Links To Some Meditations On God's Word

Doing the will of the Lord 9th August 2009

God wants us to ‘grow up in every way into Christ’ (Ephesians 4:15). 30th August 2009

‘Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised’(Psalm 48:1). 19th July 2009
-----
To see each meditation, click on the date. 

Remembering Our Saviour

Our understanding of God's Word is to be filled with worship. Our reading of Scripture will be enriched as we think also of the songs of praise we offer to God as we worship Him. We remember our Saviour. He died for us and was raised again for us. We remember Him as we read the Scriptures which tell the wonderful story of His great love for us. We remember Him as we sing our songs of praise to Him. As we remember our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, let us rejoice in His great salvation and His mighty triumph over Satan.

A New Beginning With God, His Word And His Spirit

Genesis 1:1-3

'Genesis' means 'beginning'. Its opening verses challenge us to get our priorities right.
(a) the priority of God (1)
God comes first. Before anyone else is mentioned, He is there.
(b) the priority of God's Word (3)
God is the first to speak. Before any human word is spoken, there is the Word of the Lord.
(c) the priority of God's Spirit (2)
All was 'empty', all was 'darkness', yet 'the Spirit of God' was at
work, and transformation was set in motion.
Here, we have God's priorities, set out in the first three verses of the Bible. Putting God first and listening to His Word, we are to pray for the moving of God's Spirit, 'hovering over' our lives to transform them. For those who make God's priorities their own, there is a promise of great blessing (Psalm 1:1-2). It is the great blessing of knowing Jesus Christ, our Saviour, as 'God with us' (Matthew 1:23).

Everything Changes When The Word Of God Takes Its Rightful Place Among Us.

2 Kings 21:19-23:3
You never know what’s going to happen next! There was repair work going on at the House of God (5-6). It seemed so mundane. What happened next was certainly not mundane. Revival broke out! A book was found. It was ‘the Book of the Law’(8).The rediscovery of God’s Word brought transformation. Everything changed when the Word of God took its rightful place among the people. King Josiah wanted to find out what was in ‘this book that has been found’ (13). He read its ‘words’ to ‘all the people’(23:2). The words were not only read.They were acted upon: ‘The king… made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep His commandments… with all his heart and all his soul… and all the people joined in the covenant’ (23:3). They returned to ‘the ancient paths’, to ‘the good way’(Jeremiah 6:16) - and so must we!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

We Need To Listen Well If We Are To Hear The Voice Of The Lord In Today’s World.

2 Kings 19:1-37
‘Do not be afraid because of the words you have heard’(6). Who are you listening to - the world or the Lord? Sometimes, the voice of the world seems to be so loud - so loud that we can hardly hear the voice of the Lord at all. We need to listen well if we are to hear the voice of the Lord in today’s world. When we are discouraged, we need His Word of encouragement: ‘The zeal of the Lord will do this’(31). When you feel like saying, ‘I can’t’, remember this: ‘Our God is able’- ‘able to help those who are tempted’, ‘able to provide you with every blessing in abundance’, ‘able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think’(Daniel 3:17; Hebrews 2:18; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20). Don’t say ‘I can’t’. Say, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me’(Philippians 4:13).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Let God’s Word Search Your Heart.

2 Kings 10:1-36
Jehu was a proud man: ‘Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord’(16). He was full of his own importance, a bit special, a bit out of the ordinary, a cut above the rest. God did not share Jehu’s opinion of himself - ‘Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart…’(31). Jehu’s attitude was ‘I’m all right, Jack’. He didn’t bother to look too closely at himself. Let God’s Word search your heart: ‘The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart’(Hebrews 4:12). Let this be your prayer to the Lord: ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’(Psalm 139:24). Make sure that you mean it!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Be Faithful To God's Word - In Your Teaching, Hearing, Reading And Doing.

2 Kings 8:1-29

‘Go to meet the man of God and inquire of the Lord through him’(8). God’s servants, appointed by Him to serve the people in His Name, play a significant part in leading the people to a deeper knowledge of God. They bring the Word of God to the people. That is what they have been called to do. It is good to have faithful teaching from God’s Word. There needs also to be faithful hearing, reading and doing of God’s Word. God’s servants can take us so far - and no further. You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make it drink! God’s servants say, ‘Here are ‘the wells of salvation’’. It is up to the people themselves to take the next step: ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation’(Isaiah 12:3). God’s Word is provided for you. It is delivered to you. What are you doing with it?

