Persecution

I am low and unworthy of the love and sacrifice that God has given me.  I do not deserve all that He has done for me in my life.  Persecution of the Christian is unseen in the place that I live.  It is not on the scale as it is for those in many countries where they torture, imprison and kill those who follow the God of creation.

I start off everyday with prayer supplication meditation and reading of God's word.  I spend time with Him quietly to myself.  For this I believed that I was strong and passionate and close to my God.  I was wrong beyond belief.

I watched a video of a girl, Sarah, who was persecuted for her faith in Christ.  They asked her to sign a document that would implicate her Christian brothers and sisters in activities that would be contrary to the laws of the government of the country she lived.  But Sarah did not.  Her penalty was torture.  Sarah was beaten beyond belief and was forced to walk with chains shackled to her legs.  As I watched this movie I thought I do not know if I could take such abuse.  I thought back to all the movies and stories I had seen with different scenes of torture.  It scared me and I felt in my heart that I would give up the lives of those who follow Christ, or would not be able to proclaim His life, just to save my own.  As I watched I kept thinking, why would God do such things to me? or really to her?

They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on the right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.  But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?  And they said unto him, We can.  And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized.  Mark 10:37-39

Then Sarah said something.  She said that as she walk she could see her foot prints.  Her foot prints were in the trail of blood that was left from her injuries.  As Sarah seen this she said this must have been a little of what Christ felt as he walk the path of Golgotha. She gained strength in knowing that she could suffer only a fraction of what Christ suffered for us, for Him.

As I heard that my spirit began to stir and my heart began to tremble. I saw then that my life was not in the standard in which it should be.  How can I be caught up in this world?  How can I be living for my flesh?  I thought that I was living fully for Christ but I was only giving Him what I thought was all of me which was conditional on my environment.  I must be ready to die for Christ.  Or better I must be ready to be tortured for Christ.  It is easy to die knowing that you will be with the Father instantly but to be in constant pain feeling body parts ache from the abuse done to them by various methods induced by different tools created only to bring the pain that is felt.  In this mind frame how can I sin?  How could I be hubris, lustful, slothful, or even covetous?  To not sin is good yet in truth, would being tortured for Christ not be the greatest thing I could do for my Lord?  To suffer the same as He did and to show my love for Him, I pray this would be my heart.  I know my heart is not this way, but I pray that it will be.  God has shown me quite a marvelous thing tonight. And once I know I can never turn away from the knowledge given to me.  Can I drink the cup that Christ has drank?

The Word Helps Us Persevere

In my life I have done seen and been through many things.  It is that way with all of us.  Some times we are angry at the things that man does to us or even what God may put us through.  However, these things have happened or can be used to bring glory to God alone.

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou has quickened me.  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad  Psalm 119:89-96

 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. What God speaks will endure.  His precepts, His laws, His judgments, His mercies, His grace, His love; they are all forever, and will endure.  That is the first thing that the writer of Lamed states.  That means everything he bases his life on is through the words of God, or scripture.  We too would be well to do the same.  Before we realize the help that our experiences have given us in our walk with Christ, we must first understand that the word of God is eternal.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.  The power of God is so awesome, it is so mighty that we can stand firm knowing that it will never change.  This verse speaks of God's power.  "...thou hast established the earth..."  The Power that established the earth has the ability (since He made something out of nothing) to know what should go before me that I might be established more in Him, right?  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.  This is another testimony of Gods power.  Time, space, matter, energy, all these things still act along the same principles and guidelines that they have been since the beginning, but not only on earth but in all the heavens.  This principles and building blocks for the universe do not change and create stability in this world, but not only that they are his servants.  God controls them.  That means that even in all the things of this world that could happen, sickness, pain, time, strength, He controls them and they do His bidding.  If that doesn't make you jump for Joy or shout to Jesus I don't know what will.

Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.   This is the first key verse.  It helps us to know the practical strength and divine power of the Holy Spirit within us, and the reason for His law in our lives.  The reason is so we should be able to endure trials and glorify His Name.  God's word to us is a strength in our spirit and a anchor of His truth.  I remember hearing Charles Stanley saying once in a sermon that because he was a preacher and had to study the bible daily for his sermons and lessons that when he was depressed, saddened, or fearful he knew he could make it through because of the promises of God.  He said he was made to study because he was a pastor, but he was telling us who do not have to study daily (but should) that we should study to build that trust, which is called faith.  See our faith comes by reading more about the truth of our Savior in the bible "Unless the law had been my delight..."  The word then becomes the turbine that propels us as believers to terry through.


