“From Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr.”

“God is faithful (Deut 7:9; 1 Cor. 1:9) without question.  But the unlearned (2 Tim. 2:23), and foolish (Titus 3:9) keep questioning His faithfulness to Himself (2 Tim. 2:13), and to us (1 Thess. 5:25).”

“EYES OF HIM!”

 

Hebrews 4:13                    (ESV)

“[13] And  NO CREATURE is hidden from HIS SIGHT, but ALL ARE NAKED and exposed to the “EYES OF HIM” to WHOM we must give account.”

Dressing to the T’s has never been important to this individual!  What others “think of me” has hardly mattered to me.  It is probably beyond my human mind to even fathom what THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING considers when HE observes my entire existence!  According to this Scripture, NO CREATURE will be hidden from HIS SIGHT though!!!

As we prepare to celebrate HIS birth this week, may we who are CHOSEN rest in the PEACE that ONLY HE can bring!  Yes, when JESUS SEES me HE will thankfully observe HIS SACRIFICIAL death that HE SUFFERED for this wretched man!!

The “EYES OF HIM” SEES HIS ATONEMENT, not my futile attempts to live for HIM!  

“THE LORD!”

 Exodus 14:14    (English Standard Version)

[14] The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. -Exodus 14:14    (King James Version) 

 The LORD shall fight for you: therefore hold you your peace.

Exodus 14:14   (1599 Geneva Bible)

“The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet.””

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭14‬ ‭(Holman Christian Standard B‬‬bile)

This morning I will be VERY BRIEF!  Above are four translations of Scripture.  The main focus in ALL versions of Exodus 14:14 is “The LORD will/shall FIGHT for you”!  The latter portion of the verse basically says to this humble servant in a redneck, country version!

GOD doesn’t require my “assistance” to do ANYTHING!  HE “miraculously” caused my blood pressure to decrease TWENTY DAYS after my brain began leaking in 2007!!  

“THE LORD” is ENOUGH!!!!  NOTHING ELSE IS REQUIRED!!!

“From Bishop Robert E Smith, Sr”

 From Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr.!

“How to love and believe the One you've  never seen  (1 Peter 1:8): by the power of the preached and written Word (Rom. 2:16; John 20:29-31). The Word and Christ are the same (1 John 5:7).”

“THE PROMISE OF GOD!”

 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.””

“A WOMAN NAMED MARTHA!”

Luke 10:38-42                 (ESV)

Martha and Mary

“[38] Now as they went on their way, JESUS entered a village. And “A WOMAN NAMED MARTHA” welcomed HIM into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the LORD’s feet and listened to HIS teaching. [40] But Martha was DISTRACTED WITH MUCH SERVING. And she went up to HIM and said, “LORD, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” [41] But the LORD answered her, “MARTHA, MARTHA, you are anxious and troubled about many things, [42] but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which WILL NOT be taken away from her.””

There are many times, when IN MY HASTE to ACCOMPLISH MANY THINGS, that I NEGLECT to SEE the most important and crucial things that are happening directly in front of me!  Formerly, I was moving SO QUICKLY that I sped through life so quickly, NOT being able to SEE many physical needs, LET ALONE the Spiritual “malnutrition” of myself and those in my “circle”!  “A WOMAN NAMED MARTHA” had a similar situation, she was so intent on “providing things” to those in supposed need that she couldn’t SEE their most critical deficiencies.  The SAVIOR OF ALL was in the midst of them, but she wanted to fulfill the “temporal” instead of the TRUE AND ETERNAL 

GOD is QUITE CAPABLE of SLOWING US DOWN and causing our EYES to be OPENED to SEE TRUTH all around us!!  HE used a seventeen day coma (followed bytwo years of not being able to work!) to SLOW me down in order that I would be able to SEE what was going on RIGHT in front of me!!  It wasn’t that I didn’t care about others, but I was moving TOO FAST to be able to SEE things in the path I was assigned!!

JESUS very plainly responded to Martha’s request for help from Mary, “Martha, Martha, you are ANXIOUS and TROUBLED about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which WILL NOT be taken away from her.”  The BLESSING that was ATTACHED to the choice that Mary made carried with it ETERNAL REWARDS, and they COULD NOT be taken away from her.  She may not even been aware of the CHOICE, but her BLESSINGS COULD NOT be removed!!!

