and her 100-year-old husband could parent a child, as God had promised some time before. Yet, in this gracious encounter, God reveals Himself to Abraham, in a new and wonderful way - as 'God Almighty' - 'El Shadai' -  the All-Sufficient God. He gently admonished His doubting child while giving Abraham ample reassurance that His Word is true, and would be fulfilled in His time, and His way.

And as it was with Abraham, so it is with all of God's people. The All-sufficiency of God enriches, empowers and provides for all God's children. The precious promise of God's all-embracing sufficiency, is equally relevant today as it was in those dim and distant days, when God called a pagan Gentile, out of  Ur of the Chaldees.. to leave his land, his wealth and his relatives, and go to the land God promised to show him.

The young Abram had obeyed the Lord many years earlier and his faith was already credited to him as righteousness. But many years later, when that same man of faith was ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him in a new and special way. Abraham was granted further revelation into the essential nature of the God, in Whom he had placed his trust so many years before... for there were still lessons for this man of God to learn. There were many truths that had not yet been disclosed to this man of faith. "I am God Almighty", he was told. "I am El Shaddai - the All-Sufficient One. Walk before Me, and be blameless".

The same Lord nourishes, multiplies and makes abundantly fruitful the seed of faith that is planted in the heart of each of His children. And in the same way, that He overshadowed and stirred the womb of the elderly Sarah and empowered old Abraham to father this child, so God is able and willing to work His all-sufficient grace in the lives of each of His children.

If God has placed a seed in your heart, never doubt that He is All-sufficient to carry it through to its final delivery - for He Who started a good work in you has promised to bring it to completion, by transforming you into the likeness of the Indwelling Seed - the lovely Lord Jesus, in Whom we trust.

My Prayer

Loving Father I recognise Your almighty power and great glory - for the heavens declare its truth and Christ proved it with outstretched arms on Calvary's cross. But You are also my great Provider for which I thank You. Your gracious provision is All-sufficient and I long to serve You faithfully, and to live a blameless life before You. Lord, I know that living blamelessly before You is only possible as You provide the sufficient grace and power through the Holy Spirit's work within. Bring to fruitfulness the seed that You have planted in my heart, that I may live as You desire - this I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of wisdom!

Ted

The God Of Heaven Instructs Us To Listen To His Son!

Hebrews 4:14 - "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."

Not only is Jesus our Saviour and King, our Prophet and Lord but He has also become our great High Priest. Jesus is God's anointed High Priest, through Whom we have been made fit to approach the grand and awesome throne of the most high God. His high priestly position is a heavenly one, and it is a position that is so much more superior to the earthly Levitical order, which came through Moses.

Christ's high priestly role is a continuous, eternal, spiritual headship. He is our perfect Priest, Who by virtue of His own spotless sacrificial life-blood, which streamed over the heavenly mercy-seat, has once-and-for-all atoned for all our sins - forever and ever, amen.

He was born for this priestly role and anointed as God's great High Priest by the Holy Spirit, Who rested on Him in the likeness of a Dove at His baptism. His exquisite position was further confirmed by the thunderous voice of the Almighty God, saying: This is My Beloved Son - listen to Him.

The Lord Jesus is the ultimate and final Word of God. He is the incarnate Word, Who took upon Himself human flesh, and as our great, heavenly High Priest, He is interceding day and night for the Church, which is His Body. Jesus is the only Mediator between man and God and He is the only One who can defend our case when the accusational finger of the evil one is pointing at you or at me.

There were a succession of men from the earthly Mosaic economy, who functioned as high priest, but none could be compared with Christ Jesus, for all were sinners in need of salvation. He alone was called 'great' and He alone was appointed after the order of Melchisedek - the Kingly-Priest of righteousness and peace, who was honoured by Abraham and is identified as a type of Christ.

He alone rose from the dead and passed through the earthly atmosphere and starry heights into the heaven of heavens. He alone is seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high. He no longer officiates in an earthly Temple. His is an eternal Priesthood that is vastly superior to everything that went before.