I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou has quickened me.  This is the second part to the key point, in that we must not forget His word or what he has done through it.  As we have read and have applied His word to our lives, through the things He has delivered us in we also gain faith.  And this faith we have does not only stay with us but will abound and grow in others as they also see the things that God has carried us through in His word.  In many cases this will bring the lost to Christ as well.  When the lost notice the problems we have are similar to their own and yet we go about them with more joy and peace then they do it brings that smell of Christ to their lives that may influence them to come to a decision in faith.  Our trials are of excellent greatness if we endure through His word.

  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. The writer of this psalms gradually lets down after the climax telling that through his faith increase he can call out to the LORD with confidence.  "I am thine"  We too can be this same way.  Many times in psalms God's servants call out to him.  The reason they do this is because  they know that He will save.  We should have this same thought process.  However, we must remember that we must be in his will "I have sought thy precepts....but I will consider thy testimonies."  Following the will of our Father is the ultimate guideline in all of these things.  If our will is not lined up with His there is no longer any salvation, but a frightful ending of condemnation.  If we do not follow the directions in building a play set, if the play set breaks we cannot be angry that someone has got injured or we have to buy a new one because we did not follow the directions.  Christ (not to say we use Him) is the same way.  If we do not follow His will, we ought not think He will help when we call out to Him.

 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad  I love how the writer ends this.  He knows that Gods methods are true and righteous.  They will endure.  He can see corruption in all things but Gods word.  That is why he follows it and lives by it.  That is why I follow and live by it.  That is why we all should follow and live by it.  Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life..."  I believe with all my heart if a person genuinely searches for truth without bias he will find truth in Jesus.

Our experiences help us to gain a true perspective on our salvation and Savior.  Let us not shrink away from the things we have done but embrace them in the light of our Savior.  For through them God has created wonders, He has made a swan from what we thought was an ugly duckling.

A Little on the Church

I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.  Psalm 119:63;79

The Church is an important aspect of the Christian faith.  It was clearly established by Christ, and was talked about among all the apostles.  It is the bride of Christ, His elect people in whom He wishes to spend eternity with.

I am not talking about the building, in these scriptures are not stones or doors or walls talked about, what is talked about are the people.  The Church is the people of God.  The people that Christ loved so much that he gave His life for them.  A people who are suppose to love each other as the sign of the One who loved us.  We are to strengthen one another as Christ strengthened us and we are to acknowledge sin amongst each other as Christ acknowledged sin by dieing on the cross.

I am a companion of all them that fear thee We are to be one body.  That is the beauty of the Church, just because we do not know each other we are known through Him who knows all.  We are all brothers and sisters and should treat each others as such, not giving regard to race, age, background or denomination. "That they [believers] all may be one..." John 17:21

Let those that fear thee turn unto me We also must be willing to help the fellow brethren in what ever he may need or desire in Christ.  We are to be aids to one another.  That is the reason in which Christ has brought us together; that we may be a single body working together to achieve His purpose.  "For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together... but that the member should have same care one for another" 1Cor 12:24-25  When one member is hurting then God brings us into recollection of this that we might pray, or if happy rejoice with him.  "...whether one member suffer, all ...suffer...one member honoured, all...rejoice..." 1Cor 12:26

I believe it is said best here the manner in which we should live as the Church.

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:1-3

In considering  this passage we must do the following:

Love.  We are to love each other. "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light..." 1John 2:10

Help each other. We are to pray for one another "...and let them pray over him [one in the church]..." James 5:14   And to keep each other walking in righteousness "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,...restore such an one..." Galations 6:1

The Church is needed for the spiritual growth of the individual in the church and the edification of the Church as a whole.  It would be good for us to remember Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is..."  I believe our lives and the Churches depends on it.

Comfort Through the Word of God

It is amazing what the word can do. Here is Zain.

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.  Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.  Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  I have remembered thy name, O LORD in the night, and have kept thy law.  This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  Psalm 119:49-56 

 The writer of this psalm gives examples of his hope, which should be encouraging to us all. His comfort can be found in the promise that God has already given him. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.  For us what God has given us is His Son's death on the cross.  In all the anguish and pain we may go through we are to remember that God has already shown His love, not "why does God not love me now? It seems like the whole world is coming down on me!"  God has proved his love to us on the cross. 1John 4:9

The word of God, not only comforted the psalmist in the hour of his need, but also gave him courage.  The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.  I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.  I believe this psalm is at a time when David was fleeing from Saul and had run to Gath for cover.  David said this knowing that he could have killed Saul many times before but had not because killing the king was contrary to the Word of God.  David knew that by doing what was said in the Word he was taking faith, and faith was to be his shield.  David remembered (through the bible) the many accomplishments that God had already done for his people (and himself), so why not him now.  Likewise we must remember God's Word and what it says about our protection and being able to overcoming this world through Him.  We should comfort ourselves, in this fact.

