From Bishop Robert E. Smith Sr. “We're saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). We live by faith (Rom. 1:17), walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), and we work by faith (2 Thess. 1:11): Anything less than faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).”

“EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW!”

 Isaiah 45:22-25                    (ESV)

THE LORD, THE ONLY SAVIOR

    [22] “Turn to ME and be saved,

        all the ends of the earth!

        FOR I AM GOD, and there is no other. 

    [23] By MYSELF I have sworn;

        from MY mouth has gone out in righteousness

        a word that shall not return:

    ‘To ME “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW”,

        every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

    [24] “Only in the LORD, it shall be said of ME,

        are righteousness and strength;

    to HIM shall come and be ashamed

        all who were incensed against HIM. 

    [25] In the LORD all the offspring of Israel

        shall be justified and shall glory.”

Many times this humble servant has sat down with THE WORD OF GOD trying to get a “nugget” to assist me for whatever I am in need of at the time!  This morning I had the song “O For A Thousand Tongues” on my mind. In listening to the song I was imagining a THOUSAND people singing to our CREATOR.  My mind almost immediately went to the words written by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2 and Romans 14 that announces that “Every knee shall bow”, not just a thousand!!!

The Apostle Paul was a dedicated servant who GOD saved for HIS GLORY in Acts 9!  He was a Pharisee among Pharisees, so he knew Scripture.  He was reciting today’s focal passage when he wrote those letters to the church at Rome and Philippi.  The book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C. So for at least 2,700 years we have had the MESSAGE that “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW” before our GOD IN HEAVEN!!!!

Humanity, as a whole, doesn’t have the capability to fully understand that GOD exists in THREE BEINGS, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT!  Even BELIEVERS must slow their lives down to grasp even a glimpse of HIS MAJESTY and GRANDEUR!  Even the focal passage today plainly says “To ME (GOD) “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW””, which indicates that we AREN’T running!!  You can’t run when your knees are bowing!!!  

Yet “this world” is operating at such a pace that “LETTING GO” is nearly impossible?  To be “successful” in modern day society, the demands are great and seemingly unforgiving.  This humble servant wasn’t given the choice of slowing down July 09, 2007.  ALMIGHTY GOD walked me through “the valley of the shadow of death” and initiated changes in my life that are still transforming my actions.  “EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW” NOW has a totally new meaning for me!  Is ALMIGHTY GOD requesting you to SLOW DOWN????

“FOR THE GIFTS AND THE CALLING OF GOD ARE IRREVOCABLE!”

 Romans 11:28-33                           (ESV)

“[28] As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. [29] “FOR THE GIFTS AND THE CALLING OF GOD ARE IRREVOCABLE” (Impossible to retract or revoke). [30] For just as you were at one time disobedient to GOD but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. [32] For GOD has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

[33] Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of GOD! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable (incomprehensible) HIS WAYS!”

“I WILL NOT FORGET YOU!”

 Isaiah 49:14-16                         (ESV)

    “[14] But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;

        my LORD has forgotten me.”

    [15] “Can a woman forget her nursing child,

        that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?

    Even these may forget,

        yet “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU.”

     [16] Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of MY hands;

        your walls are continually before ME.”

REMEMBERING the promises that we have made to our CREATOR is something that humans do with shocking frequency. The times that I have said that I would never travel a road again are too many to count.  

Yet HIS PROMISES are not to be taken lightly! THE LORD said “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU”, even though these may forget, in the Scripture above!  

DON’T ever allow “the enemy” to deceive you into believing that you have been abandoned, that you are alone!  The HOLY SPIRIT “indwells” BELIEVERS (Ephesians 1:13-14) and HE DOESN’T have the possibility of FORGETTING HIS Children!  “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU” is more than a PROMISE, IT IS A GUARANTEE (Ephesians 1:14)!!!

“I PRESS ON!”

 Philippians 3:12-16                         (ESV)

Straining Toward the Goal

“[12] Not that I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THIS or AM ALREADY PERFECT, but “I PRESS ON” to make it my own, because CHRIST JESUS has made me HIS OWN. [13] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND and STRAINING TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in CHRIST JESUS. [15] LET THOSE OF US WHO ARE MATURE THINK THIS WAY, and if in anything you think otherwise, GOD will reveal that also to you. [16] Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

Even though WE ARE MATURE, most of us are NOT ALREADY PERFECT!  The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Phillipi “I PRESS ON” to make it my own, because CHRIST JESUS has made me HIS OWN.”  Paul follows that up by writing “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND and STRAINING TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.”

Like most people, my life has been a testimony of miracles that I have to SLOW DOWN sometimes to SEE!  Do you understand that the very breath you have in your lungs right now was formerly exhaled by someone or something else? However, knowing the magnitude of all of this, “I PRESS ON” to be ALL that CHRIST has CALLED me to be in HIM!  

I could GLORY in the miraculous ways that JESUS has delivered me through “the valley of the shadow of death”, but “I PRESS ON” because CHRIST JESUS has made me HIS OWN!!!

“FAITH!”

 Hebrews 11:1-3                     (ESV)

By FAITH 

“[1] Now “FAITH” is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] For by it (“FAITH”) the people of old received their commendation. [3] By “FAITH”we understand that the universe was created by the WORD of GOD, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

“WHEN HE IS FULLY TRAINED!”

 Luke 6:39-42                                   (ESV)

“[39] HE also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? [40] A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone “WHEN HE IS FULLY TRAINED” will be like his teacher. [41] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [42] How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.””

JESUS, the CREATOR (Colossians 1:16) of everything is speaking to ALL who can HEAR (Mark 4:23) in the passage of Scripture above.  So many times we are NOT being led by the HOLY SPIRIT when we discuss the sins of others, especially when we aren’t looking at the sinful nature of our own life also???  Finding the faults of others is difficult for me, especially when my sins are so many! 

For me, GOD used a “massive brain hemorrhage” in 2007 to slow my life down where I could LISTEN TO HIM!  For the most part, the entirety of my life was operating at a pace that prevented me from HEARING from HIM!  I remember it like it was yesterday when GOD told me four or five years following the Brain Hemorrhage that my “word recall” was as good as it was going to get, and that I needed to “deal with it”!  

“WHEN HE IS FULLY TRAINED” might not mean when we are PERFECTED, rather when we are what we are CREATED for!  Formerly, before the Brain Hemorrhage, I was extremely “quick-tongued”!  Often times I would have to “apologize” for my abrupt responses instead of just allowing GOD to WORK something out in HIS OWN TIMING!  JESUS is/was GOD IN THE FLESH and HE kept quiet when HE was being tried before Pilate!  Why, because TRUTH would have proven HIS INNOCENCE and possibly prevented HIS SACRIFICE!!!

We MUST recognize that JESUS (our TEACHER) willingly SACRIFICED HIS LIFE for the sins of mankind!  We could be called to SACRIFICE our freedoms, or even our lives like the original disciples had to do with the exception of John, and he was boiled alive in oil!!!  

Accepting the PLAN, as JESUS CHRIST did, is not for the SPIRITUALLY weak.  BUT, “WHEN HE IS FULLY TRAINED”, when JESUS prepares you for what is ahead in life, you WILL be able to complete HIS PLAN for your life!!!