There is NO WAY I can relate this to everyone who reads this, but my prayer is that the CREATOR will not have to place you in a coma to OPEN your EYES to SEE the TRUTH right in front of you!!   “A WOMAN NAMED MARTHA” was simply spoken to by THE MASTER!  Are you moving slowly enough to understand what HE is saying to you???

“VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING!”

 Mark 1:35-39                    (ESV)

[35] And rising “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING”, while it was still dark, HE 

departed and went out to a desolate place, and THERE HE PRAYED. [36] And Simon and those who were with HIM searched for HIM, [37] and THEY FOUND HIM and said to HIM, “EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU.” [38] And HE said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” [39] And HE went throughout 

all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”

There are times when I am just as this passage of Scripture this morning says, “EVERYONE IS LOOKING FOR YOU” (JESUS)!  But JESUS went out “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING” to spend time with HIS FATHER!!  Scripture doesn’t say that HIS PRAYER was near its competition, it simply says “Let us go on to the next towns” indicating that the disciples interrupted the prayer time of JESUS with THE FATHER???

When I awake and don’t get right back to sleep I have started to get up and go to my quiet place and commune with the FATHER!  Only this morning though have MY EYES BEEN OPENED TO SEE that “the enemy” relishes in the weakness of my weariness and attempts to capitalize on weariness!  When I am tired and worn out, my mind is so easily distracted and confused.  I don’t SEE “the enemy” disguised (2 Corinthians 11:14) as truth!  

Even this morning my thoughts are distracted as I write these words about “getting alone with GOD”!  We have no failsafe measures to to guarantee our quiet time with OUR LORD!  I am discovering though that when I arise “VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING” that distractions are fewer and the time spent with JESUS is more fulfilling!!!

 

 

 

“BE SERIOUS! BE ALERT!”

 Peter 5:8-10                    (ESV)

“[8] BE SOBER-MINDED; BE WATCHFUL. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. [9] RESIST him, firm in your FAITH, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10] And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO HAS CALLED YOU to HIS eternal GLORY in CHRIST, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

One things that I frequently do is go a an app where I see varying results on translations of Scripture to MAKE SURE that I am READING what I am SEEING!  The HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) begins this passage of Scripture saying ““BE SERIOUS! BE ALERT!”!  Another translation says “Be on your guard and stay awake”!  

These WORDS open my Brain Damaged mind to SEE something more clearly than what others have said.  “BE SERIOUS! BE ALERT!” instructs me to “get down to business” and “don’t play around” any longer!!  When you take the WORD literally, BE SOBER-MINDED causes my mind to recall NOT BEING SWAYED by the carelessness generated by “this world”!  

We are in current events where “our adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”!  We CAN NOT be swayed by what “our adversary” tries to cloud our view of REALITY with, rather we MUST discern what “the GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO HAS CALLED YOU to HIS eternal GLORY in CHRIST, will HIMSELF restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” has for us!!!

BE SOBER-MINDED and BE WATCHFUL is the mindset that we need to be instilled with, but I need to “BE SERIOUS! BE ALERT!” needs to be the my temperament as I prepare for OUR ADVERSARY!!!

“James 1:5-6”

 James 1:5-6                    (ESV)

“[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ASK GOD, WHO gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask IN FAITH with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”

“THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST!”

 Exodus 25:1;8                     (ESV)

“[1] The LORD said to Moses,….

[8] And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.”

As I sit here alone in my house in solitude, I am awaiting a WORD FROM THE LORD about these verses of Scripture that I shared with everyone this morning.  

In my Brain Damaged mind, I cannot imagine that THE ONE WHO CREATED me and THE ENTIRE WORLD would continually give me BREATH (Isaiah 42:5) when I fail to worship and adore HIS MAJESTY???  HE is requesting me to “sit down for a spell” with HIM, but I seem to think that I don’t have enough time for that!!