He is our righteous, kinsman-Redeemer, Who has become our heavenly Mediator. He has been given a Name that is above every name - Jesus Christ the righteous. And we who have trusted in His death, burial and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting, have been called to hold fast to our confession. We are commanded to stand firm on the witness of the cross - that Jesus is the Son of God; that Jesus is our great High Priest; that Jesus has put away our sin forever by His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection - that JESUS ascended into heaven by passing through the heavens, on our account, and in Whom are the words of eternal life. 

No wonder we are urged by the writer to the Hebrews to HOLD FAST to our confession - to keep a firm grip on our trust in Christ's finished Work; to believe all God has said through His Word; to unreservedly remain firm to His Truth - and to boldly approach the throne of grace. For it is only and ultimately through Jesus, the Son of God - Who is God the Son, that we can find grace to help in time of need, for His grace is sufficient; His office is efficacious and His loving-mercy is everlasting.

YES INDEED - since we DO have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God - let us hold fast our confession. Hallelujah. Praise His holy name. 

My Prayer

Loving heavenly Father, Your plans and purposes for me are staggering. I can scarcely take in that God Himself should come as my Saviour and High Priest, so that I can approach You on Your great and gracious throne of grace. Keep me ever mindful of this amazing privilege. Open my ears to hear Your voice and cleanse my heart to pray into Your will. Have grace on my brothers and sisters in Christ, and have mercy for a lost and dying world, which needs to acknowledge Jesus as 'kinsman-redeemer'.  Hear and answer my prayer, I ask, in the name of Jesus Christ Your only begotten Son, and my great high heavenly priest, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus is the beginning of wisdom!

Ted

An Everlasting Covenant!

For he has made with me an everlasting covenant.

 2 Samuel 23:5

This covenant is divine in its origin. "He has made with me an everlasting covenant." Oh, that great word "he"! My soul, consider--God, the everlasting Father, has positively made a covenant with you; yes, the God who spoke the world into existence by a word; He, stooping from His majesty, takes hold of your hand and makes a covenant with you. Isn't this act so stupendous and such an example of condescension that it would overwhelm us forever if we could really understand it? "He has made with me an everlasting covenant."

A king has not made a covenant with me—that would be something; but the Prince of the kings of the earth, Shaddai, the Lord All-sufficient, the Jehovah of ages, the everlasting Elohim—"He has made with me an everlasting covenant."

But notice, it is particular in its application. "For he has made with me an everlasting covenant." Here is the sweetness of it to each believer. It is nothing for me that He made peace for the world; I want to know whether He made peace for me! It is a small matter that He has made a covenant; I want to know whether He has made a covenant with me.

Blessed is the assurance that He has made a covenant with me! If God the Holy Spirit gives me assurance of this, then His salvation is mine, His heart is mine, He Himself is mine--He is my God.

This covenant is everlasting in its duration. An everlasting covenant means a covenant that had no beginning and that will never, ever end. How sweet in all the uncertainties of life to know that "God's foundation stands firm,"1 and to have God's own promise, "I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips."2 I will sing of this through all my days and at their ending and forever.

1) 2 Timothy 2:19
2) Psalm 89:34

Pastor Alistair Begg

Would You Be Willing To Fight A War If Victory Was Assured?

Revelation 12:11 - ""And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."

Satan is the great accuser of the saints of God who has pursued the people of God down through the centuries with an intense hatred... and the coming tribulation is a time when the devil's vicious attacks on God's servants will increase in intensity against both Jews and Christians.

Although Church-age believers are not appointed to face the wrath of the Lamb, during the coming time of terrible tribulation.. the enemy of our soul attempts to accuse the saints, despite being covered and cleansed by the blood of Christ. Revelation gives believers a multi-pronged approach to victory over Satan, "they overcame him by of the blood of the Lamb. They overcame him because of the word of their testimony. They overcame because they did not love their life even when faced with death." 

The time is coming when Satan and all his fallen angels with him, will be flung out of the heavenly realm and cast to the earth. It is during the terrible time of tribulation that his fury will target the Jewish nation and all that have trusted Christ as Saviour. But we read that: they gained victory over Satan because they were cleansed by the blood of Christ and they defeated him by the word of their faithful witness - they trusted Christ for salvation, and were willing to die for His sake.

Church-age believers are instructed to "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," and although we will not face this terrible time of tribulation, this verse is as relevant for saints today who are facing increasing persecution from all sectors of society. Just like believers today, tribulation saints, who live in the final seven years of Daniel's great end-times prophecy, will also overcome the enemy because of their faith in the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb. Victory for them and for us is secure in the testimony of Christ.

