Here is a link to our blog where you can learn more about our family: http://www.texasskies.blogspot.com. Enjoy!
Caleb
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Are You a Saint? Part 2, Post 2
Here is the Second part of "Are you a Saint?" Part 2
There’s a second thing that saints love because it’s something that God loves. And it’s something that we need a whole lot more of these days. Do you have any idea what it is? Let’s read Malachi 2:10-16.
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves. He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts!
And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence.” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Do you understand what the LORD, through His prophet Malachi is proclaiming here?
In effect the LORD is declaring: “I love fidelity – faithful God that I am. I love faithfulness.” And yet, many of God’s people in Malachi’s time, and far too many in our time, have forgotten or neglected this. God loves fidelity. He loves faithfulness! And so do his saints.
And notice: these verses indicate that fidelity – that very precious commodity of faithfulness – on the horizontal level cuts two ways. Number one, it pertains to our relationship with God. Are we faithful, are we showing fidelity toward Him? Verse 11 tells us that the Israelites in Malachi’s day had committed an abomination against God. They had profaned God'’ holy place by linking up with foreign gods, with idols. But that’s only half the story. Not only were Malachi’s people unfaithful to God – desecrating His holy sanctuary, but on the human-to-human level they were demonstrating great infidelity, too!
A holy institution, created by God, called marriage was being obliterated, too, by their unfaithfulness. What God had meant to be His instrument for raising up godly offspring was being ruined by God’s people seeking ways to break those covenant unions.
Listen up, my dear ones. The Scripture is pretty plain, isn’t it? God loves fidelity and hates infidelity. And, saints – children of God, if they really are saints, will love and hate those things, too. And, they will demonstrate that love and that hatred right here [point to wedding band] in that uniquely, precious covenant relationship called marriage.
The things saints love – they love the things God loves. Things like righteousness and truth and faithfulness and justice. But is that ALL they love? Are these things the only things that God loves? Well, the answer to both of these questions is “No.”
There are several more things that God loves and that saints – if they really are saints – will love, as well.
But before we close, allow me to change directions just slightly. The things saints love. They love what God loves. That’s what we’ve been looking at up to this point, right? Now, listen carefully. As I was looking into this topic, I found that there were many things that God loves. But then, do you know what I noticed? I picked up on the fact that not only does the Bible tell us about WHAT God loves, it also underscores for us WHO God loves.
We read it earlier, but listen to it again, Psalm 146:7-10, “The LORD opens up the eyes of the blind, and raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves [there’s that phrase again] the righteous, protects the strangers, and He supports the fatherless and the widow…”
Whom does God love? He loves all of these – the righteous, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. Psalm 87 says, “God’s foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!” Jeremiah 31:1 and following reads, “The LORD says, ‘I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Yes, [He says,] ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness I have drawn you [to Me].”
Listen my friends. God doesn’t just love things, things like righteousness and truth and faithfulness and justice. No! God also and every bit as much loves His people. He has set His love on and, by His Holy Spirit, has poured out His love INTO His people, those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ His Son – His saints.
So what? So, if saints love the things God loves, if they love WHAT God loves, then what? They will also love WHOM God loves. They will love the people God loves. One passage from First John summarizes the point. 1 John 4:20 and 21, “If someone [some supposed saint] says, ‘I love God’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar! For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he [truly] love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: He who loves God MUST love his brother also.” Saints – if they really are what they claim to be – they will not only love the things God loves, but also they will love the people God loves – their Christian brothers and sisters.
The things saints love. They love the things AND the people that God loves. Are you a saint? Am I? Having seen what we’ve seen today through this Book, what do we see in the Mirror? It’s true, isn’t it. You really can tell a whole lot about a person – about yourself – by discerning what that person loves and by then observing what he worships and serves. May this Mirror reflect the fact that you and I really do love the things [and people] God loves! Amen? Amen.
Caleb
There’s a second thing that saints love because it’s something that God loves. And it’s something that we need a whole lot more of these days. Do you have any idea what it is? Let’s read Malachi 2:10-16.
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves. He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts!
And this is the second thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and crying; so He does not regard the offering anymore, nor receive it with goodwill from your hands. Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence.” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.”
Do you understand what the LORD, through His prophet Malachi is proclaiming here?
In effect the LORD is declaring: “I love fidelity – faithful God that I am. I love faithfulness.” And yet, many of God’s people in Malachi’s time, and far too many in our time, have forgotten or neglected this. God loves fidelity. He loves faithfulness! And so do his saints.
And notice: these verses indicate that fidelity – that very precious commodity of faithfulness – on the horizontal level cuts two ways. Number one, it pertains to our relationship with God. Are we faithful, are we showing fidelity toward Him? Verse 11 tells us that the Israelites in Malachi’s day had committed an abomination against God. They had profaned God'’ holy place by linking up with foreign gods, with idols. But that’s only half the story. Not only were Malachi’s people unfaithful to God – desecrating His holy sanctuary, but on the human-to-human level they were demonstrating great infidelity, too!
A holy institution, created by God, called marriage was being obliterated, too, by their unfaithfulness. What God had meant to be His instrument for raising up godly offspring was being ruined by God’s people seeking ways to break those covenant unions.
