You Are My Hiding Place

Scripture:  (King James Version)
Psalm 32
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.  For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.  Selah.
I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid.  I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.  Selah.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.  Selah.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.  Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart."

Jeremiah 23:24
"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord.  Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord."
A question is asked here by the Lord Himself..."Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord."

Now, back to the 32nd Psalm - verse 7....Five specific words - Thou Art My Hiding Place.

Very often we are confronted with the question, "do you know so and so?"  Many times we say, "Yes, I do, very well indeed."  The whole truth is, we never really know another person.  We can not really know their heart and their thoughts.  We know them in terms of the words we hear them speak, the attitudes they adopt and the action they perform; but, the motives behind all these are hidden to us.  We are ignorant of their fears, their anxieties and their inner thoughts.  It is their privacy and no man can invade.
But, even this privacy is not complete according to our scripture text.  "Can any hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? saith the Lord."   The answer is an emphatic NO.  The God who made us knows us in a way that no man can ever know us.  Our innermost thoughts are open to Him.  Our heart is as glass to Him.  Our motives lie bare before His searching eyes.  The Bible says in Psalm 94:9 "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?  he that formed the eye, shall he not see?"  The writer of the Hebrews declared in Hebrews 4:14, "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."    Jesus said in Matthew 10:26, "Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be know."  Also, in Luke 12:2, Jesus again says, "For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known."
                                          Friends - Be sure your sins will find you out!

Yet, men imagine that there are hidden places in their lives which no one can see.  They feel they can commit sin and do wrong; no one will be aware of it.  Maybe no one will....but God knows and sees.  There are no hiding places as far as God is concerned.  There are no secret places that He does not see.
Adam - he couldn't hid from God.  God came down in the cool of the day and searched him out.
David - he thought no one knew about his adultery.  God knew and brought it all out into the open.
Ananias and Sapphira - they though they could conceal their covetousness and deceit beneath a show of piety, but God's hand of judgment fell on them.  You've hear it said over and over I am sure -
                                     "You may fool a man but you can't fool God."

            God knows all about secret things and secret places.
Do you have any secret place?  Are there sins which you would hate for another person to see?  Are there impurities which you cherish but would hate others to know about?  Are there things below the surface that you are trying to keep covered up?
You may try to hide sin...you may try to deaden your conscience...you may try to fill your mind with pleasant things and try to avoid thinking about the consequences of your poor choices - BUT, my friend, sooner or later the veil will be ripped away and you will have to face the judgments of God.  The Bible is clear when it says that a day is coming when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed.

You can not hide from God.  You can not stay in your wrong way of living and think that you will "get by" and escape the judgments of God.  HOWEVER, .....Good News.....I do want to tell you...
                                                               THERE IS A HIDING PLACE!
   This hiding place is a person......the person of Jesus Christ!

The prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 32:2, "And a man shall be as an hiding place........."  Friends, that man is Jesus Christ.
In our scripture text, Psalm 32:7, David says...."thou art my hiding place."

                                          There is refuge found in the Lord Jesus Christ!  
Won't you flee to Him right now?  There is only one way you can hide your sins and that is to be sorry for them and flee to Jesus Christ, the Savior and ask His forgiveness.  BELIEVE that He forgave you and move forward in your journey with Him.
If you have not done so already, why not come to Him in repentance and confession of your sin?

1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Wherever you are today, know this one thing ....God loves you!  He doesn't wish that anyone perish but that everyone would come to Him in repentance.  Take a moment, bow your head and humble your heart before Almighty God and ask Jesus to cleanse your soul.  Let Him be your hiding place!

                                                                            
              

Follow The Footsteps of Jesus

Scripture: (King James Version)
1 Peter 2: 21
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"

                                                           

My message is not concerned with the context of this verse of scripture, but rather with a thought that comes to my heart from a few of its words.  Notice the last five words of the above text - "ye should follow His steps."

(original date of this sermon was 12/30/1978)
continue......

Once again we are closing out an old year and the Lord willing entering into a new one.  We don't know what 1979 may hold for us as Jesus tarries.  We don't know what tomorrow may hold but we do know who holds tomorrow.  I'm convinced of one thing.....regardless of what may come or go in the year ahead - the best path for us to follow is in His Steps.

