June 7, 2023 -- Genesis 3:8 -- What was lost in the Fall?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:8 ESV

Perhaps you are aware, perhaps not, I am currently at my denomination’s Synod Meeting. So I’m in North Carolina—the temperature is beautiful and the bucolic setting is conducive to restful contemplation. Each block of meetings starts with a sermon. What a wonderful day to begin deliberations, by first spending time in the word of God.

Yesterday the Rev. Jeff Kingswood preached. It was a wonderful sermon. The theme given him was worship and the text he used as the basis of his sermon was John 4:21-24. He also referred to the text above, Genesis 3.

Today’s devotion is a brief synopsis of his stirring sermon. Kingswood asked a marvelous question. What was lost when Adam and Eve fell into sin? Some, perhaps women, might answer: ‘painless childbirth’. Men might answer weedless gardening. It misses the point. Consider this amazing fact, God approached His people, as He’d always done. They had, before their sinful rebellion, communion with Him like we can’t even imagine now. What they’d once enjoyed is now lost to them.

Worship was incapacitated by sin. Praise God. For God provides for us in what Christ we cannot do for ourselves. He provides us with Christ’s righteousness. In his vision of heaven, John notes the New Jerusalem has streets of such gold it is like glass. The gates of the city are carved pearls. Kingswood said Revelation uses the language of Tiffany’s! The thrill of everything that is so precious, valuable beyond comprehension. Yet, what is of even greater value is being restored so that the people of God can be in the presence of God, unashamed. Hallelujah!

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! Increase our capacity to marvel, to anticipate, and to long for eternity in Your presence. Deepen our awareness of Jesus’ beautiful-beyond-description work of reconciling us to Yourself through His death, burial, resurrection, ascension and session to Your right hand. Spirit of God, bring to mind for us, through-out each day and in the watches of the night, the profound expectation of that moment, when God will make all things new in Christ and we will live in the presence of God and of the Lamb and worship will be most excellent, joyous, and soul-satisfying. Exactly what had been missing in all our lives and what we searched for in all places and exploring all sorts of wrongs with an urgency of need that wasn’t met until it was fully, finally and completely met in You. What a treasure beyond all treasures. King of kings and LORD of lords, there will be a day, when we will be completely enraptured in Christ! Hallelujah! Amen!

https://youtu.be/VbqSm-_pDxA ‘Hymn of Heaven’ Phil Wickham

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 31, 2023 -- Luke 18:9-15 -- Pride and Humility

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 18:9-15 ESV

How many of us are aware of our profound need for God’s mercy? A mercy that must shield us every moment of every day! I was listening to Voddie Baucham’s teaching on justification and sanctification. He was explaining that for an act to be right, or good, it must be i) a right action; ii) it must be carried out with a right attitude; iii) it must be done with a view to the glory of God.

Look at the various things you have done that you considered “good” or “right”. For example, perhaps you gave money to a charity which cares for the poor. Afterwards you said, “okay, I am done with them for a while”. A right action, but a deed with an accompanying attitude which disregards the humanity of the poor who are made in God’s image. It might be good in the eyes of the world, but not before God.

For a people who are dependent on God the Father for life, for breath, for every moment of our existence, we are exceptionally proud. The antidote to pride is to look to Jesus Christ, Who humbled Himself. He gave Himself up to death for sinners, such as we are. The antidote to pride is to consider how unlovable we were (and are) and still Jesus died for us, He the Just One for us who are unjust. Then spend time with a man or a woman who, aware of their impoverished spiritual state, who like the tax collector, are aware of their great sinfulness and need for God’s loving help every single moment, and you’ll see evidence of the joy of the Lord. It is infectious.

The LORD our God has so designed us that we are to be a compassionate people. If we do not act out our love for Jesus in ways in which show divine for love the people around us, we will grow stagnant and putrid in our spiritual lives. If, however, we share the love of God with those around us, doing right deeds freely and extravagantly, with an attitude that is right and a heart fixed on the goodness of God we will find that the Spirit of God replenishes our very soul. We were designed to give away the love of God. And as we do so we learn we can never outgive His love and goodness. Now that is truly humbling and a cause for great joy.

Our Father in heaven honored and holy be Your Name. God, be merciful to us, sinners. Amen.

https://youtu.be/W5EUvOnQr4Y “His Mercy Is More” Matt Papa

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 30, 2023 -- Psalm 30:1-3 -- The Psalm Series: The contemplation of God leads to adoration

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.
3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
Psalm 30:1-3 ESV

Notice the preaching King David brings to his own heart and what he teaches his people to say and to sing—I will extol You, O LORD. What does it mean to extol the LORD? It means to make His Name and His reputation and His glory great to your heart and mind. To extol God is to talk Him up and to study His goodness so that you can’t help but praise Him and become more dedicated to Him.

It is interesting an oenophile will study wines, swirling it in the glass to see it reflect colour, checking its clarity and making sure there are sediments and then sniff it to get a sense of its fragrance and to awaken the palette to receive the luxurious complexity of tastes. A connoisseur of art will study a piece endlessly, searching out details, noticing brush-strokes, delighting in the interplay of light and shadow. Those who are not oenophiles or connoisseurs of art will think it a waste of time.

Our lives and our future are bound up with the LORD, Who has drawn us up. He has made us stand tall though we’d been ruined and humbled to the ground and so shamed we could not stand before Him. He made us alive, though we’d been dead in our sins and trespasses, and causes us to stand before Him by the amazing grace given ins Jesus Christ. He is our constant help, in fact, at Jesus’ request, the Father has poured out the Holy Spirit so that the Father’s healing work in our lives is on-going.