Taking Up The Mantle Of Prophetic Ministry

2 Kings 1:1-2:13

‘He took up the mantle of Elijah’(2:13). Elijah’s ministry had ended. Elisha’s ministry was about to begin. It was the beginning of a new era. This may have been a new ministry. It was not, however, a new message. Both men preached the Word of the Lord. Elisha continued Elijah’s work. He took up where Elijah had left off. He brought the Word of the Lord to the people. Elisha was not exactly the same as Elijah. He was Elisha - not Elijah! There was, however, continuity. The second ministry built on the work done during the first ministry. The laying of the foundations - This is what Elijah’s ministry had been all about. Now, Elisha would build on this good foundation. He would take the work of God forward. Into the future, on to the second stage - This is what Elisha’s ministry was all about. 

_________________

Blessings in Christ

Christ in all the Scriptures

http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Looking Forward To A Better Future

1 Kings 12:25-13:34
These were dark days for God’s people. They were deeply divided. There was the northern kingdom (Israel). Jeroboam was their ‘big man’. There was the southern kingdom (Judah). Rehoboam was the ‘voice’ of the south. What a shambles it all was! Each side seemed intent on outdoing the other - ungodliness. Sin reigned in the north (13:33-34). Sin reigned in the south (14:22-24). The ‘big man’ was not so big in the eyes of the Lord. The ‘voice’ did not speak the Word of the Lord. Was there any hope? Yes! There was an unnamed ‘man of God’ who spoke ‘the Word of the Lord’(13:1). In all the confusion of these difficult times, God was planning for a better future. His Word concerned Josiah: ‘a son shall be born…’(2). We look beyond Josiah to Jesus: ‘to us a Child is born… a Son…’(Isaiah 9:6-7).
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

What Is The Lord Saying?

1 Kings 11:14-12:24
Life can be a very slippery slope. You can go downhill very quickly - if you’re not careful! Solomon let things slide - and he was never the same again. He fell - and he never got back up again. After he died, there was ‘rebellion’- and it lasted for a long time (12:9). It was bedlam. Chaos reigned. The people couldn’t agree among themselves. Everybody was pointing the finger at somebody else. What did God have to say about all this? - ‘Do not go up to fight against your brothers…’(12:24). God’s Word seems so simple. We’re the ones who make everything so complicated - when we’re looking out for ourselves, when we’re forgetting to listen for God’s Word. We need to stop giving off - ‘This is what I think’. We need to start listening. What are others saying? What is the Lord saying?
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Do You Want To Experience God’s Glory?

1 Kings 7:13-8:13
We read about ‘the silver’ and ‘the gold’. We are called to choose between the life of fruitful service - ‘gold, silver, precious stones’- and the unfruitful life - ‘wood, hay, straw’(51; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15). We read of ‘the ark of the covenant of the Lord’ being ‘brought to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the House, in the most holy place. We are told that 'the glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord’(6,11). The glory of the Lord fills the House of the Lord whenever the Word of God is honoured by the people of God. Jesus Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1,14). The glory of the Lord fills the House of the Lord when Christ is given the place of highest honour among the people of God. Do you want to experience God’s glory? Honour His Word. Love His Son - the Lord Jesus Christ.
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

‘A Dwelling Place Of God In The Spirit’

1 Kings 5:1-6:13
Do you ‘rejoice greatly’ when you hear the Word of the Lord (5:7)? God wants to ‘establish His Word’ among us (6:12). He wants to establish His presence among us. He is ‘the Word made flesh’. He ‘dwells among us, full of grace and truth’. He is ‘Emmanuel’- ‘God with us’(John 1:14; Matthew 1:23). As you read about the building of the temple, remember God’s Word: ‘You are God’s temple… God’s Spirit lives in you… God’s temple is holy… you are that temple… your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you… We are the temple of the living God; as God said, ‘I will live among them…’(1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16). ‘A dwelling place of God in the Spirit’- That’s what you are (Ephesians 2:22)!
_________________
Blessings in Christ
Christ in all the Scriptures
http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

‘Today, When You Hear God's Voice, Do Not Harden Your Hearts.’

Hebrews 4:1-5:10

‘Today, when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ These words from 3:7,15, are repeated here in 4:7. Make sure that you don’t miss the point! These are words that we need to keep on hearing - again and again. None of us ever reaches a stage where we no longer need to hear and heed God’s words of warning. Reading God’s Word can be a very uncomfortable experience: ‘God’s Word is living and active... God’s Word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for Him to see. We must answer to Him’(4:12-13). This may not be the kind of thing we like to hear. It’s what we need to hear. We will only pray for ‘mercy’ and ‘grace’ when we see how sinful we really are. Then - and only then - will we come to Christ for ‘eternal salvation’(4:15-16; 5:9).

