Romans 4:20-22 (ESV)
“[20] No unbelief made him (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew STRONG IN HIS FAITH as he gave GLORY TO GOD, [21] fully convinced that GOD was able to do what HE had promised. [22] That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
Psalms 46:10 (KJV)
“”BE STILL”, and know that I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED among the heathen, I WILL BE EXALTED in the earth.”
We like to “think” that we are in “control”, at least of our own lives. But there are many examples of humans NOT having control, and having NO CHOICE in the outcome of their own decisions or actions, whether good decisions or bad actions.
July 09, 2007 “my plan” was to start fundraising for the FOUNDATION for RESPONSIBLE YOUTH, Inc., calling the participants FRY KIDS. The paperwork was filed with the Secretary of State and that Monday morning I was going to get checking accounts and other things needed to run the operations for the new program.
ON THAT PRECISE MORNING, at 5:30AM, I awoke to go to the restroom, but VERY QUICKLY discovered that I was NOT IN CONTROL…… of anything!!! ALMIGHTY GOD was DEFINITELY the ONE IN CONTROL and for the next 52 days I HAD TO YEILD to HIM!! NO EXCEPTIONS or EXCUSES!!!
It is MIND-BOGGLING (extremely surprising and difficult to understand or imagine) to discover that we are simply tools to be USED by THE CREATOR to accomplish HIS PLAN for our lives. Over the past nineteen plus years, this humble servant HAD to “BE STILL” and admit that I am only a tool, USED BY THE MASTER, to enunciate that HE IS LORD!!!
We are ALL only tools used by THE CREATOR! Some of us are CHOSEN (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-4) to serve HIM….. and the others are not!!!
USE me, O LORD, to let ALL PEOPLES know that YOU ARE KING and we must “BE STILL” and worship YOUR MAJESTY!!!
Acts 3:11-16 (ESV)
Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico
“[11] While he (the lame man just healed) clung to Peter and John, “ALL THE PEOPLE”, UTTERLY ASTOUNDED, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. [12] And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? [13] The GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob, the GOD of our fathers, glorified HIS servant JESUS, WHO you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. [14] But you denied the HOLY and RIGHTEOUS ONE, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the AUTHOR of life, whom GOD raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. [16] And HIS NAME—by FAITH in HIS NAME—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the FAITH that is through JESUS has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
“ALL THE PEOPLE” love to see miraculous things occur in their presence. “ALL THE PEOPLE” apparently don’t have a clue where the MIRACLE comes from, only that they were CHOSEN to be a witness to it’s happening?
Peter and John had just been used by GOD to heal a man who had been laid “at the gate of the temple” (Acts 3:2) for years, and “ALL THE PEOPLE” witnessed it! This man had been “lame” for 40+ years (Acts 4:22), so one would suspect that he might need to be taught how to walk and navigate on his own? But Acts 3:8 says he went into the temple walking and leaping and PRAISING GOD!!!
Memories of August 29, 2007 jump into my mind, as that is the day I was released from the rehabilitation hospital following the “massive brain hemorrhage”! “ALL THE PEOPLE” gathered at the front door and celebrated my recovery. My hospitalization was only 52 days, yet I needed “assistance” in getting back to where I was able to function on my own. Most people who were surrounding my “story” admitted that DIVINITY had to be involved.
The term “ALL THE PEOPLE” should not be misunderstood to mean that EVERYONE acknowledged that the man “at the gate of the temple” was DIVINE. BUT “ALL THE PEOPLE” who were present could not deny that something MIRACULOUS had happened!
You CANNOT DENY a MIRACLE when you SEE it! I pray that “ALL THE PEOPLE” who are CHOSEN will have their EYES OPENED and SEE what GOD has done for them!!!
Psalm 139:1-2 (ESV)
Search Me, O GOD, and Know My Heart
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
“[1] “O LORD, YOU” have searched me and known me!
[2] YOU know when I sit down and when I rise up;
YOU discern my thoughts from afar.”