Through-out the psalms the writers of the various psalms urge the people of the LORD to study the LORD, as intently as an oenophile studies wines and believers savor His greatness as much as art connoisseurs lovingly look at art so that their hearts will swell with adoration and praise. This is not something that is reluctantly plucked from the unwilling heart. Believers study God. Believers contemplate all He has done and is doing in their lives and from such contemplation songs will swell up, such as will praise Him.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. We join with Your people through-out the centuries in thinking about Your mighty acts of creation; the blessing of the seasons, the richness of the variety of flora and fauna which Your have put into various continents and climates and our souls are drawn up to worship. When the Spirit leads Your people to consider Your acts of salvation, how You have rescued Your people from death to life, then praise and adoration wells up within us and overwhelms the mind so that thanks flows past the lips in hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs of exultation to Your great and glorious Name. In our lives, in Your Church, in Your world, LORD our God be glorified now and forevermore. Amen.

https://youtu.be/byRXcyZn7YE Mahalia Jackson “How Great Thou Art”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 29, 2023 -- Psalm 29:1-2 -- The Psalm Series: What does it mean to ascribe glory to the LORD?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

A Psalm of David.
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
   ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
   worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Psalm 29:1-2 ESV

The word ascribe is rarely used in daily life. In college I was an English Major, and honestly I can only think of the word ascribe as used in the context of the Bible. So what does it mean? It is an important question if you want to understand this psalm and what it is about. To ascribe means to regard something as being due to a person or a thing. So, the LORD’s due is that His people recognize Him alone as glorious, powerful.

Why? In an age and a culture where the Majestic One of heaven is considered a buddy this is a jarring Psalm. Think of who David is. He was a strong king and worthy of honour and respect. Consider this example. When his wife approached David, she bowed to the ground and paid homage to him (I Kings 1:16). She recognized him as a powerful king. Even though they had an intimate relationship, she ascribed to him the honour due to his position as her king and the ruler of the nation. Now, if an earthly king, like David, was ascribed such honour, how much more should the LORD receive honour?! No wonder David needed to humble his own heart and ascribe to the Living God the glory and renown and honour that is due the LORD. David had to do so to keep himself from pride.

Dear fellow believer. Consider the great need there is in your own life to ascribe to the LORD the glory due His Name. Where have you stolen what belongs to Him? When you hold grudges rather than freely forgiving as you have been forgiven in Jesus, you ascribe to yourself the place of God and ascribe to yourself what belongs to Him alone. You have put yourself in a place of pride rather than humbling yourself and giving to the Living God the splendor and honour due to Him. When you are acting in ways that are sexually inappropriate, from looking lustfully, to viewing pornography, and any other such activities beyond those, you are living outside the rules of the LORD your God and ascribing to yourself a place of a tyrant. You are in effect saying, I can decide for myself what I want, rather than humbling yourself before Your King.

Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. As we are reminded to ascribe to You the honour and strength and glory that is Yours, we are also reminded how we are to humble ourselves. And we recognize how our flesh resists and strains against this very thing. Spirit of God, teach us new humility. Spirit of God, as those who are ever learning and re-learning humility focus our eyes and attention on Jesus Christ so that from Him and in Him we know the greatness of the Father’s love, the depths of our neediness, and the extravagance of Your grace. Spirit of the Living God, help us then to live as those who offer and receive true Christian community. Then as the people redeemed by Jesus grace alone replenish in us the desire and ability to ascribe to the LORD of Heaven and Earth all the glory and honour.

https://youtu.be/bvTz6k7cTIA “Who Am I?” Casting Crowns

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May 28, 2023 -- John 14:15-17 -- The Work of the Holy Spirit

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him.
John 14:15-17 ESV

Today, Sunday, May 28, 2023, believers around the world celebrate Pentecost Sunday. There is a great emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Many people highlight the Spirit’s work in giving gifts like tongues and interpretation of tongues or other extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit, which, frankly, are for the New Testament era. Prophetic gifts and apostolic gifts and healing gifts were given to Jesus and to His disciples, but were for the start of the Church, the beginning of the Church. Once the Church had been established on the foundation of Jesus, there is no need for a whole new foundation. So, the building is built up in Christ by the Spirit. So, if the Spirit is not giving new visions and prophesies, what is the work of the Holy Spirit?  Great question.

Perhaps the most radical work of the Spirit is to take sinners and so transform their hearts and minds and actions that they are men and women who love Jesus Christ and desire to follow Him in obedience. The defining characteristic of a Christian is that he loves Jesus Christ and desires to be more like Him. When people who know you well see the change in your life and hear how you have a new, clean vocabulary and now live devoted service which has switched from things allegiance the world to complete dedication to Jesus, there is nothing that can argue against that. It is the Spirit of God Who leads you in the way of truth. It is the Spirit Who convicts you when you are straying and sinning so that you can, with hope and joy turn to Jesus and find grace and mercy. It is the Spirit Who continually reveals to you Jesus Christ and immeasurable riches of the salvation that you have in Him.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the magnificent gift of Jesus Christ and His reconciling work, by which all who believe are called Your sons and daughters. Thank You for the Spirit poured out so that believers are sealed for Jesus Christ and are directed in all truth. Spirit of the Living God by Your mighty power continually change the course of my life and refresh the attitudes of my mind so that I will whole-heartedly and willing deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus Christ and this to the glory of the Father. Amen.

https://youtu.be/WNz_s7uV_uo Keith Green “Rushing Wind”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 26, 2023 -- Psalm 28:6-9 -- The Psalm Series: the rest of the story

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Blessed be the LORD!
    For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;
    he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
    Be their shepherd and carry them forever.
Psalm 28:6-9 ESV

To be honest, this is cherry-picking. That is, taking the best fruit and leaving the rest of the psalm unexplained and unexplored. Believers love a passage like this. It is a high-point of praise to God and a celebration of His blessings. However, if all you do is read this, you are missing why the psalmist has reached this summit. Go ahead, read it now. It is a short psalm, take a minute or two to turn in your Bible and read the whole of it.