Although we will be raptured before the great and terrible day of the Lord, oppression against the church is rampant and persecution in all its guises is instigated by that old serpent who is the devil and Satan, who prowls around like a roaring lion seeking believers to trounce and devour. Only those covered in the blood of the Lamb have victory over the evil principalities and powers.

Christ Himself told us that victory is assured for those of us who are part of the Body of Christ, for He Himself has promised that the gates of hell will never prevail against His Church. Today we live in an age of martyrs, and the martyr spirit has predominated throughout this dispensation of 'grace'... but like saints in this Church-age, those who trust in Christ during the coming time of tribulation have the same security in Him.

The foundational bedrock upon which all victory rests is the shed blood of Christ... the Lamb that was slain - the perfect Sacrifice, Who with one glorious cry of IT IS FINISHED, pronounced sin, death and hell, 'forever conquered'. Nothing can dislodge that unshakably firm foundation. For the holy lives, faithful testimony and patient sufferings of those standing on the promises of Christ, the shout VICTORY is an eternal watchword.

The salvation, security and strength of saints in every dispensation rests on Christ alone.

Salvation is of Christ - for He is the Sacrifice slain, His is the blood of the Lamb. 

Strength is of Christ - for His is the faithful testimony, the glorious gospel of grace. 

Security is of Christ-for His is the life - eternal, that no enemy can destroy.

The spiritual strongholds of the enemy are powerless against the weapons of our warfare, which rest on Christ and Christ alone. Hallelujah!

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, for the wonderful salvation, strength, and security I have received from the Lord Jesus Christ and for the victory He won for me through His blood. Thank You that we are overcomers because of faith. Thank You that the penalty and power of sin, Satan, death, and hell has been overcome through faith in the cleansing blood of the Lamb.. Who died and rose again so that we might never die - but be raised into life immortal. May I live every day of my life in faith through Christ... in Jesus' name, I pray, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus is the first step to wisdom

See you next blog,

Ted

Perplexed At How Evil Seems To Get Away With It?

Do you ever wonder why people who do bad things seem to get away with it?

Habakkuk 2:4 ""Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith."

How often we stand perplexed that God does not punish the wicked but seems to allow them to be acquitted of their wrongdoing and even rewarded for their evil works,(we have example before us with the sham House impeachment) and Habakkuk was faced with the same dilemma.

He was a man of God who was justifiably grieved by the sins of the kingdom of Judah. Rather than honoring the Lord with their heart and soul and mind and strength, he witnessed nothing but iniquity and sin. Judah had become a violent nation and Habakkuk complained that God's chosen people had become a people of strife and contention, where the law was ignored and justice perverted.

God reassured His servant that Judah's disobedience and rebellion would not go unpunished. He astonished his prophet by revealing how He would punish his errant people. The Lord told Habakkuk that He was going to raise up a fierce and impetuous people to bring judgement on Judah. The Chaldeans were a dreaded nation who were feared by the surrounding people. They were a law unto themselves and were altogether wicked. Punishment would be swift and violent. Judah would be helpless before this formidable foe.

He likened the swiftness of the Chaldean horses to leopards and their warriors to eagles, who would swoop down to devour their prey. Although Habakkuk knew that God's people were ripe for judgement, he was astonished and shocked to discover the magnitude of the punishment awaiting them. Habakkuk's initial indignation against Judah's ungodliness turned to concern for God's people.

So troubled was Habakkuk by this knowledge that he determined to stand guard on the rampart and keep watch to see if the Lord would provide some hope for His people. God did not leave His servant in any doubt that He would carry out a national chastening but also gave him some reassurance.... "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; BUT the righteous will live by his faith."

Habakkuk was given a truth that has stood the test of time - a principle that was rediscovered in Paul's epistle to the Romans during the Reformation and one that has blessed centuries of God's people... we are not only credited with righteousness by faith in God's Word - but we are to LIVE our life by faith..."for the righteous will live by his faith".