The example and the pattern that He (Jesus) sets is the true way of life.  He will never lead us wrong!  If you want to be safe and satisfied as you venture into a new year then Follow His Steps!  I believe the Holy Spirit's work in the life of Jesus is a blueprint or pattern of what He desires to do in all of our lives.
** - Jesus was born of the Spirit.
** - Jesus was baptized in the Spirit.
** - Jesus was led of the Spirit.
** - Jesus moved about in the power of the Spirit.
If everyone of us will follow these steps we will see amazing and powerful things happen in 1979.

But, let's just think for a few moments on the question...
         If we follow His steps where will they lead us?
First of all, if we follow His steps they will lead us to the Cross.  They will lead us to the Crucifixion.  There is no true discipleship without the Cross.  Jesus said in Luke 9:23, "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."  The Cross speaks of Crucifixion.  Until we voluntarily lay down our lives and be crucified with Christ we have not followed in His steps.  Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:...."  Peter in the above scripture text says  - "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps.  The crucified life is a sanctified life. 

#2 - If we follow His steps they will lead us to the place of public worship.  The Holy Bible tells us in St. Luke 4: 16 that it was His custom to be in the Lord's house on the Sabbath day...."And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read."
** -  Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together.   Hebrews 10:25
** -  Worship in Spirit and Truth.     St. John 4:24

#3 - If we follow His steps they will lead us to the place of private prayer.  Often we read where Jesus got alone with the Father to pray and commune with Him.  (ex: St. Luke 9:18, Mark 1:35)  If Jesus needed to pray and be alone, how much more you and I need too as well.  

#4 - If we follow His steps they will lead us to witness to others.  In witnessing to the woman at the well in St. John 4:1-42, Jesus leaves us a great example in witnessing.  The scripture says in Verse 4,  "And he must needs go through Samaria."   Those of us who are born again of the Spirit, baptized in the Spirit and who lives are led by the Spirit - "must needs" carry living water (Jesus -John 7:37-38) to the thirsty souls in our world. (Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.")

#5 - If we follow in His steps they will lead us on "Errands of Mercy" and works of righteousness.  Jesus teaches us that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the stranger, and visit the sick, we have done it unto Him. (Matthew 25: 31-46)  He says in Mark 9:41, "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verify I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."   The Holy Spirit has been given us to do the works of Jesus!   John 14:12 , "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."   Ladies and gentlemen, when we have the Holy Spirit abiding in us we are to do the works of Jesus!

Let me close with one more thought................#6 - If we follow in His steps they will lead us through the portals of Glory.......either by death and a glorious resurrection of the dead in Christ OR by virtue of our Blessed Hope and His soon return and the Rapture of those alive in Christ. 
                                      Oh, what a glorious path His steps take on. 
                                                 I wouldn't follow any other steps for all the world.  
                                                                     How about you?

(Sermon ended with......following in His steps shall we gather around the Lord's table 
                                      in remembrance of Him  - The Lord's Supper.)

                                                             

God Hears - God Knows - God Delivers

Scripture:  (King James Version)
2 Samuel 5:13-16
"And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammuah, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet."
Verse 16 is my text...."And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet."
Today many parents name their children after some popular celebrity or sports hero.  In the Bible days this was not so.  Children were named to be living reminders of some experience with God.  Hidden in the names mentioned in our scripture is a message from God.  This text doesn't mean much without a little research.... but, when you discover the meaning of these names it comes alive.  Many a great truth is missed with only a surface reading and study of the Bible.  We have to read and reread; pray and meditate; study and wait upon God.  The Holy Spirit is the great revealer of truth.  He leads and guides into all truth.  1 Corinthians 2:10 says, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Sprit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."  He helps us to study and search and dig out truths He would have us to know and profit from.

I knew that Solomon meant "peaceful."  But, I was interested in the meaning of Ibhar and found it to mean "whom God chooses."  I thought about the fact that every time David looked upon Ibhar he was reminded that he (David) was chosen and called of God.  He was called to be a leader and King of God's people.  But, to discover the meanings of these 3 names grouped together in the text stirred something in my soul.

Let's translate these names into language we all understand and let the Holy Spirit minister to us.
                     E-lish-a-ma.......means God Hears.
                    E-li-a-da .......... means God Knows.
                    E-liph-a-let........means God Delivers.
Immediately, we get the message.  I praise God for this message.
                                           God hears...God knows...God delivers. 
Realizing that God hears our prayers and knows our needs is one thing...but, it would mean little if He couldn't do something about what he heard and knew.  Thank God He can!  My God is able to deliver!