I see my family on a digital screen in my living room and my thoughts are WHAT IF they only acknowledged me was when they needed me??  Isn’t that what I usually do to my HEAVENLY FATHER???  I generally “present HIM my wish list” while praying and then get up and “run the race” I feel HE has assigned to me!  

But what about me simply spending time with THE LORD??  THE ONE WHO CREATED me??  Can I NOT simply WORSHIP HIM because HE IS WORTHY??  

HIS WORD says in Exodus 25:8 “And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.  But do I spend enough time with HIM to GAIN WISDOM!.  James 3:13-18 (ESV)

WISDOM from Above

Says “[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of WISDOM. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, DO NOT boast and be false to the TRUTH. [15] THIS IS NOT THE WISDOM THAT COMES DOWN FROM ABOVE, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, THERE WILL BE DISORDER and every vile practice. [17] BUT THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, OPEN TO REASON, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Physical intellect, riches or capabilities WILL NOT have HIS WISDOM, without HIS BLESSING!! HE IS SAYING TO US “And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.  

HE DESIRES MY PRESENCE WITH HIM………. ON HIS TERMS!!!

“THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST!”

 Exodus 25:1;8                     (ESV)

“[1] The LORD said to Moses,….

[8] And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.”

How often do I attend the church where GOD has me attending totally unprepared to HEAR from THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES???  Worse still, how often do I take advantage of the GIFT HE provided me when the “veil was rent from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51) on the Holy of Holies???

IF WE UNDERSTOOD what a GIFT HE PURCHASED for us, certainly we would spend more time ALONE with JESUS?!?  We have DIRECT ACCESS to the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS, but do we take advantage of this GIFT??  We seem to have an understanding that we can provide HIM “tithes and offerings” from our professions, and we expect that to be enough??  But is that what HE says in the Scripture passage above??

GOD’s PLAN all along was to have an unabridged relationship with HIM, to have NO BARRIERS between HIM and us!  But the PRICE FOR OUR SIN precluded this from being a reality.  When JESUS paid the ULTIMATE PRICE for my sins, the barrier (veil) was torn from top to bottom, a display of our access to our SAVIOR!!!

THE PRICE for my salvation was PAID IN FULL on Calvary!  “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST” required a GIFT that ONLY JESUS could PROVIDE!!!  I pray “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST” will be made known by HIS CHOSEN and we will enjoy HIM FOREVER!!!

“MY WORD!”

 Isaiah 55:10-11                    (ESV)

    “[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

        and do not return there but water the earth,

    making it bring forth and sprout,

        giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

    [11] so shall “MY WORD” be that goes out from MY MOUTH;

        IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY,

    but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE,

        and SHALL SUCCEED IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”

As I have written before (many times!), my grandfather was a “gardener extraordinaire”!  He had the knowledge and experience to cause any seed to flourish and produce rewards!  A graduate of the fifth grade, he was not proficient in book studies, but he KNEW how to grow a garden and flourished in his efforts!!

In the two verses shared above, ALMIGHTY GOD is saying that “MY WORD” SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY!  GOD then says that “IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE, and SHALL SUCCEED IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT.” “MY WORD” which comes to us via “MY MOUTH SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE” is a rather bold statement that humanity appears to almost ignore??

When do we have the WISDOM to turn off the television, radio, social media, and any other noise, and simply LISTEN TO GOD for direction in our lives??  Isaiah 42:5 and Isaiah 43:2-3 have been used by THE LORD instrumentally in precise manners to mold me to LISTEN TO HIM FOR HIS GLORY!  Today THE LORD caused me to search for “bible go limp and absorb my word” and the first verse that came up was Isaiah 55:11!  GOD can use HIS ENTIRE WORD, but HE is keeping me in Isaiah for now, maybe because most of what I read are WORDS spoken by HIM to guide and direct one of HIS CHOSEN???

Just like my grandfather learned his gardening skills from his HEAVENLY FATHER, the same HEAVENLY FATHER is teaching me to HEAR from “MY WORD” and be USED for HIS GLORY!  It isn’t about anything other than me listening to “MY WORD”!!!

“I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD!”