David said This I had, because I kept thy precepts. The Word of God is good, and is meant for many things, but we must do what it says.  The comfort of God does not come through reading His Word alone but by taking action upon what the word says.  This is the faith aspect that we have in the God's Word.  That if we do what He says, all things will work together.  That is why there is this verse "All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose."

On a side note,  One thing that touches my heart is the burden and anger that David has for sin. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Yes, I believe he was truly scared, but I believe his terror was more from the things that could happen if a person strays from the perfect word of God. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.  I have remembered thy name, O LORD in the night, and have kept thy law. He understood the reason's for the laws God had created for us out of love.  We ought to hate sin and all that it does.  I have come to realize if we still desire for sin we will sin, but if we hate sin the spirit will overcome our carnal selves.

What Can I Learn From Studying God's Word?

What happens when we read Gods word. From Vau of Psalm 119 here are seven things.

Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me:  for I trust in thy word.  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  And I will walk at liberty:  for I seek thy precepts.  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.  Psalms 119:41-48

First salvation. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  Salvation comes from the word of God.  Anyone who reads in earnest truth will find salvation through Jesus Christ. Faith comes by either speaking about the Word or reading the Word.  In either case many men and women have become part of the family of God through the divine Word of God.

Second, once saved we will be able to defend our faith. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me:  for I trust in thy word. We begin to trust that what God's Word says is true. Therefore we will be able to tell others the depths of love that God has for us through His Word, and the great mercies and grace He has shown us through His Son's death on the cross.  We will be able to be a witness to others about the faith in which God has graced us with.  Then we will be reaching others for Him.

Third, hope comes from the Word of God.  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  As we read the scriptures we learn more about our Savior and His birth, life, death, and resurrection which brings us our hope.  Our hope in life, that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and that all things will work together for the good of those who love the Lord; and our hope in death that we shall be with Him or that we shall not see death because He will come back to get us.  Oh what glorious hope we have in Christ through His Word.

 Fourth, We will have peace and true freedom. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.  And I will walk at liberty:  for I seek thy precepts. When we read His Word we begin to walk in it and see that we are not bound to sin but have freedom and that our life has a purpose, which is serving the true Creator.  These two things are a yolk that are with us our entire lives; wondering why even though we try to be good we cannot or what consequences we get because of the wrong we do and why do we always long for something more, a greater purpose.  Dealing with sin God breaks those chains. We no longer have to worry about what happens because we have sinned because our Redeemer has paid for all our sin, but not just that;  we no longer have to sin.  We have the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead to give us power of our sin that we would never walk in it again.  And with peace, we find that the goal or achievement we were trying to do to make our lives have meaning, whether it be money, sex, drugs, objects, or relationships, is in Christ.  He brings that peace that passes all understand.  A king you will only find when you meet Him and study His word.

Fifth, we begin to witness.  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved This may seem like the second and it is similar but in witnessing we have a boldness about our witness "...before kings," because of the experiences we begin to go through and the more discernment we have through the scriptures. Our witness will not only be in word but also in deed.  "...I will delight myself in thy commandments,"  We see understand more fully the grace and mercy and love that God has for us.

Sixth, we begin to praise Him in spirit and in truth.  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; Knowing more about our Saviour and King through the scripture gives us a deeper understand of Him as God and as a man,  This allowing us to know more fully the sacrifice it would take for him to come down from heaven and dwell in a carnal body, humbling himself solely for our edification.  In knowing these things how much more will we praise our Saviour and our Father, who sent Him.  O how great God is.

Finally, we continue to study and learn even more. and I will meditate in thy statutes.  With the increase of knowledge we have for the LORD we begin to want to know more and more about Him.  For example in a relationship with a spouse we do not want to stop learning about our spouse after we are married. We want to continue knowing more and more about our spouse everyday so that our love can be grander, our relationship can be greater and our bond of friendship can be stronger.  Likewise it is for Christ.  After salvation we do not toss our Savior to the side and say I guess were living together now (in our heart).  We long for a better relationship in love and in friendship daily by meditation on His word and His statutes and living in them daily.

A Burning Desire

How many of us have the most extreme desire to do what the Lord says?  How many of us have a burning passion for the commandments and precepts of the holy Father.  I read this verse and it cut me to the bone.

My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Psalm 119:20

 I just got done reading a book about heaven, It was amazing.  The thought of Jesus coming back to get us and preparing and we are to be at home with him.  What a great and wonderful feeling that will be.  We cannot comprehend the wonder and spender our home shall be.  David in this context of this verse is saying just that.  Here is what he says previously

I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.  Psalm 119:19

David longs so much for Gods laws and precepts, he desires to do all that God commands him because he knows at this moment that is the closest he can be to his "home" until he is called by the One who makes our homes.  In a like way we should desire so much to do Gods will and follow his way because it is a way to gain that closeness that we long for with Christ.  "...whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God...Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:4;8.  Our home is not here so we must act like that and live for the kingdom in which we belong in "...I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" 1 Peter 2:11.

