MAY THE EARTH BE FILLED WITH HIS GLORY!

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.  Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! —Psalm 72:18-19

            What wondrous things have you seen our Lord do? The statement above says He does wondrous things, so what have you seen Him do? The desire of David was to see the earth filled with His glory. Is that our desire as well? It so, how are we serving Him that His glory could be seen in and through us?

            Think about this— Jesus said His followers would be witnesses in all the world beginning at Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). He also commanded us to make disciples (Matthew 28:16-20). A person who “calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), but that is just the beginning.   They have just entered the race marked out for them (Hebrews 12:1-2). “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (I Peter 2:2). Now the newborn baby in Christ needs to be discipled “to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Jesus sent us with His authority to make obedient disciples to Him of all nations. So, how are you doing in this?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJq1N4PiH28

            Most followers of Jesus have never been discipled and so have never discipled anyone. They have never been part of the wondrous discipleship process of seeing God transform a life that His glory could be seen in and through a discipled person. That could change if a person desires it to.

            There are 650 disciple-making movements world-wide and very few in the U.S. — less than a handful. We are looking to Jesus for that to change in our area. What is a disciple-making movement (DMM)? It is a rapid multiplication of disciples over a short period of time. It is following Jesus‘command to make disciples that obey and make more disciples who in turn make more disciples (Matthew 29:16-20). It is living out II Timothy 2:2 which says “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” It is about reliable, faithful followers of Jesus who desire to impact others who will then impact others. Is this your desire? If so, go to www.new-hopechurch.com for registration information.   We have room for the first 60 people who register. We will be meeting at Maranatha Ministries in New Durham, NH. The date is September 25^th to start arriving at 5pm with 6pm dinner through 4pm Saturday the 26^th prior to dinner.   Registration is $76 per person and includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch.   Bring your Bible, notebook and pen.   You will be glad you came! So please, come join us in this disciple-making journey for the glory of God! —John 15:8. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Again, registration information is at www.new-hopechurch.com and needs to be mail by Monday, September 14^th.

Dear Father You do wondrous things every single day.   Oh, that we would see them and be part of them. May You be pleased to draw out the 60 people You desire to network together to make disciples according to Your Word that Your glory would be seen more in this earth.   May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYSyt6uOGyA

HE BEARS US UP!

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. —Psalm 68:19-20

            It is our Lord God Almighty who bears us up daily. Without Him we wouldn’t be breathing. He not only created all things but He holds all things together— “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). He is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12) and the only one who delivers us from death (Hebrews 2:14). Yes, truly, our Lord bears us up daily and for all eternity. How fortunate are we?

            Why is it that we try bear ourselves us when Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Don’t carry those burdens. Give them to Jesus , learn from Him, let Him bear them up and He will give us rest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7tGUNVrqPs

I thank You dear Father that I don’t have to bear burdens, but that I can bring them to Jesus and He will bear them for me. May I do so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. Yes, so be it.

SALVATION IN GOD ALONE

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. –Psalm 62:1-2 

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. —Psalm 62:5-8

So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.  —Romans 1:15-20

            Salvation only comes from God. He is the only true Rock, Salvation and Fortress. Praise God that we can rest in Him and not be anxious. Thank Him for showing us His purposes and our part in them.   We can trust Him fully and pour out our hearts before Him. He alone knows all about us. He alone has the ultimate loving care toward us that nobody else can offer. He is our refuge!

            We are not to be ashamed of this Good News He has given us by which He saved us— “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Righteousness is revealed in the gospel— Jesus took our sin debt and gives everyone who calls on His Name His righteousness. That is the only righteousness we have— that which comes from Him. So let us also, as Paul did, proclaim this gospel!

            I recently spoke with a man, Dan, who said he was an atheist. An atheist is someone who wants to be in control of their own life. They may think they are, but they are not. Dan was polite, open to talk to some degree, but was firm in his stance… at least outwardly. According to this passage in Romans above, Dan has no excuse for not believing in God.   Creation speaks to all in the world that God exists (Psalm 19:1-4). Nobody has an excuse for not believing. Let us proclaim the gospel unashamedly. It is the power of God to salvation for those who believe!