Listen up, my dear ones. The Scripture is pretty plain, isn’t it? God loves fidelity and hates infidelity. And, saints – children of God, if they really are saints, will love and hate those things, too. And, they will demonstrate that love and that hatred right here [point to wedding band] in that uniquely, precious covenant relationship called marriage.
The things saints love – they love the things God loves. Things like righteousness and truth and faithfulness and justice. But is that ALL they love? Are these things the only things that God loves? Well, the answer to both of these questions is “No.”
There are several more things that God loves and that saints – if they really are saints – will love, as well.
But before we close, allow me to change directions just slightly. The things saints love. They love what God loves. That’s what we’ve been looking at up to this point, right? Now, listen carefully. As I was looking into this topic, I found that there were many things that God loves. But then, do you know what I noticed? I picked up on the fact that not only does the Bible tell us about WHAT God loves, it also underscores for us WHO God loves.
We read it earlier, but listen to it again, Psalm 146:7-10, “The LORD opens up the eyes of the blind, and raises up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves [there’s that phrase again] the righteous, protects the strangers, and He supports the fatherless and the widow…”
Whom does God love? He loves all of these – the righteous, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. Psalm 87 says, “God’s foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God!” Jeremiah 31:1 and following reads, “The LORD says, ‘I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. Yes, [He says,] ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness I have drawn you [to Me].”
Listen my friends. God doesn’t just love things, things like righteousness and truth and faithfulness and justice. No! God also and every bit as much loves His people. He has set His love on and, by His Holy Spirit, has poured out His love INTO His people, those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ His Son – His saints.
So what? So, if saints love the things God loves, if they love WHAT God loves, then what? They will also love WHOM God loves. They will love the people God loves. One passage from First John summarizes the point. 1 John 4:20 and 21, “If someone [some supposed saint] says, ‘I love God’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar! For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he [truly] love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: He who loves God MUST love his brother also.” Saints – if they really are what they claim to be – they will not only love the things God loves, but also they will love the people God loves – their Christian brothers and sisters.
The things saints love. They love the things AND the people that God loves. Are you a saint? Am I? Having seen what we’ve seen today through this Book, what do we see in the Mirror? It’s true, isn’t it. You really can tell a whole lot about a person – about yourself – by discerning what that person loves and by then observing what he worships and serves. May this Mirror reflect the fact that you and I really do love the things [and people] God loves! Amen? Amen.
Caleb
Are You a Saint? Part 2, Post 1
This is a sermon, so it is going to be kind of long
Preached 5-21-06 AM service at Northwest Christian Church, McKinney, Texas
ARE YOU A SAINT? Part 2
David Kautt, Preaching Minister
"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of
ten strings.
Sin to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
"For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
Psalm 33:1-5
"His foundation is in the holy mountains.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah Psalm 87:1-3
"Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that
is in them;
Who keeps truth forever.
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
"The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and the widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
"The LORD shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
"Praise the LORD!" Psalm 146:5-10
Are you a saint? Am I? if you remember the thrust of our lesson from just two weeks ago, you’ll realize that what those questions are asking of us – what God’s Word is probing us about is the issue of what we love, and what we worship and obediently serve!
Do you recall how we began that study a couple of weeks ago? We began with this statement: "You can tell a great deal about a person by listening, by watching and by discerning what he or she loves. For what he loves, is what he worships. What he loves is that to which he is committed. And, what he loves is that to which he is enslaved.
What do you love? What do I serve and worship? As I told you last time, my interest in these two sets of seemingly unrelated questions was piqued when I came face-to-face with Psalm 40:16, which states: "Let all those who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You [O LORD]; [and] let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified…."
Once again, the verse begins by saying, "Let all those who seek You…." Let all those who seek the LORD…." Seekers of the LORD – how about it? Would you say that quality is at least one of the definitions of a saint found in the Scriptures? Saints are those who seek the LORD! But then, listen to the rest of the verse again with me, and make the connection with me again between my question: "Are you a saint?" and my question: "What do you love and worship?"
Psalm 40:16: "Let all those who seek You [O LORD], rejoice and be glad in you! {And] let such as love your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified!’"
Beloved, where are we going with this? What am I up to as your teacher?
Here’s where we’re going: I’m not merely interested in a dictionary definition of the word saint – of the phrase child of God. No! Rather, my hope and my prayer is that, through His Word, God will show us what a true saint really is by helping see what true saints – genuine children of God – really love. And then, with that portrait of the things saints love before us, sort of like looking in a mirror, we’ll be able to discern whether or not those things are indicative of and manifested in our lives. We’ll see whether or not the things true saints love are the things we love.
The Things Saints Love
By way of review, let me just remind you that this Book in places like Psalm 40 and Psalm 119 and Psalm 122 and indeed in many other places, make note with me Beloved, that this Book – God’s Word – informs us that saints, true children of God – what do they love? They love, they are committed to the things of God. True saints invest themselves in the things of God. But what things are those?
A minute ago we read Psalm 40:16. Saints love God’s salvation, His rescuing and delivering work in their behalf, accomplished by Jesus Christ at Calvary. They love it.