Now you understand. David had faced the silence of the LORD. He called out. No answer. He asked for mercy. Nothing. He saw the works of wicked men and it seemed they were prospering. He himself, not so much.

Rather than getting into a pit of depression, David is remembering the past goodness of God. Think of all the times the LORD has heard your prayers. Go ahead, see if you can count them. You can’t! That much I already know. He has heard your plenteous pleas for mercy. Even now, when it seems prayers have not been answered as quickly as you’d like, know this, the LORD your God, He is your strength. That is why you are still praying. He is your shield. In Jesus Christ all the flaming darts of the evil one have fallen to the ground, and they are ineffective to cause our Father to disown you. Do not give up. Keep praying. He is carrying you through.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Great is Your glory and profound is Your persistent kindness. Thank You for Jesus Christ. Thank You, that in Jesus’ powerful Name we are assured that not one of our prayers have fallen on deaf ears. Spirit of God, like a rushing wind, blow into the temple of our hearts and minds with the knowledge of the goodness of God so that we can pray, waiting with assurance, that the Father in heaven is even now answering the prayers of His people. Not just the prayers of people ‘out there’, but even now, You are answering my prayer. O blessed be the LORD! You are the strength of Your people. Amen.

https://youtu.be/9sE5kEnitqE CeCe Winans “Goodness of God”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 25, 2023 -- Psalm 27:7-9a -- The Psalm Series: preach to your heart, mind, will and affections

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
   be gracious to me and answer me!
You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to You,
   “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
   Hide not Your face from me.
Psalm 27:7-9a ESV

How many impulses do you have each day? Impulsively picking up a chocolate bar at the last second and putting it on the check-out conveyor. You didn’t mean to do it, but you didn’t check the impulse either. Or, say something mean? Your mouth opened and what you said just “popped out”. So much of what happens in your life and in mine is a result of a lack of self-discipline. Impulses that were not stopped or checked before they resulted in regrettable actions.

The LORD has said to the Psalmist (and by way of this psalm to us all) “seek My face”. It is a command. There are enemies all around. There are insecurities and fears that threaten to overwhelm him. In an earlier verse he has chosen to sing and make melody to the LORD (verse 6) so that his soul is reminded of the glories of the LORD which are greater than all his troubles. There are so many distractions. So many legit troubles. So many pressures. How does the psalm-writer respond? He decides to preach to his own soul and act. Cutting through everything else his heart says to the LORD, to You, “Your face do I seek”. What keeps him from impulses? What keeps him from sins that would seem to just spring up on him out of nowhere? It is the fact he is cultivating the awareness of the LORD’s presence.

The LORD our God has given us access to Himself through Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. When our soul tells our minds and will and desires to seek Jesus above all else, then we have a mighty army lined up against our impulses. We will be prepared to seek the face of Jesus Christ before everything goes awry. We will seek Him based on our past experiences of His graciousness. We will seek Him when we have failed again. All the while we have this deep and beautiful assurance: He prays to the Father on our behalf.

Our Father in heaven may Your Name be hallowed and forever blessed through-out the earth! You have given us, as New Testament believers, greater revelation than King David had. You have shown Your vigilance and faithfulness in seeking Your people by sending Jesus, the Deliverer. Now, Spirit of the Living God, teach our souls to cling to Jesus so that with the psalmist we continually choose to instruct our heart to cry out to our minds, to our will and to our desires “Your face, LORD Jesus Christ, do I seek”. Amen.

https://youtu.be/BLDEt9KP2O0 "Abide" Aaron Williams

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 24, 2023 -- Psalm 27:4 -- The Psalm Series: The Big Ask

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm 27:4 ESV

This is a big ask. Think about it. The Psalm writer is appealing to the LORD, Whom he has called “my Light” and “my Salvation”. To this Glorious One he is asking for heaven. Let heaven start on earth and then continue through all eternity, because heaven is to be near the Living God and heaven is delighting in Him.

He wants to live in the house of the LORD. He wants to be at the place, wherever that is, where the LORD of splendor lives. This request will prepare him for eternity. All the days of his life will be many, countless days, because those who belong to the LORD will not be left to decay, rot, in the grave (Psalm 16:10).

What does he want? He wants to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD. What a change this is for King David. He has been known to gaze lustfully at a woman (think of Bathsheba and that whole debacle). Now, instead of gazing lustfully at a woman, or longingly at power, or desirously at greater territory for his Kingdom, or greedily at ever greater wealth and acquisitions, he wants to turn his heart, his mind, his desires, his will, and all his attention to the LORD.

Beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ, King Jesus is seated in glory on the throne of heaven. His Spirit lives in us so that believers are now the dwelling place of God. We, as we join together, delight in God the Stronghold of our lives. King Jesus has disarmed the Devil at the cross and given us new life. Our hope and our joy and our longings are anchored to Him. In view of His excellencies how can we keep from thinking about Him, praising Him and in this way delighting in our Father Who sent Him and this through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Our Father in heaven hallowed and forever blessed be Your Name! One thing have we asked of You, LORD, that we will seek after: that we may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days we live, to gaze on Your beauty, LORD, and to inquire of You. For You, LORD, are the Light and Salvation of Your people. Amen.

https://youtu.be/ndZsEDuCVAQ Psalm 27 Shane and Shane

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May 23, 2023 -- Psalm 24:7-10 -- The Psalm Series: Jesus' Ascension as the King of Glory

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Lift up your heads, O gates!
   And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
   that the King of Glory may come in.
Who is this King of Glory?
   The LORD, strong and mighty
   the LORD, mighty in battle! 
Lift your heads, O gates!
   And lift them up, O ancient doors,
   that the King of Glory may come in.
Who is this King of Glory?
   The LORD of Hosts,
   He is the King of Glory! Selah
Psalm 24:7-10 ESV

Many people will know that this coming Sunday is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day when believers celebrate the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the early church. What you might not be aware of is Ascension Day. This is celebrated 10 days before Pentecost and is always on a Thursday. Luke 24 and Acts 1 both record Jesus’ bodily ascension into heaven. His disciples were watching and Jesus was lifted from the earth and went into heaven.

The psalm reading for today anticipates that glorious moment and it gives us vital information. Jesus is the King of Glory. He has disarmed all the hosts of hell, all the accusations of the Devil, and done so at the cross. Because all our sins were punished on the person of Jesus and the wrath of God against our sins poured out on Jesus, whenever the Devil tries to accuse us of our sins we can confidently declare: that has been forgiven.

Now this LORD, mighty in battle, the victor, takes up His place in heaven. He ascends in victory. The people of God rejoice at this because it means Jesus, Who has flesh and blood just like we do, is seated in power at the Father’s right hand.

• It also means Adam’s curse at the Garden of Eden has been overcome.

• We can be assured because Jesus is in heaven, believers have a place in heaven.

• This Jesus speaks on our behalf to our Father in heaven—He is interceding for us, praying for us (Romans 8:34).

The passage today could be framed as the scoffers and disbelievers asking who is this King of Glory? The hosts of heaven and all believers ring out the powerful, beautiful truth--Jesus is the King of Glory. The Conqueror. Our Savior. Is there anything too difficult for Him? Any sin He cannot disarm and throw down? No?! He is the King of Glory.
 

Our Father in heaven hallowed and forever blessed be Your Name. Thank You for the glory You have given to Jesus Christ at His ascension. Thank You that Jesus’ ascension fulfills Your promise at Genesis 3:15 that Your Son would defeat the enemy and even death itself. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, Mighty God, by Whom we study such things and learn and grow in our precious faith. Father in heaven, by Your word—both written and the Living Word—increase our faith. Spirit of God enthrone Jesus Christ as the LORD of Hosts, and King of our hearts. Amen.

https://youtu.be/FsOZ3UsUbNA “Psalm 24” Keith and Kristyn Getty

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 19, 2023 -- Psalm 26:1-3 -- Psalm series: vindicated to walk in integrity

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

OF DAVID.
Vindicate me, O LORD,
   for I have walked in my integrity,
   and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.
Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
   test my heart and my mind.
For Your steadfast love is before my eyes,
   and I walk in Your faithfulness.
Psalm 26:1-3 ESV

It is tough when a newspaper or a news website makes a big, splashy story about some wrong-doing, and only afterwards finds their reporting was inaccurate. Rather than posting their retraction with another big, splashy story, it is usually a small, hard to find by-line or footnote. So that person's reputation remains damaged. 

King David is pleading to the LORD that his name will be cleared of suspicion and that he be set free from his wrong-doing. He has done wrong. We are aware of many of his failings as a King, as a husband, and as a father. Notice the basis on which he makes this plea— “I walk in Your faithfulness”. And at verse 6 he goes around God's altar. The LORD our God saves sinners. No one is blameless. No one can stand before Jesus and say, “I really don’t need You to make me right with God the Holy One.” So how can David ever be vindicated and declared to be a man of integrity?

The LORD has provided Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. The LORD has opened up the way to Himself. That way is open to the one who is humble of heart and trembles at God’s word (Isaiah 66:2). When our sins have been exposed we can either try to justify ourselves, explain them away, or we can humble ourselves, confess our sins, turn away from them, and find rest in God our Savior. This is why David is vindicated. He has made humble confession and then, as one forgiven, walks not with the people who mask their sins, continue to sin, or justify away their sins, David associates with those who trust in the LORD.

Dearly loved people of God, turn to Jesus. The Father has given you His steadfast love. He has made the way open to Himself through the reconciling blood of Jesus. As those who are humble and tremble at His word, receive the blessing of God and by the power of the Spirit walk as those who bless the LORD and keep company with those who bless the LORD.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for Your steadfast love given to us in Jesus Christ. Thank You that as often as our sins are exposed and our weaknesses revealed, You clear our name and reveal Your great glory by forgiving us on the basis of Jesus' accomplished work. Mighty Father, send Your Spirit to surround us and keep us walking in the path of integrity for that is where we find deep and lasting joy with You. Amen.

https://youtu.be/zC2ijvujYN8 Psalm 26 Song Jason Silver

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May 18, 2023 -- Ephesians 6:10-12 -- Understanding both the enemy and your Advocate

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:10-12 ESV

On Wednesday evenings I am leading a group of Christians through a teaching called “Passion and Power in Prayer”. The study includes reasons why believers should be praying. This brief passage today gives helpful insight to the why question, showing Christians their urgent need for prayer. In the verses 11 and 12 you get a clear sense of the enemy who engages you. He hates Jesus. He hates all who follow Jesus.