                                                                  

God met Moses at the burning bush and delivered this same message.  He said in Exodus 3:7-8 "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians......"
Verse 19 (2 Samuel 5:19) is an illustration of that fact.  David had some great experiences with the Lord.  He knew God hears and answers prayer.   He said in Psalm 109. "They have surrounded me with words of hatred. Spoken against me with a lying tongue.  Fought against me without a cause.  I have loved them yet they are my adversaries.  BUT I will give myself to prayer."  David said in essence              "You can talk about me all you please, but I'll talk about you down on my knees."

David knew that the eye of the Lord was upon him; that God knew all things and had delivered him again and again.....when he faced the bear and the lion, Goliath and Saul.  He thought of Elish-a-ma, E-li-a-da, and E-liph-a-let, his Sons who reminded him of these experiences and victories.  No doubt David praised God many times as he remembered how God hears - He knows - and He delivers.  You and I have a right to rejoice and give praise when we remember God's blessings on us.

David wrote most of the Psalms.  They are full of praise.  David knew the power of prayer.  He knew that God's ears are not heavy that He cannot hear. (Isaiah 59:1) Isn't it good to have someone that will listen to us, someone who cares?  The world is not interested in our troubles - but God is.  "Cast all your care upon Him for He careth of you." (1Peter 5:7)  Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.  What a friend we have in Jesus.  He says "call unto me and I will answer thee." (Jeremiah 33:3)  We have a loving God to go to.  You can depend on God!  If you put your trust in organizations, education, money, fame, material things, you will get what those things can do for you.  But, put your trust in God and you will get what God can do for you.                
                                     All things are possible with God!

David could say to E-lish-a-ma, "Every time I look at you Son, I am reminded that God hears and answers prayer.  David could look at E-li-a-da and remember that God knows.  David could not hide his sin.  No one can.  God knew what David knew.  He knew all about Davids sin of adultery, his lying and the murder.  God sent Nathan the prophet and said to David; "Thou art the man."  David had this Son as a constant reminder that God knows. (2 Samuel 7)
                                 What is there in your life to remind you that God knows?
                         Is it something you haven't repented of and asked God's forgiveness?
                                                            God knows.

Aren't you glad that God knows your needs?  Aren't you glad He knows your sorrows and your burdens?  People don't know your heart.  They don't know what you are going through.  They don't understand.  But, aren't you glad God knows and understands?

Then, there is E-liph-a-let....God delivers.  Verse 19 - he inquired of the Lord.
                                           God hears...God knows...God delivers. 
Isn't it good to know that there is one who see and knows and is willing and able to help us?
                                                                 God delivers!  
God not only knows our needs and hears us when we call on Him - but, He loves us and does something about our needs.  2 Samuel 5:19 - "And David inquired of the Lord, saying Shall I go up to the Philistines?  wilt thou deliver them into mine hand?  And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand."   The Lord said yes.

There is an altar of prayer.  You have God to go to.  You can call on Him and He will hear you.  You can leave this altar and the place of prayer with everything under the blood.  You can leave having peace with God.  You can go singing He set me free, yes He set me free.
          If you are bound by some habit; in chains of moral, mental or physical imprisonment...
                                                     ..Jesus is here to set you free.
                                                  It is the Gospel.  It is Good News.

                 God hears...God knows...God delivers.

David's life is proof of God's great love.  He forgave David and He delivered David.  God will also deliver you.  David said in Psalm 34:6 - "This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."
                                   Friends, Jesus is here - right now. 
                                         He knows your needs. 
                                               He hears your hearts cry and will deliver you 
if you will but come to Him and call upon Him.  

                          Won't you call on Jesus today?

                                                       

The King Is Coming

Scripture:  King James Version
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as  others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
Text:
St. John 14: 2-3
"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

Here in the scripture portion (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18), we have recorded the great message of the Lord's return as written by the Apostle Paul.  His topic....The King Is Coming!  Jesus is our King.  He is the King of Kings...and He is coming again.  There is no message that comes through with more repetition, especially in the New Testament, than the message of our Lord's return; His coming again.
Truly, He is coming again.  The signs are everywhere. (The subject of "the signs of the times" is another sermon of its own.)
Recently someone made the comment and suggested that our Kings return was so close that we needed to stop looking for the signs and start listening for the sound.  The sound of a "shout from Heaven" by our King.  "...The voice of the archangel and the sound of the trump of God."  The Psalmist David said in Psalm 89:15 "Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound...."

