About Praising the LORD

 About praising the Lord

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary;

 praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, 

praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing,

 praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

 praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                Psalm 150

Here is a simple question if you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus. How often do you take time when you are not in church to praise God?

Please think about it.

Who's your God?

   Who's your God?

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.

In the above passage of scripture Joshua is telling the Israelites to make up their mind. To either follow the one true God or the gods of the Amorites. 

While we in the western democracies may not want to admit it we have many Gods. Even those who call themselves Christians quite often worship other gods. The obvious being materialism. But there are other god that we may not think are gods. The following of a political leader or party. Even an obsession with your personal rights under the law of the land.

Other gods is anything that puts The Lord God Almighty second or mixes anything in with our worship of Him.

As Christians, followers of Christ Jesus in the west we need to decide who we will follow. Our political leaders, political parties, materialism,...or The Lord God Almighty.

Who are you following?

Please think about it.

Live by faith

  Live by Faith

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.  

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.''" 

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 18:18-22.

Here is what Jesus is saying here. Live by faith. Do not rely on your earthly wealth. Live by faith expecting God to supply you needs.

In the book of Philippians we read,

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19.

Do you believe this. Do you rely on God to supply your needs?

Do you think the pastors and evangelist you support believe this?

Please think about it.

The Bible and Gods existence

 The Bible and Gods existence 

In the gospel of John, John calling Jesus “the Word” states,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John 1-3.

The Bible doesn’t defend the existence of God and the fact he created the universe. It was written to believers and believers do not need explanation.

That being said there are many men of science who defend the existence of God through science.

William Kelvin wrote,

“If you study Science deep enough and long enough, it will force you to believe in God” Lord William Kelvin Noted for his theoretical work in thermodynamics

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan."

Werner Heisenberg states,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics

What amazes me is not only did God create the heavens and the earth. But that God though His son Christ Jesus entered the word he created. John stating, 

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

And Jesus tells us the reason he came,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16,17 

Do you believe in God? If so have you asked him into your life?

Please think about it.

Pray

   Pray

The apostle Paul writes,

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone...” 1 Timothy 2:1.

If you claim to be a Christian do you pray for everyone around you? Do you pray for your family members, friends, neighbours, enemies, government and religious leaders? The apostle Paul says you should. So do you?

Please think about it.

  Faith, Belief in God

The Bible opens with the statement,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1.

It does not open the existence of God for debate it simply states there is a God who created the heavens and the earth.

The way I see things is we can either believe in God or not believe in God. There is no middle ground.

Admittedly to believe in God takes an act of faith because we cannot see God. But believe we must. The writer of the book of Hebrews telling us,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

The way I see it God asks us to have faith that He exists because having faith in anything particularly something or someone you cannot see is very hard for most people.

It is doubly hard I think for people to believe in a God who “seemingly” has been silent for several millennium. 

That being said the true believer longs to see God. As the psalmist puts it,

 “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,

 and in his word I put my hope.”

                                                        Psalm 130:5  

Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

At Peace

 At Peace

The apostle Paul writes,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone.”

                                                   Romans 12:18.

Do you do your best to live at peace with those around you?

All it takes to live at peace with those around you is to obey these words of Jesus,

Jesus said,

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40.

Jesus also said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

If you as a Christian are living by these verses then you have done all you can to live at peace with those around you

Thus the question becomes; Are you obeying these words of Jesus.

Please think about it.

A Pledge

 A Pledge

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others 

what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” 

                                                              Matthew 7:12.

Thus as a believer in Christ Jesus,

I pledge...

To Love.

I Pledge...

As far as it depends on me...

To live at peace with all people.

I Pledge...

Never, Never, Never! To attack anyone...

Physically, or verbally.

Even if I vehemently disagree with them in any way.

I Pledge...

Never to demean anyone.

No matter their race, their ethnicity, 

their religion, or their lifestyle.

I Pledge...

As far as humanly possible,

To uphold the dignity of all whom I come in contact with.

I Pledge...

To obey the words of Christ Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have others do to you

for this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

Please don’t just think about it. Do it!

  

This sums up the law and the Prophets

 This sums up the law and prophets

Again it comes down to Matthew 7:12

"So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" 

                                                                 Matthew 7:12.

I think this is of primary importance to all Christians. We must remember that we need to treat others the same way we would wish to be treated. For if we do this it will lead us to win souls for Christ.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

Choosing to Love

  Choosing to Love

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians defines Christian love as,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, 

it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth. 

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love." 

                                                                                  1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Is this the kind of Love you show to those around you?

Please think about it.

Love the greatest commandment

  Love the greatest commandment.

Jesus when asked,

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 

Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.

We must also love our enemy. Jesus stating,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  

And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Matthew 5:43-47.

So do you choose to follow the greatest commandment of Jesus?

Please think about it.

Refraining from Judgement

 Refrain from Judging 

Jesus said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.

An important element of Christian life is never to judge anyone other than for our personal protection, (physical and spiritual). We as believers in Christ must refrain from Judging others especially those outside the church. 

Additionally we should never judge an individual with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God's purview. 

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is the way they are. Only God knows that. That’s why we must show love and not judge in anyway toward those around us.

That being said, I believe Christians can judge other Christians but only to see that they are teaching sound doctrine. The apostle Paul stating,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. 

“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Sadly within the church today too many people calling themselves Christians are judging people they disagree with outside the church. 

The late American evangelist Billy Graham once said,

It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love, 

                     Billy Graham

At the same those within the church are failing to judge whether or not, those calling themselves Christian leaders are truly teaching the word of God correctly.

No soul will ever be won for Christ by judging those outside the church. Those people will simply turn away and not listen.

At the same time men and women professing to be Christians will also turn many away from Christ. While at the same time leading believers away with half truths and misinterpretations of the gospel message.

Thus we as believers in Christ Jesus have two choices. 

1/ To avoid judging those outside of the church except for our personal physical protection.

2/ ensure that the pastors, evangelist, and Christian teachers you listen to are presenting the word of God correctly

Please think about it.