Those who are not credited with righteousness because of their lack of trust in the Almighty are living in spiritual darkness because their soul is not right within themselves, for they are not trusting God's Word. Those who are proud and self-important, foster pride in their heart. They rely on their own inner strength, power, talent and wisdom. These are ungodly fools who deny their Creator. They are not credited with righteousness because they have not believed the truth - HOWEVER, the righteous one will live by his faith - which may be better translated 'the justified-by-faith one - SHALL LIVE. The one who is justified in the eyes of God - will live

Unlike Church-age believers, not all Old Testament saints were indwelled by the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, everyone who believed God's Word, both before and after the cross, is credited with righteousness. Those declared righteous by faith WILL live, while those who are not justified by faith will not live - they shall surly experience the wrath of God.

Although the guiding principle of justification can be traced through every book of the Bible, it was to Habakkuk that the unchangeable truth of justification was given - The just shall live by faith. The man or woman who is justified by faith WILL LIVE.

Eternal life is a free gift to ALL who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and once we have been covered in Christ's righteousness we are called to LIVE the rest of our life BY FAITH. But we are also blessed to realise that the justified man or woman will live eternally - because he or she have trusted in the Word of God - our Saviour Jesus Christ.

May we KNOW in the inner recesses of our heart and mind that "a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus". May we have that assurance that eternal life is already ours, because we have been justified by faith, and having been justified, by faith, may we LIVE by faith - as we trust in Him to supply all our needs - day by day.

Praise God that WE, who have believed in Christ Jesus, are justified by faith in Christ. How thankful that we are not justified by our own good works or legalistic practices, carried out in our own strength; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

My Prayer
Thank You Father for the witness of Habakkuk who first shared the wonderful truth that the justified man and woman will live, because of their faith. Thank You for those who have continued to teach this truth down through the centuries - like the apostle Paul and those in the reformation. How I thank You, heavenly Father, that because I am justified by faith I will live eternally with the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that having been justified as Your free, and forever gift of grace, I may live every day of my life by faith - by trusting in You and not relying on my own strength or abilities. May my life be honouring to You and a testimony of Your goodness and grace to those with whom I come in contact - this I ask in Jesus' precious name, AMEN

Knowing Jesus is the first step to Wisdom!

See you next blog,

Ted

Eternal ONE

Eternal One His were the everlasting ways.  Habakkuk 3:6 What God has done on one occasion, He will do again. Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth. Among them are the following: The Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; He orders everything according to the counsel of His own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion or fear and is followed by regret and change; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise or happen contrary to what He has foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an unchanging character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly seen. Unless the Eternal One Himself can undergo change, His ways, which are Himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is He eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender? Then His ways must always be distinguished by the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature: When those natures change, their conduct also varies. But since God cannot know the shadow of turning, His ways will remain everlastingly the same. Furthermore there is no external reason that could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The prophet tells us that the earth is split with rivers, mountains tremble, the sea lifts up its hands, and the sun and moon stand still when Jehovah marches out for the salvation of His people. Who can prevent Him or say to Him, "What are You doing?" But it is not only might that gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but the true and the good are marked by a vitality that time cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in Him the Lord is always gracious to His people.

Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission. See you next blog, Ted

He Made You Alive!

Ephesians 2:1 "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,"

The living-spirit and life-soul of Adam was breathed into his lifeless, dusty frame by the life-breath of the eternal Holy Spirit. But the spirit of Adam died the moment he sinned. From that time forward, every member of the human race comes into this world as a fallen creature, estranged from their Creator - a pro-created being, who from conception is spiritually dead.

From the 'fall' of Adam in the paradise of God, every man born of woman and every woman procreated by man is birthed into this fallen world, dead in trespasses and sins, depraved in heart and mind and at enmity with their Creator. Paul's opening statement in Ephesians 2 says bluntly, "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins." Before being justified by faith every Christian is an unbeliever. Before salvation, every man is under the eternal condemnation of God.

Paul had just finished outlining the incredible privileges that are our in Christ. He spoke of the spiritual blessings, in heavenly places that are ours in Him. He reassured us that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. He encouraged us to be holy and blameless before Him - in love. He reminded us that we were predestined to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ and that we have received redemption through His blood. The wonderful truth is... that we are forgiven of our sins, according to the riches of His grace - which has been lavished on us in all wisdom and understanding.