The message of our Lords return - "The King Is Coming" is...
**A Great Historic Event.
It will certainly be just that.   Our King is going to make an invasion into time and into history.
When the Bible speaks of "the coming of the Lord", it is not referring to an experience of death or some other mystical experience.  The return of the Lord is not something to be spiritualized.  It is the literal, personal return of the risen Christ.  It will be the same Jesus that was born of the Virgin Mary.  It will be the same Jesus who walked this earth, was crucified, died, was buried and who rose again.  That same Jesus is going to break into the history of this sinful world.  The above scripture states, "For the Lord Himself - (get that) "The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven."  It is going to be a great historical event.  It is going to be the next great love act of our Lord.
Notice also that this message of our Lord's return conveys
**A Great Dramatic Event.
Note -Verse 16
Can you think of anything more "dramatic than that?
Actually, Paul was using terms here that were well understood in his day; military terms.  When a Roman army was asleep at night it took 3 blasts of the trumpet to bring them to order.
1st blast - AWAKE - get up from your sleep.
2nd blast - GATHER around in your respective groups.
3rd blast - ADVANCE.
This whole military concept is revealed here as Paul speaks of "the Shout - the Voice -and the Trump."
The SHOUT - those asleep in Jesus will arise.
The VOICE of the Archangel - assembling of respective groups.  It it not only be the dead in Christ but those that alive and remaining.
The TRUMP of God - they will advance.  " caught up together to meet the Lord in the air..ever to be with the Lord.
                                        What a dramatic event that is going to be!
The message of our Lord's coming again also carries
**A Specific Intent.
What is the specific intention that God's Word is conveying to His people?  Why was Paul given this great message of the Lord's return?  Verse 18 - It is intended for our comfort.  How does this message comfort the people of God?
A - It strengthens our faith.  The fact of Jesus coming again is the greatest faith builder and strengthener in the Bible.  Our King is coming for His people.  He is coming to deliver His people and destroy their enemy.  I sure do not want to miss His coming!  All of our great space exploration deeds that have caused the world to marvel and wonder are nothing compared to what is about to take place....the Great Operation Uplift into the clouds of Glory.  As stated in the scripture above ..." we shall be caught up together."  We will be caught up away from the crime, the drugs, the danger, the sin, sadness, sorrow, pollution, politics, poverty, and the wickedness of this evil world.  Praise God the church, God's people will be caught up and everything will be made right and straightened out.  The King is coming to right this old world.
One of the great English preachers of the past once gave a message about what's wrong with the world.
He talked of the things that were "out of place."  Friends, the believer, the followers of Christ may get out of place, but Jesus is never out of place.  He has every thing well timed, well purposed and planned. When He comes again He is going to set everything right.
B - The message of our Lord's return comforts God's people by stimulating our hope.  The context of the scripture (Verses 13-16) reveals that these words were directed to people who had lost their loved ones.  They had put them in their graves and were sorrowing, saying "now what is going to happen?  We thought Jesus was coming back before they died.  Now they are dead.  Will we ever see them again?"  These people were sorrowing.  Paul said to wait for "the shout."
C - Finally, this message of our Lord's return searches our hearts.   Are we ready for the King to come?  Are we living in such a manner that we will not be ashamed at His coming?

 The King is coming.........

Are YOU ready?

Jesus Prays For UNITY - That The World Might Believe

Scripture: (King James Version)
St. John 17: 1-2, 6, 9, and 20-21
"These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come: glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."
vs 6 -"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word."
vs. 9 -"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine."
vs. 20-21 -"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."

I am lifting 5 words from the 21st verse for my emphasis...
                          "that the world may believe...
In addition to these words please notice verse 23 as well, "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast love me."

There have been many applications made to this prayer of our Lord.  This was a great prayer of intercession before the Heavenly Father.  Recently I heard a minister put great emphasis on the fact that Jesus says in this prayer (vs.9) "I pray not for the world..."    To isolate those words from the rest of our Lords prayer in this scripture could leave the impression that the world had no place in the heart of the Redeemer; that He was not concerned about the world.  But, I want you to notice that although Jesus was praying for His disciples at this time, He was thinking of the world.  The world was upon His heart!  Jesus desired that the world would believe and know the LOVE of the Father.