Dear Father I thank You for the power of the gospel in my own life.   Thank You for opening my heart and eyes.   May that be so for many others as Your gospel goes forth in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.   So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD6khv6pGkw&t=7s

MY REFUGE

 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love. –Psalm 59:17

 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. —Psalm 46:1     

Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 124:8

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. —Psalm 121:2

            My strength is in the Lord. I have none of my own. If I think I do then I am setting myself up for a fall. He is my fortress, my protection, my refuge. In Him is my help and in Him alone.     Oh Lord may Your Church know, understand and live this truth in these days we live in.   I want to thank You for Your “every present help in trouble” and at all times. Please help me to live, move and rest in You. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfveawSAHJA

HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN!

You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? —Ps 56:8

Surely He… carried our sorrows. —Isaiah 53:4

I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing… —Acts 20:19

So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. —Acts 20:31

Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. —II Timothy 1:4

           God knows your pain! Each tear that has slowly rolled down your cheek has been recorded. God is a God of details. He knows everything and nothing is forgotten by Him… nothing. We struggle with pain and sorrow in this fallen world. BUT… one day “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 7:17; 21:4). Yes! One day this old order of fallen world things will no longer exist.

            Serving the Lord does not come without sorrow (I Peter 2:19). Jesus is our greatest example of this. The King of Glory suffered as the “Man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3) — “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38).   “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:22).

            The Apostle Paul also shed many tears as he served the Lord. He shed tears during severe testing and he shed tears out of concern for believers. Yes, there is sorrow in service. There are tears shed in this fallen, fading way world— “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).  One day this dark world will pass away and there will only be rejoicing. Yes, that day is coming!

            Timothy also shed tears in his service. Paul remembered those tears. But again, most importantly, God knows our pain and He is doing something through it that we cannot fully understand— “However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him” (I Corinthians 2:9).   So let us keep our eyes fixed on the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He will finish what He started!

Dear Father I am so glad to know that You know. I will trust You with my life in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. Yes, so be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

CAST AND BE SUSTAINED AND NOT MOVED

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. —Psalm 55:22

            Why carry your burden? Our Lord desires to take it and sustain you. He does not want those following Him to be moved because of a burden. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt 28:28-30). So let us get this straight and grab the truth of this passage— it is the Lord God Almighty that sustains us through any burden AS we cast our burden on Him! Then we will be sustained and have rest. Your responsibility is to cast the burden on Him and not keep it yourself. His responsibility that He desires to take is to sustain us and give us rest Wow!   Thank You Lord Jesus!

So today… cast your burden on Him! He will sustain you and you will not be moved. Dear Father what a joy to know how much You care for us. I cast my burdens on You Lord because that is what You have asked me to do. I thank You that You will sustain me, give me rest and not allow me to be moved by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. I thank You!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xCRnqMK5fg

Please pray for Ves as he goes through a heart procedure today.

GOD DOES WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO

So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. —Acts 27:25

            You can be sure that God will keep His Word exactly as we have been told. “So take heart… have faith in God.” Trust Him to do what He said He would do. Want peace? Jesus said that “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Listen!   “In this world you will have trouble.”   Did you hear that? So do not be surprised at the trouble that comes in this world. Its design is to take away the peace you have in Jesus. 

            You troubled right now? You don’t have peace right now? You anxious right now? It is because you are allowing the world’s trouble to distract you from the peace that is available in Jesus. In Him we have peace. Don’t allow anything or anyone to take that away. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). See?   Our hearts and minds will be guarded in Jesus IF we take these worldly troubles to Him and allow Him to handle them His way. You hold onto worldly troubles and you will not have peace. Your thoughts and emotions will be all over the place. So why not go to the One who is over ALL things and trust Him to work them out? You have a choice— try to work things out, try to figure things out on your own or trust Him with them. What will you do?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJeNUlNY7Iw

Dear Father help me to trust You with the race You have marked out for me— whatever the circumstances. I know You will do exactly as You say. May I trust You. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.   So bit it!

EVIDENCE OF LOVING OBEDIENCE TO JESUS

For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth… For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! —Psalm 47:2, 7-9

            The Lord is the Most High. That is a fact that nobody can change regardless if they want to live for Him or not!   He is King over the whole earth regardless if people want to submit to Him or not. Those who think they are in control of their lives are in for a rude awaking after death when they will appear before King Jesus to give account.   That is an appointment that nobody will cancel, that nobody will miss. We can submit and live for King Jesus now and be with Him forever or He can be rejected in this life and those who reject Him will be REJECTED BY HIM FOREVER when they see Him after death.

