1 Samuel 17:45-47 "The David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted." "This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands"
Of course we know the story. Goliath the giant had challenged the men of Saul's army to a match, and the side of the winner would get all the spoil, and plunder. David had been sent by his father, Jesse, to inquire of his brothers who were in the army.
David agreed to meet this giant of a warrior, and all he took was his staff and his sling. He picked up five smooth stones, although he only needed one. David said that he did not come with weapons of warfare, but that he came in the name of the LORD. In other words, David had faith that God would defeat the army of the Philistines that very day. And yes, God was victorious.
Today we use the phrase "the name of the Lord" to mean His authority. Colossians 3:17 reads: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father". What we do in our worship to God and our daily living is to be by His authority. Anything we attempt to do in God's name or the name of Jesus, must be according to His word which is the Bible. Just like our prayers, these need to be done according to His will.
Let us not take this phrase for granted, but let us do everything in the name of the Lord. By His authority and by His commandments. When we enter our spiritual warfare, let us take the name of the Lord with us, because the battle belongs to the LORD.
By Carey Scott
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thoughts on Psalm 139
God searches the hearts of men. Jeremiah 17:10 says that. God searches hearts and tests the minds of men. God knows us each intimately. God even knows us better than we know ourselves.
God knows what we are doing at all times. Even a task we take for granted like sitting down in a chair or on a log or bench is known by God. God watches us as we get up out of bed or out of the chair.
God knows our thoughts as we are thinking them. He knows what our motives are and why we do what we do. God tries to direct our thoughts by giving us His commands, but in the end we still decide what we will do. And even then, God knows what we are doing and thinking.
God knows our actions and even our tendencies. So if God is watching us this carefully, how should we behave? And in order for our behavior to be excellent, we need to fix our minds on things that will please God.
To comprehend that God knows everything, even the things said before we say them, we should be humbled to recognize the greatness of God and His Omniscience. This boggles our minds, and is really beyond our human comprehension. All the more reason to seek knowlege that comes from above so that we can live better lives.
Can anyone run away from God? No! But people do run away all the time. Their problem is that they forget that they cannot run away from God. Jonah tried many years ago, and look where that got him. When people get overwhelmed in their lives, they want to escape. Some do it by drinking or doing drugs. Some get involved in immoral behavior. Some just sink down into deep depression. Few choose to run away from living. But all our running cannot remove us from God and His knowledge of us.
We must remember that God made us. We are not the product of years of evolutionary events. God formed us in our mother's wombs. God was paying attention when nature was following its natural course of events from conception until birth. God still watches us, and for the faithful and righteous, God protects us in many ways that we cannot even comprehend.
God may know the number of days we will spend on the earth, but our living is left up to us. Sadly events take place that may shorten a life. Accidents happen, and diseases all come about because of what happened back near the beginning. Adam and Even brought death to all mankind because of sin. Sin is also responsible for separating us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
As over-whelming as these thoughts are, we should seek to find the thoughts of God, and learn from them. As the Psalmist states it so eloquently: How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17)
In the end, we need to submit ourselves to God. We need to learn if there are things in our lives that will harm our souls, and ask God to lead us in the everlasting way.
By Carey Scott
God knows what we are doing at all times. Even a task we take for granted like sitting down in a chair or on a log or bench is known by God. God watches us as we get up out of bed or out of the chair.
God knows our thoughts as we are thinking them. He knows what our motives are and why we do what we do. God tries to direct our thoughts by giving us His commands, but in the end we still decide what we will do. And even then, God knows what we are doing and thinking.
God knows our actions and even our tendencies. So if God is watching us this carefully, how should we behave? And in order for our behavior to be excellent, we need to fix our minds on things that will please God.
To comprehend that God knows everything, even the things said before we say them, we should be humbled to recognize the greatness of God and His Omniscience. This boggles our minds, and is really beyond our human comprehension. All the more reason to seek knowlege that comes from above so that we can live better lives.
Can anyone run away from God? No! But people do run away all the time. Their problem is that they forget that they cannot run away from God. Jonah tried many years ago, and look where that got him. When people get overwhelmed in their lives, they want to escape. Some do it by drinking or doing drugs. Some get involved in immoral behavior. Some just sink down into deep depression. Few choose to run away from living. But all our running cannot remove us from God and His knowledge of us.
We must remember that God made us. We are not the product of years of evolutionary events. God formed us in our mother's wombs. God was paying attention when nature was following its natural course of events from conception until birth. God still watches us, and for the faithful and righteous, God protects us in many ways that we cannot even comprehend.
God may know the number of days we will spend on the earth, but our living is left up to us. Sadly events take place that may shorten a life. Accidents happen, and diseases all come about because of what happened back near the beginning. Adam and Even brought death to all mankind because of sin. Sin is also responsible for separating us from God (Isaiah 59:2).
As over-whelming as these thoughts are, we should seek to find the thoughts of God, and learn from them. As the Psalmist states it so eloquently: How precious also are Thy thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17)
In the end, we need to submit ourselves to God. We need to learn if there are things in our lives that will harm our souls, and ask God to lead us in the everlasting way.
By Carey Scott
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Book Of Remembrance
We know from the great judgment day scene in Revelation that books will be opened. Daniel 12 also mentions these books that are to be opened. We are quite sure that the Bible will be one of the books. The book of deeds will be there. The Lamb's book of life will be there and also the book of remembrance.
Let us look to see what it takes to get our name in this book. It is a very good book to have your name in.
Malachi 3:16 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name."
Those who fear the LORD are those who obey His voice. The commandments given to us via the Bible are these words. Our respect for these laws of God go to the very core of our relationship with God.
Those who esteem His name. The name of God is to be reverenced and held in the highest of honor. There will be many who call on His name, but will not be accepted of Him. Matthew 7:21 quotes Jesus when He said: "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven".
Obedience to God's commands is the only way to get your name in that book of remembrance. And if our name is in that book, it is also in the Lambs book of life, and our deeds are judged favorable by God in the last day.
See what you can do with your life, to put your name in the book of remembrance.
By Carey Scott
Let us look to see what it takes to get our name in this book. It is a very good book to have your name in.
Malachi 3:16 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name."
Those who fear the LORD are those who obey His voice. The commandments given to us via the Bible are these words. Our respect for these laws of God go to the very core of our relationship with God.
Those who esteem His name. The name of God is to be reverenced and held in the highest of honor. There will be many who call on His name, but will not be accepted of Him. Matthew 7:21 quotes Jesus when He said: "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven".
Obedience to God's commands is the only way to get your name in that book of remembrance. And if our name is in that book, it is also in the Lambs book of life, and our deeds are judged favorable by God in the last day.
See what you can do with your life, to put your name in the book of remembrance.
By Carey Scott
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