Here in this prayer He shows His concern that the church - His followers/disciples - would be in that place where they could win the world for Him; they could be a witness.  As the "light of the world" and the "salt of the earth" God's people are the means of showing Gods LOVE and Gods righteousness to the rest of the world.  He has committed a great trust to you and I who know the risen and redeeming Lord.  We need to constantly consider the things that kill our influence.  We must live by truth, commitment and concern.  In verse 15 our Lord prayed not that the body of believers be taken out of the world but that they are kept from the evil or the evil one that is "in" the world.

One of the most potent and powerful ways to draw the world to the Kingdom of Christ is that those within it, manifest the beauty of Gods holiness and righteousness.  Jesus prays that the church be kept from sin.  
   There is power in a pure and holy life!  
We are "in" the world but "not of" the world.....so that we might win the world....so that we bring lost souls into the Kingdom of God.   Jesus said, in verse 17, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

A bit further down,  verse 21 Jesus prays for the UNITY of the church.  "That they all may be one....that the world may believe."  This prayer has been so grossly misapplied!  It has been used as reason for ecumenical even when agreement was lacking.  Some organizations like to use the saying, "love unites - doctrine divides."  But, the early church continued steadfast in apostle doctrine.  Jude 1:3 "....it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."   It has also been used for deploring the existence of many denominations.  Notice - Jesus was praying for those who were the Fathers possession; born again, those that have received Christ as their Savior and have come out of the world.  These were followers who had been given The Word and received it.  They knew the works of Jesus were from God and that Jesus came from God.  They were filled with His love.  It was this class of people whom He prayed to be "one" in Christ and God.

Notice the qualifying phrases of Jesus prayer, "one even as we are one....one in us."
One as Jesus and the Father are one.  This is the kind and type of "oneness" Jesus is praying in His prayer.  He is praying that all who believe may be unified with the same unity that exists between Him and the Father........."that the world may believe."  The world will not believe until they see the church unified.  The world sees strife - jealousy - bitterness- hatred - criticism, etc.  They see "the Christian" living contrary to what they profess and what the Bible teaches.  This saddens the heart of Jesus!
                What does the world see in us today? 
                            What do those in our community see?
                                 Do they witness UNITY 
           among those who claim to be followers of Christ?  
Are they observing the beauty of Gods holiness and righteousness                
                                   in our pure living?
                  Are they being shown the LOVE of God?  
Do the people we come in contact with each and every day desire to "believe" in our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ?  Do they want what we have?
       
Please study the scripture to understand what God would like to reveal to you through His Word - His truth.

I Have Thought On My Ways

Scripture: (King James Version)
Psalm 119: 59-60
"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments."

Bible trivia....Psalm 119 is the most lengthy Psalm in the Holy Bible.  
The Psalmist David in the above scripture declares, "I have thought on my ways..."

                                     

If only people would just stop and "think" more about their ways.  If they would just stop and think about God and eternity.  In fact, the Bible in Isaiah 1:18 tells us, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  

 (sal·va·tion - 

 [ sal váysh'n ]    

1. act of saving from harm: the saving of somebody or something from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure
2. means of saving somebody or something: somebody or something that protects or delivers another from harm, destruction, difficulty, or failure
3. deliverance from sin through Jesus Christ: in the Christian religion, deliverance from sin or the consequences of sin through Jesus Christ's death on the cross

Synonyms: redemption, deliverance, rescue, recovery, escape

Salvation begins with serious consideration.  It begins with giving "thought" to your ways and to the needs of your soul.    If we do our part by giving thought and serious consideration to our ways, God will bring revelation about His amazing and unconditional love for us.  He will reveal  things about Heaven and eternity; the provisions that were made on the Cross for all mankind.  

                             Are you Heaven bound?

                         Have you given "your ways" 

            over to Jesus and asked Him into your heart? 

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us of this fact - "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

Let's notice what else the Psalmist says in our text. "...and I turned my feet unto thy testimonies."   When a person truly gives serious consideration to their ways, God and their spiritual needs, it leads to action.                         Serious consideration=action.Remember the story of the prodigal son in St. Luke, chapter 15?  Eventually the son "thought on his ways" and in verse 18 he says, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven,...."       Serious consideration led him to definite action!

Today, many of you reading this may have said to yourself or others, numerous times, "I'm going to change my ways and start living right.  I'm going to become a Christian, get to know God."  But, have you done any more than just talk about it?  As the prodigal son did, you must arise and act upon the conviction that you are feeling within yourself.

