Month: June 2015

Terror

“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11).

Since September 11th 2001, terror and tragedy have been on everyone’s mind. Terrorism has become a household word, and is often the subject of conversation in circles of business and every level of society. Just when we seem to be forgetting and moving on, something else happens to bring the reality of it back to the forefront. Certainly the things that have happened in the last few years have been shocking and awful beyond words.

The Lord has allowed these events, and one reason is to wake people up as to their need of a Saviour, and the need to prepare for eternity. There are terrible judgments coming on this world, such as have never been before. How important then to have refuge in the Lord Jesus Christ and a home in heaven. This we can have because of the work of Calvary, the death of Christ, and His precious blood. All the true believers will be raptured out of the world before those awful judgements happen, and those who are left behind will realize that it is too late! That is why John the Baptist warned, “Flee from the wrath to come” (Luke 3:7).

 

That Old Serpent

I have on my bulletin board in my office a photo of my youngest daughter taken some years ago with a live python snake draped around her shoulders. This was taken during an animal exhibit here in the town of Smiths Falls where we live.

I keep this picture to remind me of sin and the wiles of “that old Serpent, called the Devil, and Satan” (Revelation 12:9). He is always trying to trap us and trick us, and while he can never take away our salvation, he can certainly rob us of our joy in Christ, and get us very discouraged.

This is why we need to read our Bibles every day and spend time in prayer. This is how we “resist the Devil” (James 4:4). By lifting “the shield of faith” we are then “able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).

We are no match for the clever, sly, sneaky ways of Satan, and his host of demons, but the Apostle John reminds us, “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). We have everything we need to meet the enemy and be victorious for Christ’s glory.

 

Minor Prophets — Micah

This prophet tells us, not only of the judgment on Israel and Judah, but on the nations as well. This is confirmed at the very beginning of the book, when he says, “Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple” (Micah 1:2).

In Micah we have a wonderful prophecy concerning the Messiah: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). The Lord rebuked the people in His day for not knowing this and other prophecies concerning His being born in Bethlehem. He said, “Hath not the Scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was” (John 7:42)?

Micah also gives us the truth of the wonderful millennial blessing to follow the judgments. “They shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:4). What a happy day it will be!

 

The Power of Prayer

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me” (Psalm 3:4).
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
“God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer” (Psalm 66:19).
“In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and He heard me” (Psalm 120:1).

Prayer has divided seas, rolled back flowing rivers, made hard rocks gush into fountains, quenched flames of fire, muzzled lions, disarmed vipers, repelled frauds, burst open iron gates, recalled souls from eternity, conquered the strongest demons, and commanded legions of angels down from heaven. Prayer has bridled and changed the raging passions of man and destroyed vast armies of proud, daring, blundering atheists. Prayer has brought one man from the bottom of the sea and carried another in a whirlwind to heaven.

What has prayer not done! Think about what it can do for you!

 

Free

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God”
(1 Corinthians 2:16).

Many of us have heard the statement, “The best things in life are free.” There is certainly a lot of truth in that. However, some people think that the best things are expensive or even out of reach of the average person. Another statement I read recently said, “The best things in life are not things.” What a great statement! What we have of greatest value is what we have in the Lord and He Himself is our greatest possession. The best things in life are the eternal riches and the heavenly inheritance that God has provided for us through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. He has, on the basis of the work of Calvary, freely given us more than we can ever imagine. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things” (Romans 3:24; 8:32)?

 

Dear Young Christian:

Some people don’t like Mondays because it starts another school or work week. Some people are already thinking about Friday afternoon when they will be free once more to enjoy another weekend and do what they want.

But the Lord wants us to take one day at a time and enjoy the blessings that He has given for that day. Here are some verses to think about in that regard:

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

“As thy days, so shall thy strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

“It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Let’s start the week with the joy of the Lord in our hearts, a song on our lips, and a sense of His provision and presence with us. That way we will have a happy week.

Your Christian Friend,

Jim Hyland

We would love to hear from you. Send your comments or questions to jhyland@primus.ca

I Will Sing

“I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously” (Exodus 15:1).
“I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God” (Judges 5:3).
“I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6).
“I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalm 104:33).

How much will these verses be true of us today? Singing is a wonderful way to express our appreciation of the person and work of Christ, our joy in the Lord, and our worship, praise, and thanksgiving, for all that He has done for us.

As you meet with other believers today, open your mouth and sing. Even if you can’t carry a tune very well, remember, seven times in the book of Psalms we are told to “make a joyful noise.” For example: “O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation” (Psalm 95:1). The Lord loves to hear our voice in song. Let’s give Him that privilege.

 

Salvation

In the book of Romans we have salvation presented in three different aspects, and in the three tenses in which we operate in the realm of time…past, present, and future.

First of all we read, “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Through the death of Christ and the blood that was shed at Calvary, we have the salvation of our souls. How thankful we should be that we can look back to that great salvation.

Secondly, we are told, “Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). This is a present, ongoing salvation. We are saved from hell by His death, but we are preserved in the path of faith by His intercessory life at the right hand of God.

Thirdly, we have that which is yet future. “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11). This is when the Lord comes and we have full deliverance. At that moment we will have glorified bodies, and be safe home in heaven. The Lord said, “Lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28). For those who are ready it certainly must be soon

 

Faith

“I believe God” (Acts 27:25).

The above statement is the very essence of faith. To believe God without question is to have complete trust and full faith in one whose Word is sure, whose love is consistent, and whose wisdom is infinite. Probably the best Scriptural definition of faith is found in John’s gospel. “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true” (John 3:33).

Are you willing to trust God at all times? Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). His father David said, “Trust in Him at all times” (Psalm 62:8). The Lord Jesus said to Peter, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

How much is it really true in your life and mine? If we learn to trust Him while we are young, we will still be trusting when we are older. Faith is something that does not come easy. It must be tried and proven, and as we put it to the practical test it will grow and give reality and substance to our life. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

 

Home — Part 3

The hope of the Christian is Christ Himself, and Christ as coming for His blood-bought people. Why does the Lord present Himself as the “Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16)? Every person understands what the morning star is. It is not daylight. You never saw a person wakened in the morning by the morning star! You must get up early to see the morning star, but what wakes people up in the morning is the sunlight — it is daylight.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19). What you have in this verse is that the hope of the Christian is CHRIST, now known in heaven as the Saviour, and as the One who is coming back for His own people. The Morning Star is Christ for the watching Christian.

We are saved to wait for God’s Son from heaven, and if we are constantly and consciously waiting and watching it will have a practical effect on our lives while we are on our way to that wonderful HOME.