_________________

Blessings in Christ

Christ in all the Scriptures

http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

Hear What The Spirit Is Saying

Do we listen, when others speak? Or do we only want to hear, what we want to hear?



In His Glorious Name Ministries Online

It's "Make Your Mind Up" Time!

Acts 24:1-27

Paul did not abandon the teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures - ‘I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets (14). He read the Old Testament. It led him to Christ. Paul’s great theme was ‘faith in Christ Jesus’(24). Paul speaks. Jesus is speaking through him. Jesus did ‘not come to abolish the law and the prophets’. He came ‘to fulfil them’. ‘Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself’(Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:27). God has spoken ‘through the prophets’. God has spoken through His Son’(Hebrews 1:1-2). We read the Old Testament. We learn from ‘Moses’ and ‘Elijah’. They step back. We see ‘Jesus, only’. He is God’s ‘beloved Son’. We ‘listen to Him’(Matthew 17:3,8,5).

Acts 25:1-27 

Paul stood before Festus as an accused man. Festus listened. Recognizing his own shortcomings and respecting the accused wishes, he gave Paul a fair hearing (20-21,25). Festus made no decision - ‘I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him’(26). Jesus was ‘dead’. Now, He is ‘alive’(19). This is not just ‘something to think about’. We must make our decision. There can be no ‘sitting on the fence’. Some are indecisive - ‘I have nothing definite to say about Jesus’. It’s ‘make your mind up’ time - ‘How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?’ (Hebrews 2:3). Festus had to make a decision about Paul. There is a more important question: ‘What do you think of the Christ?’. Each of us must answer the question: ‘What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’(Matthew 22:42; 27:22).

Acts 26:1-32

Paul answers three questions concerning himself. He puts a most important question to his hearers. (a) What was I before my conversion? Here, he speaks of his religion - ‘According to the strictest party of my religion I have lived as a Pharisee’(5). This brought him ‘to the ground’(14). (b) How did my conversion come about? Here, he speaks of his Saviour - ‘I am Jesus... Stand up!’(15). (c) What happened after my conversion? Here, he describes how he became a ‘servant’ and a ‘witness’(16). (d) The final question concerns our response - What about you? Will you become a Christian? (27-29). Do you have a story to tell? - Tell your story: the ‘before’, the ‘after’, the fact that it was Jesus who made the difference. Don’t forget the challenge: To ‘all who are listening to me today’- Come to Christ (29).

_________

Blessings in Christ

Christ in all the Scriptures

http://christinallthescriptures.blogspot.com

We Need The Word of The Lord On The Lord's Day. We Need The Word Of The Lord Every Day.

Acts 17:1-34

Notice the importance of the Scriptures for both public ministry - ‘reasoning with them from the Scriptures’ and private devotion - ‘examining the Scriptures every day’(2,11). We need the Word of the Lord on the Lord’s Day. We need the Word of the Lord every day. God is not the ‘unknown God’. He has made himself known to us. For many, He seems to be the ‘unknown God’. We must seek to lead them beyond a vague awareness of ‘the God who made the world’ to a real knowledge of Jesus Christ who died and rose again for our salvation (24,3). When our faith is grounded in the Scriptures, we will not think of God as the ‘unknown God’ about whom we can know very little. We will make it our ambition ‘to know Christ and the power of His resurrection’(Philippians 3:10). ‘Let us press on to know the Lord’(Hosea 6:3).

Acts 18:1-21

It was not an easy situation at Corinth. There were some who ‘opposed Paul and became abusive’(6). There was great pressure on Paul. He could have given up very easily. It was God’s Word which kept Paul going (10). Paul did not collapse under thee pressure - ‘he stayed a year and six months, teaching the Word of God among them’(11). At Ephesus, there were people who asked Paul ‘to stay for a longer period’. He ‘declined’. Paul was moving on. He refused to be shackled by the expectations of other people. The important thing was ‘God’s will’. For us, there can be no standing still. We must move on with God. We must not get ‘stuck in a rut’. Some say, ‘Everything must remain the same. Nothing must change’. Paul had to ‘set sail from Ephesus’. We must ‘launch out into the deep’- at Jesus’ Word (20-21; Luke 5:4-5).