The Psalmist David also declares in our text, "I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments."  If you have not taken action on changing your ways, please do not delay any longer!  "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55:6-7)

What is the recap of our scripture in Psalm 119: 59-60 and what is it saying to us today?
1 - STOP and think about our ways.
2 - TURN.  Turn to God.  He is the only one that can make a difference for you and me.
3 - MAKE HASTE.       Don't delay!     Time is running out.
"...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)
4 - OBEY.  We must obey the commandments of God.  We must obey the commands of God's Word, the Bible.  We need to read it and carry out it's instructions.  There is no other way but to "trust" God and "obey."
                               "Think" on your ways.
                         Make haste and "turn" to God.

                                                     

God's Precious Promises

                                                                                                                                           
Scripture:  (King James Version)
2 Peter 1:2-4
"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Notice these "words"  from verse four..."whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises."

                                                                             
These subject notes are about God's Precious Promises.  Peter in the scripture above speaks about God's promises as being "exceeding great and precious."  I often wonder many times - do we really value them as such?  Do we realize their importance as they relate to the whole conduct of our Christian life?  Let's stop for a few moments and revalue the importance of the promises of God.  God is a covenant keeping God.  It is His divine nature.  God's promises have to do with a Person.
There is no situation in which we may find ourselves that has not been provided for by the grace of God.  Wisdom, is of course needed to know what our present specific need is and then, by faith we apply God's promises in His Word, for that need.  We used to sing a little chorus with this line...
         "Every promise in the book is mine - every chapter - every verse - every line."
                                         God is a great, miracle working God!
                    I am thankful for the precious promises of God that are given unto us.  Purity.
Think of the many promises relating to God's provisions.  Promises that strengthen us and give assurance.  Promises that give great comfort to the people of God.  Promises to provide our every need as children of God.
Our daily lives are physically draining.  Stress can add to the strain.  As human beings we do get tired.   These bodies of ours can stand but just so much...but thank God for His many promises of healing....and refreshing strength!  Thank God for His quickening touch that revitalizes our mortal bodies as we trust in Him.  Thank God for His promise in Deuteronomy 33:25, "...and as they days, so shall thy strength be."  We all experience material needs, financial needs and certainly spiritual needs.  But, praise God for such great - exceedingly great - precious promises!  In Philippians 4:19 we have another great promise, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." God has promised to provide for the needs of His people.  Again, in St. Matthew 6:33 we are admonished and given the promise..."But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (notice the word...ALL.)

                                                                             
Think with me about all of the promises relating to God's power.   One example, Jesus told His disciples after His resurrection that they would receive divine power.  Acts 1:8 says, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.  Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea. and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth."  Thank God for the indwelling presence and power that is given to us as believers through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit gives us power to live according to the God's plan as well as giving us power to do the work He has called us to do.  He promises  in Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."
There are also promises relating to God's presence.  Psalm 16:11 "Thou wilt shed me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."  Jesus said in Hebrews 13:5, "...I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."  The writer of the Hebrew referred to that when he said,  "He hath said;"...."I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (vs 6) "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."  Jesus said in Matthew 28:20, "...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."  The Psalmist David said, " I will fear no evil for art with me."  Aren't you thankful that as a born again believer you have a friend that sticks closer than a brother...in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ?  (Proverbs 18:24)  He is always right by our side!
Some of the greatest promises in the Bible are related to our pardon.  Nothing is more precious than the wonderful truth that God forgives sin and pardons the sinner!  God has promised dear friend, to pardon your sin when you put your trust in Jesus Christ.  Not only are our sins forgiven but they are forgotten.  Hebrews 10:17 says,  "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."  What an exceeding great and precious promise!   Another great promise in 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  Doesn't that make you want to shout?   The prophet Micah said in Micah 7:18, "Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?..."   Again, the Bible says in Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." As I bring this to a close, I'll mention one last promise in Isaiah 1:18 which reads, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Dear friend........there is pardon from God for you.  There is forgiveness for sin and mercy...if you will just call upon Him.   Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross so that you might have forgiveness.  He has power on earth to forgive sins, your sins, my sins.  Won't you call on His name right now?  The Bible says (Romans 10:13) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
                                           God has a plan for your life........HEAVEN.
                                                      He is coming again.......soon.
                            Accept God's promises today!  God's peace and pardon is for all!