Today, let our hearts burn with desire to serve the LORD.  Let us each search each ourselves for any sin that could be separating us from the Father.  And with a pure heart draw near to God with such a longing and desire that it will burn until the day of His returning!

The Condescending Grace of God

I just read a commentary about a verse, Psalm 113:6.  This amazed me because it brought to the realization of the love that God truly has for us.

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth. Psalm 113:6

God is above all gods, above all things and yet He who is above all things willfully stoops down to see what is in heaven and even more crouches to see our lowly selves on the earth.  It is an amazing thought to think that a God would love us so much to be involved in the most intricacies of our lives.  A God so loving that he would be with the weak, poor, and destitute.  A God so loving that He would be with the people we ourselves would not get near.  And as I think of this it reminds me of Jesus.  He himself who was above all things decided to be born, in a stable, which is not clean by any means or even sanitary, live a life of poverty working as a carpenter which is hard work cutting and forming wood, and then as a vagabond having no place to lay his head, and finally dieing why would God want to die? but for His love for us a wretched, evil, sinful people He died.  Glory to God almighty who humbled himself to behold the  things in heaven and earth. That is why the psalmist says "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised."

This is titled Condescending God because of the true meaning of the word which struck me when I first read it.  Condescend is to come or bend down, so far as a particular action is concerned, from one's position of dignity or pride; to stoop voluntarily and graciously. 

Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

The Righteous Man

Many of times we do not know how to act in order to be Christians.  I know that love is the ultimate action, yet it becomes difficult to know the ways in which to live our lives.  Psalm 112 comes out plainly to show Godly living.

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion and righteous.  A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.  Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.  He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.  His heart is established, he shall not be afraid... Psalms 112:4-8

First lets state that the psalm is about the people who fear God, Christians for a modern day term if you will.  The first thing in these verses that is pointed out is that our lives should have a visible difference "...there ariseth light in the darkness..."  We should have a flavor as Paul says in Corinthians that others can smell when they are around us.  They (Christians and non-Christians) should know we are in Christ the moment we are around them.  The psalmist then explains what he means in this statement. 

Gracious. Gracious is characterized by or exhibiting kindness or courtesy; kindly, benevolent, courteous.  In all things we must be kind.  "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Phillipians 2:3 We must treat others not just how we want to be treated but better than we would want to be treated.

Full of Compassion.  Compassion is the feeling or emotion, when a person is moved by the suffering or distress of another, and by the desire to relieve it.  We must be full of willingness to sacrafice ourselves to relieve others of the struggles in which they are in.  We must put ourselves in harms way for the strengthening of another human being.

Righteous.  Being righteous is conforming to the precepts of divine law.  Being righteous is following the Holy Bible.  Doing all that is in it whether we like what it says or not.  Obeying the commandments of God despite what we think about it.

Shows favor.   In one commentary I read it says that if we have the means then we should always promote wellfare to our fellow man.  I believe this is true but even if we do not have a particular means there is always another way to promote wellfare whether it be either in word or deed we should show favor to others.

Lend.  Lending is a tough thing for some people.  It is hard to let someone borrow.  But here it plainly says lend not give.  I believe it is so because we have to trust and be trusted.  Not all people are trust worthy but we are all granted trust until that trust is broken.  Let our yes's be yes and our no's be no.(Matthew 5:37)  It is our Christain duty to trust others. We may say they are taking advantage of us but I heard a priest say one time "I am giving my advantage away."

Guide's affairs with discretion.  In all that we do as Christians we should prepare.  I am not saying that God will use the preparation we have but I know he will honor it. (Poverbs 29:18) However God will direct our paths when we make this preparation. "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps" Proverbs 16:9

Shall not be moved (trust).  We will never wavor from the truth of the gospel.  Whether it be inticing sin, or fear of upcoming events, or troubles in our circumstance we will stay founded on our foundation in Christ Jesus.  We will know that the Lord is soveriegn and has all  the pieces working together for His good because we love them.  Our faith will indure because we trust God through all circumstances. Trust is to have faith or confidence; to place reliance; to confide.  We must rely on Gods perfect plan because if we are in His will His plan is at work. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" Romans 8:28

In living life we must strive to live by these principles.  Of course they are very hard but with the help of Christ all things are possible.  These attributes will manifest themselves in our lives if we pursue Him.  But know that we know them we can pursue Christ with greater vigillence than ever!