 Isaiah 43:2-3                     (ESV)

    “[2] When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

        and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

    WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH THE FIRE OF SHALL NOT BE BURNED,

        and the flame shall NOT CONSUME YOU. 

    [3] For “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD”,

        the HOLY ONE of Israel, your SAVIOR.

    I give Egypt as your ransom,

        Cush and Seba in exchange for you.”

This morning I awoke to a notice on a social media account that was announcing a friend of this person had experienced a “Brain Bleed” and wasn’t expected to survive this catastrophic event.   As most of you are aware, I experienced a “Brain Bleed” over 18 years ago, but I did survive with very few “deficits”!!!  Eighteen years ago the incident was very serious……today it has become a learning tool!!!

My medical records from my physician plainly say “However, he has had a remarkable recovery that can only be defined as a miracle from GOD”!!!  NO, I try to NEVER let the opportunity to GLORIFY GOD through the event that was SO SERIOUS at the time.  During my recovery I read online that 80% of Brain Hemorrhage patients died from the event.  Not only did I survive, but with very few disabilities.  There ARE a couple of minor remnants, but GOD uses those as reminders of where HE has brought me from during my journey!!

It wasn’t anything that I did during this period of time to make me worthy to be delivered from the “valley of the shadow of death”!  ALMIGHTY GOD DELIVERED me, even from a 17 day coma!!  

“I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD” carries a TOTALLY different meaning to me than before!  Why didn’t I die???  Why didn’t I have more disabilities???  Why???  Because “I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD” has a purpose for me and I will never forget it!!!

“FIRE CAME DOWN!”

 2 Chronicles 6:41 - 2 Chronicles 7::3

    [41] “And now arise, O LORD GOD, and go to YOUR resting place,

        YOU and the ark of YOUR might.

    Let your priests, O LORD GOD, be clothed with salvation,

        and let YOUR saints rejoice in YOUR goodness. 

    [42] O LORD GOD, do not turn away the FACE of your anointed ONE!

        Remember YOUR steadfast love for David YOUR servant.”

FIRE from Heaven

[1] AS SOON AS SOLOMON FINISHED HIS PRAYER, “FIRE CAME DOWN” from HEAVEN and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and THE GLORY OF THE LORD filled the temple. [2] And THE PRIESTS COULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. [3] When “ALL THE PEOPLE” of Israel saw the FIRE come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, THEY BOWED DOWN WITH THEIR FACES TO THE GROUND on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For HE is good, for HIS steadfast LOVE endures forever.”

There are MANY SCRIPTURES that could be used by ALMIGHTY GOD this new morning to ENLIGHTEN my Brain Damaged mind, but the SPIRIT OF GOD is seemingly URGING me to LISTEN to everything HE is saying to me from the passages above.  

The TYPICAL “method of operation” for this humble servant is to “rapidly” move onto the next passage of Scripture and see if I can make sense of what is trying to be SAID to me.  But I am slowly but surely SEEING that GOD doesn’t have to WORK LIKE THAT!  HE OPERATES ON HIS OWN TIMELINE!!!

“AS SOON AS SOLOMON FINISHED HIS PRAYER, “FIRE CAME DOWN” from HEAVEN” is  the passage of Scripture that I am unable to get past this morning.  2 Chronicles 6:12-42 is an eloquent, detailed oration about how GOD was FAR TOO MAGNIFICENT for his mortal words to encapsulate description!  Yet after his attempt, “FIRE CAME DOWN” from HEAVEN!!!  

Now FIRE can be a destructive mechanism, one that leaves total destruction.  But it is ALSO a purification tool that brings about HIS LIFE after ALL interference is overcome???  Sometimes our “wildest imaginations” have to be DISMISSED when GOD IS DOING SOMETHING that words will NEVER be able to articulate!!!  

Solomon is the WISEST man, according to SCRIPTURE!  But his vocabulary was unable to articulate precisely what GOD had in store for the nation of Israel!  Whenever “FIRE CAME DOWN”, it didn’t necessarily mean that GOD was furious???  “FIRE CAME DOWN” may have been a sign that GOD was doing something of which that ONLY HE was WORTHY to be PRAISED???