The Devil is a supernatural force. You are not. Only by prayer can you couple the strength of God’s might in heaven to your human, natural powers. The LORD our God has promised to work through the prayers of His people.

The Devil is a schemer. He is an opposing general, looking for weaknesses, laziness, or gaps in the ranks of those who are soldiers in the army of Christ. He is exploit them. Beware! Pray.

Remember, as you pray, you have an Advocate, the Captain of Salvation, Jesus Christ, Who prays for you. Listen to these beautiful words “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He [Jesus] always lives to make intercession for them” Hebrews 7:25 ESV. That should spark to life a new zeal for prayer, knowing that as we draw near to God Jesus is praying, will continue to and not barely save us, not just get us through the gates, but to save to the uttermost. That is more than the most. What a Savior! What a glorious reason to draw near to God in prayer.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Thank You for the strong and glorious protection You have given us in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the Spirit's presence within us. Spirit of God, make the word shine into our minds, let it electrify our hearts so that we are renewed in our zeal to pray, having been made aware that Jesus, the Captain of Salvation, brings all our needs, burdens, weaknesses, and failures to the Father. Father in heaven, thank You, that You have chosen us in love and have determined to work through Jesus to save us to the uttermost. Amen.

https://youtu.be/tGhQARQwKYE "Praise His Name (Psalm 148) SovereignGraceMusic

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 16, 2023 -- Psalm 25:20 -- The Psalm Series: The cry in need and rescue indeed

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!
Psalm 25:20 ESV

Psalm 121 has the same verb ‘guard’ used over and over again. A short eight verse psalm  repeating that the LORD is the One who keeps His people. Here David is praying, guard my soul—keep it for Your holy purposes. Guard my soul, especially given all the chaos that surrounds me: enemies, distress, troubles, sinfulness, and loneliness.

That second verb ‘deliver’ means to snatch away from. I think of Exodus 3:8 where the LORD promised He would deliver His people out of Egypt. At Exodus 19, after His great salvific work, the LORD reminded them He had borne them one eagles’ wings and taken them to Himself. This people were snatched from death and brought to life.

Such is the work of Jesus Christ. At the direction of our Father in heaven, He has rescued us from the wrath of God. Jesus has, by His blood, brought salvation full and free. The Holy Spirit now guards us in this great salvation. We need a guardian of our souls. The Spirit uses the Word to remind us of our salvation. The Spirit speaks to our souls and tells us we are God’s. The Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our great salvation until we see Jesus face to face. How much we need this guarding work and deliverance. We, like David, face loneliness, troubles, distress, our own sinfulness, and the violent hatred of those with whom we used to sin but not longer join in their wickedness.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name! Who is there in the heavens, or on earth, or under the earth that is like you at all? There is none like You! You alone are the guardian of our souls and in Christ You are the Deliverer of Your people. Thank You for guarding us and keeping us in Your tender care. Triune God, when the waves of sadness and the breakers of sinfulness and the floods of anxiety would power through our lives we pray, as did David, to You Jesus, for rescue and help. For You alone, God of Victory, can redeem us out of all our troubles. Amen.

https://youtu.be/D3xlq2L0hcs Guy Penrod "Victory in Jesus"

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 15, 2023 -- Psalm 25:1-7 -- The Psalm Series: Facing our own broken, faithless condition

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Of David.
25 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
    let me not be put to shame;
    let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
    they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
    teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
Psalm 25:1-7 ESV

Psalm 24 was a soaring hymn of blessing and praise to Jesus, the King of Glory, Who has become our righteousness and salvation. Now David is back to a penitential psalm. That is, he is he has once again recognized his need for this King of Glory to clothe him in righteousness because David is aware of his troubles, his dire circumstances, and his sinfulness. So he is confessing his need for the LORD's mercy and calling out for it based on his knowledge of the Father's steadfast love.

As a child in church I always used to wonder “why do the ministers spend so much time talking about sin?” As an adult I understand. Sins must be exposed. First, because we sin so much. There are intentional sins to be confessed. Second, there are habitual sins. They seem to pop up again and again. Third, there are the things we know are good and we neglect to do. Fourth, there are sins connected with the community of faith to which we belong and we are not protesting these or are participating in them. (Believe me, this is just a partial list!)

The LORD our God is perfect. Holy. Just. The more a believer draws close to Him by the Spirit’s work in his heart, the more a believer realizes, I am not like Jesus! So the believer, aware of his sin, confesses his need for Jesus. Throws himself on the “steadfast love” of the LORD. That expression “steadfast love” is used twice in our short reading. It is the covenant lovingkindness of God that will not let us go. He knows our neediness. He knows we are sinful. He knows the only way we could ever approach Him is if He had first moved on our behalf and given us salvation in Jesus Christ.

