Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 8:07 a.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song, “Living Water.” Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Psalm 85 (NASB).
God’s Favor
When we are born into this world, we are born with sin natures, due to the fall of Adam (See: 1 Co. 15). We are separated from God, without hope, and destined to eternal punishment in hell. Yet, all is not hopeless. God had a plan for our salvation. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to the earth to be born as a baby. His mother was Mary, and his father was God, for Mary’s baby boy was conceived of the Holy Spirit. She remained a virgin until after she had given birth to Jesus Christ. Then, Jesus grew up to be a man. He began his ministry around the age of 30. He called 12 disciples to himself who traveled with him throughout his ministry. After about 3 years of ministry, because the Jewish leaders of his day were jealous of him and hated him, he was hung on a cross to die, although he had done no wrong.
When Jesus died on that cross, he took upon himself the sins of the entire world. Our sins were crucified and buried with him. When he was resurrected from the dead, he rose triumphant over death, hell, Satan and sin. He took our place on that cross so that we could go free from the punishment of sin (eternal damnation), so we could be free of slavery to sin day-to-day, and so we would be free to walk daily in his holiness and righteousness, all in his power and strength within us. He died so we would die with Christ to our old lives of living for sin and self, so we would be transformed of the Spirit of God, and so we would be given new lives in Christ, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (See: Ro. 6-8; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:17-24; 2 Co. 5:15; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; & 1 Jn. 1-5).
We come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives by dying with Christ to our old lives of living for sin and self, through repentance, through submission to the cross, and via surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ and to his will for our lives. When Jesus paid the price for our sins, he bought us with his blood, so when we come to him in faith, our lives are no longer our own to be lived how we want. Coming to Christ, thus, means death to self so that we can be alive to Christ. We are to no longer be conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but we are to be transformed of God in the renewing of our minds so that we live holy lives, pleasing to him, which is our reasonable service of worship to him (See: Ro. 12:1-2).
So, daily we surrender our lives to his will for us, and we choose to do what he wants over and above what we want. As well, we choose to NOT do what we know is wrong and would be displeasing to him, because we love him, and because we truly have been made into new creations in Christ Jesus so that we now desire what God wants for our lives. Ideally, this is how it should be. This is what God intended when he sent his Son to die for us on the cross. Realistically, many do not comprehend this, have not been taught it, and thus do not practice this type of Christian living. Others have drifted away from this over time, due to accepting a diluted gospel, and due to having returned to following after the flesh.
A Call for Revival
It appears that God’s people, although he had forgiven them of their sins, and even though he had showed them his favor, had since turned away from him and had followed after other gods and/or the desires of their own flesh. So, they were experiencing some divine discipline and correction. So, the psalmist was praying for God to relent, to be merciful to his people once more, and to revive them so that the people may rejoice in him once more.
As we know from history, though, the people could not be revived unless they had humbled themselves before God, repented of their sins, turned from their idols, had called out to God in prayer, and had turned to follow their God in obedience once more. The same still holds true today. Many believers in Jesus Christ, who once gave their lives to Christ in surrender to his will for their lives have since drifted away and have become complacent, apathetic, rebellious, disobedient and/or lukewarm toward God and in regard to what he did for them in saving them from their sins (See: Rev. 2-3). These believers are in great need of revival. And, God would love to revive them, but they have to first humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways if they want God to renew them and to restore them.
Walk in His Footsteps
Godliness is not just some state of being from having been cleansed from our sins by God’s saving grace. We are taught all throughout the New Testament that we are to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to God. In fact, God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for his return (See: Tit. 2:11-14). There is no peace for those who are doing what is wicked and evil. We can’t be at peace if we are walking according to the flesh, and if we are quenching the Spirit of God in our lives. If we want God to speak peace to us, we need to live godly, and we need to keep moving in a forward direction, and not turn back to sin.
If we want to know God’s grace (favor) in our daily lives, we need to walk in the fear of the Lord. This fear is not speaking of being afraid of God, though, but it is talking about having a healthy respect for God, for who he is, for his holiness, his mercy, but also for his justice. It means we value, respect, honor, submit to, obey and love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God the Father so much that we don’t want to sin against him, and so we desire to walk in obedience to his commands. It means we willingly lay down our lives, surrender our wills to the will of the Father in heaven, and that we no longer consider our lives to be our own to be lived out how we want. Jesus is not someone we spend 5 minutes a day with. He is our life, and we commune with him throughout the day and into the night, too. He is our all in all.
God’s loving-kindness and mercy have “met together” with truth and faithfulness. His righteousness and peace have kissed each other. What I believe this means is that they are inseparable, they are brought into harmony with each other and they are fastened together in a common bond (Source: biblehub.com). And, I believe that is how it is supposed to be in our lives, too. In other words we can’t have and show love if we are caught up in telling lies and if we are unfaithful to God and in other relationships where faithfulness is required. We can’t have true peace if we are living in unrighteousness. If we want peace, we must walk in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. If we want to love others, we need to be truth tellers and we need to be faithful to our Lord and show integrity in all other relationships.
So, if you have never given your life to Jesus Christ in death to sin and in surrender to his will for your life, I pray you will do so today. If you know that you have been born again of God, but you have since drifted from your pure relationship with him, and you have gone off to follow after other gods of this world, in order to satisfy the deep longings of your soul, then I pray you will humble yourself before God, call on him in prayer, repent of your sin and turn to follow him today in humble obedience and submission to his will and purposes for your life. His living water is all that will ever satisfy the thirsts of our souls. Amen!
Living Water / An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.
Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.
Living Water satisfies.
The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.
Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.
Living Water glorifies.
Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.
My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?