He told us that we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to God's eternal purpose and will, and related glorious truths and that we were sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit of promise, Who has been given to us as a pledge and guarantee of our eternal inheritance.

It is only when new-life is breathed into the lifeless spirit of a man, at the point of salvation, that the eternal barrier between God and man, which was erected at the fall, is removed. It is only at the point of the 'new-birth', when the Holy Spirit of Life breathes the resurrected life of Christ into a sinner.. saved by grace through faith, that the human spirit is revived and spiritual death is changed into spiritual life.

Without the new-life of Christ being breathed into the one that is dead in their sins, the entire life of that man is lived out with no capacity for spiritual things. Until we are born into the new creation-in-Christ, we are estranged from God, under His eternal condemnation and bound for the fires of hell.

Sin was the cause of man's downfall and spiritual death the result. Sin was the root of our spiritual ruin, and separation from God is the bitter fruit of a man's disobedience. Sin was the cause... and the result is a race of men born spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, without hope and without God. BUT God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Praise His holy name.

The significance of this truth is astounding. All of us were operating as children of disobedience BUT every converted sinner becomes a heavenly saint and a child of God, for you who were dead in trespasses and sins, have been made alive in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every believer is delivered from the wrath to come by faith, and everyone who believes in Christ receives the remission of sins. His perfect righteousness becomes our outer garment. It is grace that has brought about this truly amazing transformation and it is grace that has provided God's wonderfully free and undeserved favour. It is God's amazing grace that made us alive in Christ and by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone we are set free from condemnation and eternal separation from our Creator.

This change is not accomplished by the Law or the keeping of rules, but by God's pardoning grace. This metamorphosis has nothing to do with good works of the flesh, but by God's justifying grace. This grace of God is so abounding and precious that there are neither words to describe nor songs sufficient to sing of His amazing love and the gracious gift that has been poured into our hearts, through the finished work of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Praise His holy name - Hallelujah! - Amen.

My Prayer

I praise Your wonderful grace that made me alive in Christ, when I was dead in trespasses and sins, and without hope in the world. Thank You Father for Jesus and thank You for loving me so much that You sent Him to give me new life through faith in Him. I pray that Your Spirit will more and more open my understanding to this indescribable gift that is mine. Make me bold in proclaiming the saving blood of Jesus to those that are born dead in their sins, and use me in the furtherance of Your plans and purposes. This I ask in Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

Knowing Jesus-The Beginning Of Wisdom!

See you next blog,

Ted

Is God Paying Attention?

by Pastor Greg Laurie

As the disciples made their way across the Sea of Galilee, a storm arose that was so severe it made them panic. Jesus had sent them ahead while He went to pray on a mountain. He told them to go to the other side, which meant they would get to the other side.

It didn’t mean they would have smooth sailing, but it did mean they would get to the other side. Even so, they wondered if they were going to survive. They prayed and called out to God.
And then we read that Jesus came to them in the fourth watch of the night.
What does that mean? Back in those days, a day was divided into four watches. The fourth watch of the night was that time just before dawn. This meant the disciples had been battling that storm for nine long hours.

Maybe you’re going through a storm right now, a storm that just won’t seem to let up. And just about the time it seems to be getting better, it actually gets a little bit worse. You wonder whether God knows what you’re going through. Is He paying attention? Is He aware of the hardships that you’re dealing with?

Yes, He’s aware. Even when the disciples were out at sea, even though Jesus wasn’t in the boat yet, He was watching. And He was praying. You need to know that God is watching over you. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good” (NLT).
Jesus arrived at what seemed like the last minute. But as someone has said, when you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God.

Are you at the end of yourself right now? The Lord will come through for you!


I need to add my take on this because at my age I have seen God come through when I did not see a way for Him to answer my needs. Part of the problem was me-Doubting Ted...should have been my name. The other part was feeling my own sinfulness and not realizing God knew I was a sinner saved by His Grace! That did not stop His great love for me. I am nobody in the grand scheme of things but the Lord knows my name. Pslms 139 says He knew me before one of my days was even yet to come. He gave us His only begotten Son a child born to die for our die for our sins as a righteous man who knew no sin. Trust is very important when it comes to believing that our Lord really does care and He does know our situation in life. You are loved even you don't feel like it. He will deliver us!
See you next blog,
Ted