Dear fellow believer, confess your sins, with the full assurance God is inviting you to find freedom from them. Be assured of the steadfast love of God, the Father, Who has reconciled you to Himself through Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Trust in the forgiving love of God the Father which is given through Jesus so that in reliance on the Holy Spirit you walk in newness of life. As your new life takes hold, you see new layers of neediness, sinfulness, and areas to be confessed, such areas, once recognized and confessed allow for ever deeper fellowship with God our Father. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Hear our prayers of confession. It is only as we read the Bible and are held in place by Your Spirit's power, that we begin to glimpse the stagnant pools of faithlessness which cover vast areas of our inner life, our hearts and actions. The more Your Spirit shows us such things, the more we either confess them and draw closer to Jesus--which is what You'd always intended for us--or we get hard-hearted and cold. Revive us, O God of glory, revive us again so that we will run to You, receiving Your steadfast love and healing mercy. Drain these stagnant pools and slimy ponds so that we will be filled with the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His righteousness. Instruct us in Your way, lead us, newly humbled as we are, in Your way. Amen.

https://youtu.be/VN4N7hOMvTk Gaither Vocal Band “Revive us Again”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 13, 2023 -- Psalm 24 -- No wonder we call Him the King of Glory!

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

A Psalm of David.

24 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof,
    the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas
    and established it upon the rivers.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD, strong and mighty,
    the LORD, mighty in battle!
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
    And lift them up, O ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
    The LORD of hosts,
    he is the King of glory! Selah

Psalm 24 ESV

“Am I good enough?” That was the question posed to me by a man who really wanted to know. More than that, he really wanted to be good enough before God. He’d become interested in Christianity, started to attend my Bible Studies which I lead in prison, but now he was hesitant to keep attending. So he asked if we could talk, one on one. My answer “No, you are not good enough. And I am not good enough. We are sinners.”

The corners of his mouth drooped in a frown. His eyebrows furrowed as he squeezed them in concentration. Psalm 24 answers this question for us. No one has clean hands and a pure heart. No one should expect the blessing of the righteous to be poured out on him…except Jesus Christ. He is the King of Glory! He is the One, strong and mighty, Who faced the Devil, head on, and did not waiver in His love for the Father and dedicated obedience to all His commands. This is why Psalm 24, a psalm of praise at Jesus’ ascension into heaven. He is powerful and magnificent. The Jesus, the King of Glory has conquered in battle. Even when nailed to the cross, Jesus prayed that the very people crucifying Him should be forgiven.

Do you know the full-extent of your wickedness? Do you understand how soiled are your hands in doing evil? Do you realize how many lies you have told yourself? How many lies have you told others? Even if, from this second onwards you could be utterly perfect in every way, what could wash away the heaps, hills, and mountains of sins you have committed before this very moment? So your from-now-on righteousness would not be enough. It is folly right from the start.

Only the King of Glory! Jesus He has been strong and mighty, from the second of conception to His last breath, giving to God all the dedicated obedience to His Father. This Psalm makes our hearts sing because His righteousness, His perfect obedience is credited to us. No wonder then that we celebrate Jesus’ victory! When we read in the Psalm that He entered heaven our hearts soar within us because by His victory, we have been credited with His righteousness. O Spirit of God, help me to sing, praise, honour and bless Jesus, the King of Glory!

O LORD,
I hang on thee; 
I see, believe, live, when thy will, not mine, is done;
I can plead nothing in myself in regard of any worthiness
and grace, in regard of thy providence and promises,
but only thy good pleasure.
If thy mercy make me poor and vile, blessed be thou!
Prayers arising from my needs are preparations for future mercies;
Help me to honour thee by believing before I feel,
for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith.
Show me what sins hide thee from me and eclipse thy love;
Help me to humble myself for past evils,
to be resolved to walk with more care,
For if I do not walk holily before thee,
how can I be assured of my salvation?
It is the meek and humble who are shown thy covenant,
know thy will, are pardoned and healed,
who by faith depend and rest upon grace,
who are sanctified and quickened, who evidence thy love.
Help me to pray in faith and so find thy will,
by leaning hard on thy rich free mercy,
by believing thou wilt give what thou hast promised;
Strengthen me to pray with the conviction that whatever I receive is thy gift,
so that I may pray until prayer be granted;
Teach me to believe that all degrees of mercy
arise from several degrees of prayer,
that when faith is begun it is imperfect and must grow,
as chapped ground opens wider and wider until rain comes.
So shall I wait thy will, pray for it to be done,
and by thy grace become fully obedient.
"The Divine Will" Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

https://youtu.be/8tzIxPjz7TE The King of Glory Comes

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 11, 2023 -- II Kings 5:1-5 -- Not nameless to our Father in heaven

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
II Kings 5:1-5a ESV

The little girl is nameless in the story. Yet her faithfulness to the Living God, despite great suffering, is amazing. Naaman is a foreigner. Not of the people of God, but it is the LORD Who gives him victory over the King of Israel. Why?

The raids against Israel were exactly what the LORD, the Promise-Making and Promise-Keeping God had pledged would happen when His people rebelled against Him. The purpose of such hardships would be to draw His people back to Himself.

The faithlessness of Israel is being used by the LORD to bring a man, Naaman, to Himself.

The man Naaman presents himself to the King of Israel. That is amazing already. Naaman would be well-known as their oppressor. Yet the prophet, Elisha, will heal at the command of the LORD heal this man and show Israel the LORD is still present among His people. It is a call to repentance.