David is the author of this Psalm. He also was the man that Samuel says was “a man after GODS OWN HEART”! David was CHOSEN by GOD ALMIGHTY through HIS prophet Samuel to be King when Saul turned away from THE LORD. But David was FAR FROM perfect!!!
King David was home when his troops were in battle with the Ammonites, and the turmoil that ensued was something that caused him GREAT GRIEF!! Yet he writes in this Psalm that “O LORD, YOU” have searched me and known me!”
If GOD has a record of all of David’s life, HE must have one of my life??? On one hand, that is quite alarming! But on the other hand, GOD REMOVES our sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12)!! HE CHOOSES to not REMEMBER our sins any longer BECAUSE OF the sacrifice that JESUS made on Calvary!!!
The account of David and Bathsheba serves as a profound lesson on the nature of sin, the importance of repentance, and the enduring mercy of GOD. I’m so thankful that HE CHOOSES to do the same for me!!
“O LORD, YOU” are WORTHY of ALL OF our PRAISE!!!
Luke 1:5-25; 57-66 (ESV)
Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
“[5] In the days of Herod, king of Judea, THERE WAS A PRIEST NAMED ZECHARIAH, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] And they were BOTH righteous before GOD, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
[8] Now while he was serving as priest before GOD when his division was on duty, [9] according to the custom of the priesthood, HE WAS CHOSEN by lot to enter the temple of the LORD and burn incense. [10] And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. [11] And THERE APPEARED TO HIM AN ANGEL OF THE LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth WILL BEAR YOU A SON, and you shall call his name John. [14] And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for HE WILL BE GREAT BEFORE THE LORD. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, even from his mother’s womb. [16] And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their GOD, [17] and he will go before HIM in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the LORD a people prepared.”
[18] And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” [19] And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, and I was sent to speak to you and TO BRING YOU THIS GOOD NEWS. [20] And behold, YOU WILL BE SILENT and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” [21] And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. [22] And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. [23] And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.
[24] After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, [25] “Thus the LORD has done for me in the days when HE looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
The Birth of John the Baptist
[57] Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. [58] And her neighbors and relatives heard that the LORD had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. [59] And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, [60] but his mother answered, “NO; HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN.” [61] And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” [62] And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. [63] And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “HIS NAME IS JOHN.” And they all wondered. [64] And IMMEDIATELY HIS MOUTH WAS and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing GOD. [65] And FEAR CAME ON ALL THEIR NEIGHBORS. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, [66] and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the HAND OF THE LORD was with him.”
Commentary today will be limited because the text is SO lengthy. But Zechariah and his wife were “…righteous before GOD, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the LORD.”
So why did GOD not permit them to have children during their younger years? Scripture doesn’t come right out and say, but when they FINALLY had a son, GOD have them a name and everything for JOHN! And John was UNIQUE, to say the least!
John was beheaded by Herod, so why did GOD not prevent this? Being a follower of CHRIST is just as dangerous as being a forerunner of HIM! We need to LIVE like John, unafraid of leaving “this world” because we KNOW “THE TRUTH”!!!
Psalm 4:8 (ESV)
“[8] “IN PEACE” I will both lie down and sleep;
for YOU ALONE, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
It is not often nowadays that I wake up early in the morning. Since the Brain Hemorrhage over 19 years ago, I have slept about 10 hours a night most of the time, with very few exceptions.
“The coma” was as PEACEFUL as anything I have ever experienced in my life! Having the people who love me suffer through that tumultuous ordeal is not something that I would want for them, but LETTING GO of the cares of “this world” is something that is VERY FREEING!!!
When we are able to REST “IN PEACE” from the cares of “this world”, it is truly something that can only be achieved through THE LORD OF HOSTS! Acknowledging that HE IS IN CONTROL is paramount to being able to sleep “IN PEACE”!!
Being able to sleep “IN PEACE” is something that we need to TRUST in YOU ALONE, O LORD to accomplish for us! Our lives are SO BUSY that we can’t seem to LET GO of everything and rest “IN PEACE”!!!