Living Water sanctifies.
http://originalworks.info/living-water/
God’s Favor
For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
O Lord, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
O Lord, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
When we are born into this world, we are born with sin natures, due to the fall of Adam (See: 1 Co. 15). We are separated from God, without hope, and destined to eternal punishment in hell. Yet, all is not hopeless. God had a plan for our salvation. He sent his Son Jesus Christ to the earth to be born as a baby. His mother was Mary, and his father was God, for Mary’s baby boy was conceived of the Holy Spirit. She remained a virgin until after she had given birth to Jesus Christ. Then, Jesus grew up to be a man. He began his ministry around the age of 30. He called 12 disciples to himself who traveled with him throughout his ministry. After about 3 years of ministry, because the Jewish leaders of his day were jealous of him and hated him, he was hung on a cross to die, although he had done no wrong.
When Jesus died on that cross, he took upon himself the sins of the entire world. Our sins were crucified and buried with him. When he was resurrected from the dead, he rose triumphant over death, hell, Satan and sin. He took our place on that cross so that we could go free from the punishment of sin (eternal damnation), so we could be free of slavery to sin day-to-day, and so we would be free to walk daily in his holiness and righteousness, all in his power and strength within us. He died so we would die with Christ to our old lives of living for sin and self, so we would be transformed of the Spirit of God, and so we would be given new lives in Christ, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for him who gave himself up for us (See: Ro. 6-8; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 4:17-24; 2 Co. 5:15; 1 Pet. 2:24-25; & 1 Jn. 1-5).
We come to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives by dying with Christ to our old lives of living for sin and self, through repentance, through submission to the cross, and via surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ and to his will for our lives. When Jesus paid the price for our sins, he bought us with his blood, so when we come to him in faith, our lives are no longer our own to be lived how we want. Coming to Christ, thus, means death to self so that we can be alive to Christ. We are to no longer be conformed to the ways of this sinful world, but we are to be transformed of God in the renewing of our minds so that we live holy lives, pleasing to him, which is our reasonable service of worship to him (See: Ro. 12:1-2).
So, daily we surrender our lives to his will for us, and we choose to do what he wants over and above what we want. As well, we choose to NOT do what we know is wrong and would be displeasing to him, because we love him, and because we truly have been made into new creations in Christ Jesus so that we now desire what God wants for our lives. Ideally, this is how it should be. This is what God intended when he sent his Son to die for us on the cross. Realistically, many do not comprehend this, have not been taught it, and thus do not practice this type of Christian living. Others have drifted away from this over time, due to accepting a diluted gospel, and due to having returned to following after the flesh.
A Call for Revival
Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.
It appears that God’s people, although he had forgiven them of their sins, and even though he had showed them his favor, had since turned away from him and had followed after other gods and/or the desires of their own flesh. So, they were experiencing some divine discipline and correction. So, the psalmist was praying for God to relent, to be merciful to his people once more, and to revive them so that the people may rejoice in him once more.
As we know from history, though, the people could not be revived unless they had humbled themselves before God, repented of their sins, turned from their idols, had called out to God in prayer, and had turned to follow their God in obedience once more. The same still holds true today. Many believers in Jesus Christ, who once gave their lives to Christ in surrender to his will for their lives have since drifted away and have become complacent, apathetic, rebellious, disobedient and/or lukewarm toward God and in regard to what he did for them in saving them from their sins (See: Rev. 2-3). These believers are in great need of revival. And, God would love to revive them, but they have to first humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways if they want God to renew them and to restore them.
Walk in His Footsteps
I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way.
Godliness is not just some state of being from having been cleansed from our sins by God’s saving grace. We are taught all throughout the New Testament that we are to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to God. In fact, God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for his return (See: Tit. 2:11-14). There is no peace for those who are doing what is wicked and evil. We can’t be at peace if we are walking according to the flesh, and if we are quenching the Spirit of God in our lives. If we want God to speak peace to us, we need to live godly, and we need to keep moving in a forward direction, and not turn back to sin.
If we want to know God’s grace (favor) in our daily lives, we need to walk in the fear of the Lord. This fear is not speaking of being afraid of God, though, but it is talking about having a healthy respect for God, for who he is, for his holiness, his mercy, but also for his justice. It means we value, respect, honor, submit to, obey and love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God the Father so much that we don’t want to sin against him, and so we desire to walk in obedience to his commands. It means we willingly lay down our lives, surrender our wills to the will of the Father in heaven, and that we no longer consider our lives to be our own to be lived out how we want. Jesus is not someone we spend 5 minutes a day with. He is our life, and we commune with him throughout the day and into the night, too. He is our all in all.
God’s loving-kindness and mercy have “met together” with truth and faithfulness. His righteousness and peace have kissed each other. What I believe this means is that they are inseparable, they are brought into harmony with each other and they are fastened together in a common bond (Source: biblehub.com). And, I believe that is how it is supposed to be in our lives, too. In other words we can’t have and show love if we are caught up in telling lies and if we are unfaithful to God and in other relationships where faithfulness is required. We can’t have true peace if we are living in unrighteousness. If we want peace, we must walk in Christ’s righteousness and holiness. If we want to love others, we need to be truth tellers and we need to be faithful to our Lord and show integrity in all other relationships.
So, if you have never given your life to Jesus Christ in death to sin and in surrender to his will for your life, I pray you will do so today. If you know that you have been born again of God, but you have since drifted from your pure relationship with him, and you have gone off to follow after other gods of this world, in order to satisfy the deep longings of your soul, then I pray you will humble yourself before God, call on him in prayer, repent of your sin and turn to follow him today in humble obedience and submission to his will and purposes for your life. His living water is all that will ever satisfy the thirsts of our souls. Amen!
Living Water / An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.
Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.
Living Water satisfies.
The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.
Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.
Living Water glorifies.
Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.
My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?
Living Water sanctifies.
http://originalworks.info/living-water/