All these things happen because a young girl, nameless to us, known and loved by the Father, is faithful in a situation that is too hard to imagine. She has been stolen. Were her parents killed in the raid? She is pressed into servitude. Yet she wishes her master well and speaks how the prophet could cure him. We know Elisha to be the prophet of the Living God, in contrast to the gods of Syria which were not gods at all and their prophets all false. She points to healing which ultimately would lead the healing of his soul. Perhaps her mistress and this family would be saved through her bold witness.

Dear family in Christ, have you used every hard circumstance in your life to testify to the LORD? Perhaps the very hardships you are going through are given so that unbelievers will see your patient endurance and through this come to know the LORD. The nameless girl of the story pointed to the prophet. Then it was Elisha, now our prophet is Jesus Christ. He makes known to us, in all our hardships, the pathway to peace. The Prophet Jesus declares the Father. The Prophet Jesus, by His sacrifice has been punished in our place so that the way is open to full and true healing in the presence of the Loving Father.

You may think of yourself as nameless, unimportant, forgotten. Be assured of this today the LORD our God is using every circumstance of your life to build you up in our precious faith. He knows you by name. He is bringing you the fullness of His glorious salvation to you. He is using every circumstance of your life for His holy purposes.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name.
Thank You for Your great, vast, and extravagant love poured out to us in Jesus Christ. Thank You for the grace with which the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus graces believers. Thank You, Faithful Father, Beautiful Savior Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Spirit, in Whom we have everything we need in every circumstance so that we can live for Jesus.
Forgive us for the times we have wallowed in our circumstances rather than relied on the grace of Jesus and the strength of the Spirit. Let our lives shine out for Jesus, no matter where You take us, so that Your great Name will be made known far and wide. In all of this, and all the tangles and chaos of this world, we join our prayers with those of believers through the ages, asking of You: come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.

https://youtu.be/U8zWzw_Cc2o “Take Shelter” Keith & Kristyn Getty

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 9, 2023 -- Matthew 16:24 -- Distinguishing the Wannabe from the True

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24 ESV

There is an important emphasis going on here. Jesus is making a distinction between those who are interested in Him, wannabes, and those who are true followers--Christians.

Have you ever met someone who made exaggerated claims about himself? For example, someone who claimed to be a mathematician, because he really liked his math courses in high school. One had better hope he is not making the necessary calculations for the next space rocket. Is he a mathematician or a wannabe?

What about a woman who claims to be an athlete because she loved running in grades 7 and 8 and was on the track team. That was twenty years ago. You ask her, “Cool. What are you doing now which earns you the epithet athlete?” Her reply, “Oh no, I haven’t run a day in my life since then. I could if I wanted to, though”. Is she an athlete, or a wannabe?

How many Christians have you met who went to Sunday School until they were 8, but haven’t darkened the doorway since them? How many Christians have you met who say they believe, but it doesn't change their behavior? It says in Scripture even the demons believe, and shudder (James 2:19)! They do nothing with the knowledge they have. How many wannabe Christians have you met who do not show the fruit of the Spirit in their life? 

If anyone would come after Jesus, crossing the threshold of wannabe to truly engaging life as a Christian, one must deny himself. It is an on-going daily occurrence. Fighting laziness, old lusts and patterns and sins in order to keep his heart focused on Jesus.

Take up his cross. This is a continuous action. This is against all self-preservation, against comforts and constantly preparing to live as one despised by the world.

And follow Jesus. The Bible is then his life’s instruction manual. The Word, whenever it is preached in the church of which he is a member, he is attend. He is not allow his friends, his work, his other plans to interfere with his whole-hearted following of Jesus. He is not a wannabe. He is a Christian.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, 
   forever and ever. Amen.

https://youtu.be/EGAGsvmNUBc Tim Hawkins “I’m a Christian”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 8, 2023 -- Psalm 23:6b -- The Psalm Series: on Whom or What is your delight focused?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6b ESV

There is an old joke that goes something like this “if I knew I only had a day to live, I’d spend it with my ex. That way it’d feel like forever.” Psalm 23 may not resonate with many people because of this ending phrase. Sure, people might like to have green pastures and be led safely through the valley of the shadow of death. It’d be awesome to show up your enemies and have your head anointed at the table by the Good Shepherd. But the final line is the high point of the whole—the one loved by the LORD may spend eternity in presence of the Good Shepherd. This is where the Psalm distinguishes between those who love the Good Shepherd and those who only love what He can do for them.

Is your life goal centred around the joyful expectation that one day you will see Jesus and sin will be no more?! Much of the Psalm provides such tremendous comfort for this life. But all these comforts, all these blessings are given with an eye towards eternity where the believer will rejoice to be in His presence. No wonder Jesus will, at the end of the age when He judges all the nations and all people say to some people who acted like they were Christians and fooled many “depart from Me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).

Is it God Himself your desire? Is your delight centred on Jesus Christ, and growing ever more so in Him as the Spirit reveals to you more and more of Who He is? Our prayer today is the last 2/3 of Psalm 16, which prayerfully declares one's desire for God Himself.

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
   You hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the LORD Who gives me counsel 
   in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me;
   because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
   my flesh also dwells secure.
For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
   or let Your Holy One see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life;
   in Your presence is fullness of joy;
   at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:5-11 ESV

https://youtu.be/OoojA0cLPWY

Psalm 23 Shane and Shane

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 5, 2023 -- Psalm 22:1-5 -- The Psalm Series: Anguished Cries

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
    and by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our fathers trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried and were rescued;
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
Psalm 22:1-5 ESV

Let’s be honest, I was avoiding this Psalm for a few days. It is so daunting to consider. The very first phrase of opening verse are the words Jesus cried out in agony as He hung on the cross. It is the anguish of unanswered prayer. For Jesus there was no other way to be obedient than to endure the cross. At the cross Jesus experienced profound separation from the Father which His flesh had to endure. Jesus bore the weight of the LORD’s wrath against the sins of the world. No wonder that the burden of all of this made Him cry out from the depths of sorrow, abandonment, and pain.