            Let me just say this— CONDEMNED FOREVER IN HELL! This is the outcome of rejecting Jesus. Grasp that! FOREVER is not a long time. FOREVER is just want it means and it is NEVER ENDING… NEVER… NEVER ENDING! Fellow follower of Jesus that is why Jesus commanded us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8) and disciple-makers in all the world (Matthew 28:16-20)— That others will come to know Him, love Him and live for Him now and be with Him forever. When will we be obedient to Him in this? Yes, we sing praises to Him. Yes, we hear all kinds of teaching about Him, but who are we witnessing to? Who are we discipling? The Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20 does not just say “teach them.” No, it says “teach them to obey.” Are we being obedient to King Jesus who reigns over all the earth? Obedient to Him— How is that seen in our lives?

Have you ever been discipled? Have you ever discipled someone else? Would you like to? There are 650 disciple-making movements world-wide and very few in the U.S. — less than a handful. We are looking to Jesus for that to change in our area. What is a disciple-making movement (DMM)? It is a rapid multiplication of disciples over a short period of time. It is following Jesus’ command to make disciples that obey and make more disciples who in turn make more disciples (Matthew 29:16-20). It is living out II Timothy 2:2 which says “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” It is about reliable, faithful followers of Jesus who desire to impact others who will then impact others. Is this your desire? If so, go to www.new-hopechurch.com for registration information.   We have room for the first 60 people who register. We will be meeting at Maranatha Ministries in New Durham, NH. The date is September 25^th to start arriving at 5pm with 6pm dinner through 4pm Saturday the 26^th prior to dinner.   Registration is $76 per person and includes Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch.   Bring your Bible, notebook and pen.   You will be glad you came! So please, come join us in this disciple-making journey for the glory of God! —John 15:8. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Registration information is at www.new-hopechurch.com and needs to be mailed by Monday, September 14^th. Again, registration information is at www.new-hopechurch.com and needs to be mail by Monday, September 14^th.

So you are invited and let others you may know about this and invite them.

Dear Father may you be please to do a new thing in this area of our lives that King Jesus would be truly loved and obey and that we would truly have a love for people to share the good news with them.   Oh may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus! So be it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eQd3K2Fxp4

THE ALL SEEING KING

For he knows the secrets of the heart. —Psalm 44:21

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. —Hebrews 4:13

            Nobody is getting away with anything! Our Lord God Almighty knows everything about me, everything about you and everything about everybody who has ever lived— past, present and future.   He knows everything about those who know Him and He knows everything about those who do not know Him. People can deny that He exists, but He that doesn’t change His knowledge of them. And… we will, all of us, give account to Him one day.

            “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” (I John 2:28).  God’s Word is powerful— “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Let us who follow Jesus listen to what He is saying to us and be obedient out of our love for Him. And… let us share His Word with those who do not know Him out of love for them.   God’s Word penetrates the heart and it is God’s Word that “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”   That is God’s convicting work, not ours.   We need to yield to what He is speaking to our own heart and it is up to other believers and the lost to respond to what He is saying to them. As someone has said, “Their response is their responsibility” and our response is our responsibility. Let us live to please Him!

Dear Father you know all about me— my flaws, my thoughts, my hurts, my hopes and desires and yet I desire to line up with Your will.   May it be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkSBmRAVXNc

HELP THE POOR! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DadzAe1JVAQ

Blessed is the one who considers the poor! —Psalm 41:1

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. —Deuteronomy 15:11

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. —Proverbs 14:31

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” —Matthew 19:21

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. —II Corinthians 9:6-11

They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. —Galatians 2:10

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? —James 2:5

            How am I “considering the poor?” How am I being “open handed” toward the poor? How am I being kind to the need? How am I “giving” to the poor? How am I “freely scattering gifts to the poor?” How am I “remembering the poor”? How am I helping “those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”   Yes, I have to ask myself these questions.

            God’s Word is very clear that those who are able are to help the poor. This is not going to alleviate poverty because Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want” (Mark 14:7). But we can help as the Lord desires us to.

• I could help with food and clothes
• I could help with providing clean water
• I could help with medical care
• I could help with education
• I could help with housing
• I could help with rescuing from oppressors
• I could help with adoptions
• I could help with the gospel

            We who have material and gospel resources surely are called to help the poor of this world. How are we or will we do so? We have so much: food & clothes, clean water, medical care, education, housing, free of oppression, a family, THE GOSPEL! What kind of stewards are we being? We will give account to Jesus one day (Matthew 25:14-46; II Corinthians 5:10).

Dear Father please show me the group or groups I am to support that help the poor. May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.   May it be so!