Dear believer, there will be times when you feel like your prayers are not being answered. If you feel, as David did when he composed this Psalm, as though God had abandoned him and ignored his cries, then you are in good company. These words were composed precisely because they give voice to believers who have no other refuge except God Himself, and yet, even there find themselves feeling as if they are utterly alone.

If it is true, and I have heard preachers declare this, that Jesus had memorized the Old Testament, then He knew this Psalm forwards and backwards. He knew a single phrase from this Psalm of Lamentation would speak the volumes of the terrors and woundedness of His body, mind and soul, but it would also point to what the Psalm continues to promise. Deliverance.

The LORD our God is holy. He made covenant promises to His people. Even a cursory reading of the Old Testament will show the LORD’s work among His people through-out the history of Israel. He is their Deliverer. Christ the King prayed to the Father in the greatest distress any human will ever endure, and the Father answered. Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. Jesus’ Spirit is given to all who believe. When we cry out we have the tremendous assurance our King will never leave us nor forsake. Cry out. Trust He hears. Know by the powerful presence of the Spirit Who assures you by the Word that you are heard. Trust that you who cried to God will be rescued. Even as His answer seems delaying to You, He is acting. Saving. Directing events.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. You are the Deliverer of all who trust in You. You are the One Who alone is holy. You are enthroned on the praises of Your people--all peoples from all nations who have been drawn by Your Spirit to trust in Jesus Christ and so be named sons and daughters of the Living God. Hear our cries. Answer the unutterable griefs and pains of our heart. For You alone are worthy of our trust and on You alone rest all our expectations. Amen.

https://youtu.be/Q3aP5iuJITg Zach Williams "You are My Rescue Story"
 

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 4, 2023 -- Hebrews 3:12-13 -- The Sentinel of the Soul

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:12-13 NIV

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us…
Titus 3:3-5a NIV

Recently I have been reading Kris Lundgaard’s book “The Enemy Within”. I am doing this for my work with Redemption Prison Ministry, as one of the men I write is taking a correspondence course which studies this book. I know this quotation will be a great blessing and warning for those who heed it.

   If you want to overthrow a fortress, start by knocking out the
   watchman--if he can't warn the others, you will easily breach
   the wall and carry the day. The flesh plies deceit to knock
   out the watchman of your soul: your mind.
   Each of the faculties of your soul has duties before God. The
   mind is the sentinel, commanded to watch carefully over the
   soul by questioning, assessing, and making judgments: "Will
   this please God?" "Is this according to God's Word?" If the
   mind determines that an action is right, the affections should
   then fall in line and desire, long for, and cling to that which 
   the mind said was good. Last, the will puts the soul into action,
   carrying out what the mind said was good and the affections
   hungered for. When each does its job, you obey God from 
   the heart.
   Lundgaard, page 55 -56

Our Father in heaven hallowed and ever-blessed be Your Name! By Your Spirit's work within help us to perform a penetrating performance review of our mind, affections and will, so that our souls will be renewed in the best and most perfect work of desiring and obeying the Triune God from the heart. Spirit of God keep us from the wiles of deceitfulness. Give such holy, penetrating discernment that deceit will be exposed wherever it has been making headway in our head or heart so that it can be rooted out. Spirit of the Living God, thank You for the cleansing work of Jesus Christ. Thank You for the depths of forgiveness and salvation brought to believers which make that obedience possible. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless the Triune God of Glory. Amen.

 https://youtu.be/sgIZx6j2Ca8 In Sweet Communion, Lord, with You

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.

May 3, 2023 -- I Peter 2:9-10 -- Who God Says We Are

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
I Peter 2:9-10 ESV

Look at the beautiful way in which the Father speaks of His people. Those who are in Jesus Christ are a chosen race. Not races. Not various people groups and this because in Jesus Christ we are brought together as a new humanity. People who have been united in Him.

Believers brought to the Father on the basis of Christ’s shed blood are a royal priesthood. We pray for the people around us. That they too will know Jesus Christ and the power of His salvation. Our prayers range far and wide seeking the glory of God to be revealed everywhere. It is part of the greatest work we can do. We speak to the Father on the basis of Jesus’ work and this in the power of the Holy Spirit. Such spiritual strengthening emboldens our prayer.

A holy nation. Think of it. Believers have been called out from their life of sin and broken-out-of the strongholds of darkness by the power of God. We have been given everything we need for life and godliness. Then the LORD our God unites us as one people. We are bound together by the Spirit of God. As a new race we are Christ’s nation. We are formed for obedience to Jesus Christ and this by the power of the Spirit Who lives in us so that in all things the Father may receive the praise, honour and glory.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to Your great mercy, You have caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading and kept for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Spirit of the Living God, work in us to throw down the power of sin and continually renew us so that we will live up the calling we have in Christ to be a holy nation. Amen.

The prayer is based directly on I Peter 1:3-5 and I Peter 2:9b

https://youtu.be/5uPwCxxzjC8 “Christ is All in All” Keith & Kristyn Getty

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.