Secondly, Psalm 26:8 shows us that saints, genuine children of God, love God’s house. They are glad, really really glad, when someone says to them, "Hey! Let’s go to the house of the LORD."
Thirdly, we learned last time that you can tell that saints really are God’s children. How/ By observing their love for God’s Word. By taking note of their love, and their love-inspired obedience to the Word of God.
Are you a saint? Am I? Saints, genuine children of God, love the things of God. They love the things of God. But, that’s just the beginning. We’re just getting started. How else can we tell a saint, an honest-to-goodness child of God, from someone who isn’t?
Once again, like we’ve said before, we’ve got to look at the things a person loves, at what he or she worships and serves. Saints. How do you know they are such? You know it because they love the things of God. That’s number one. But that’s not all. You know it.
By looking in the mirror of God’s Holy Word, you can discern who is and who isn’t a child of God, a true saint, by observing whether or not they love the things God loves. You see, saints – true children of God – what do they love? Point number two: real saints love the things God loves.
Now here’s the $64,000 question. What does God love? What does God love?
You may not have picked up on it as we read the three different passages from the book of Psalms earlier, but the fact of the matter is the Bible is explicit and exceedingly clear in saying, "This is what God loves!" For example, we read Psalm 33 at the outset. The psalmist calls God’s people to praise the LORD. He says, "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful! Praise the LORD with the harp and make melody to Him with an instrument of ten-strings! Sing to Him a new song and play skillfully with a shout of joy! Praise the LORD."
But why? Read on to find the answer. "For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth." He loves – there it is, my friends – the LORD loves – what does He love? Say it with me. "He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
What does God love? From Psalm 33:5 we learn that He loves righteousness. He loves righteousness. He loves what is straight and even and true – what is born out of loyalty and excellence. But why?
Turn just a few pages to Psalm 11:7. The reason God sets His love on righteousness is because He is righteous. The old King James Version says it oh-so-succinctly, "The righteous LORD – the righteous LORD loveth righteousness. In other words, God’s love for righteousness first and foremost is due to the fact that He is, by His very nature, righteous! When He speaks, He speaks what is true. When He acts, His actions are always – as the carpenter puts it – ‘on the level’ – straight and even and true.
But, so what? So what? What difference does it make to you and me that God is righteous and the He loves what is righteous?
Here’s that question again. Are you a saint? Are you? Well, if you are, then listen. Take note. Psalm 23:3 tells us that God is leading you in His righteousness. The One who is the Shepherd and Overseer of every true child of God leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Or how about this one? Psalm 31:1-5. What’s so important about God’s love for righteousness, about His being righteous?
Mark it down, brothers and sisters. God also saves and rescues and delivers His people in righteousness. He does! And so, what can we say? With David the psalmist, with Jesus our Savior, we can exclaim: "You are my rock and my fortress. Yes, You are my strength. Into Your hands [Your strong and righteous hands] I commit my spirit,… O LORD, God of truth."
God loves righteousness. He is righteous. So what does He do? He revives, He renews His people, His saints in righteousness.
Psalm 119:40 reads "Behold, [O LORD], I long for your precepts; please revive me in your righteousness."
Then one more, one that has got to be the most staggering, the most astonishing of all, Psalm 89:14-18. God is righteous. And He loves righteousness. So what does He do? How does He appropriate that righteousness into the lives of His people? Are you listening? Psalm 89. Our righteous God exalts His people, sets them on high, in His righteousness. "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted."
The LORD loves righteousness. The righteousness God loves righteousness. And what did we say was the case for true saints, for genuine children of God? They love what God loves. They love the things God loves. Keeping that in mind, listen now to these verses from the lips of Jesus, one more time. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness" After what? After righteousness. Blessed. "Oh the abundant joys of those who hunger, who thirst, who yearn for and long for what God loves. Righteousness. For they shall be filled." That’s Matthew 5:6. And then there’s Matthew 6:33. Jesus says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Over and above everything else saints love, saints pursue what God loves – His righteousness – "and all the other things they need will be added to them." Saints. Children of God. Do love what they love? Do we love what the LORD loves?
There’s a second thing that saints love because it’s something that God loves. And it’s something that we need a whole lot more of these days. Do you have any idea what it is? Let’s read Malachi 2:10-16.
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves. He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts!
(More to Come!)
Caleb
Preached 5-21-06 AM service at Northwest Christian Church, McKinney, Texas
ARE YOU A SAINT? Part 2
David Kautt, Preaching Minister
"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of
ten strings.
Sin to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
"For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
Psalm 33:1-5
"His foundation is in the holy mountains.
The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah Psalm 87:1-3
"Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that
is in them;
Who keeps truth forever.
Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD gives freedom to the prisoners.
"The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and the widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.
"The LORD shall reign forever – Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
"Praise the LORD!" Psalm 146:5-10
Are you a saint? Am I? if you remember the thrust of our lesson from just two weeks ago, you’ll realize that what those questions are asking of us – what God’s Word is probing us about is the issue of what we love, and what we worship and obediently serve!
Do you recall how we began that study a couple of weeks ago? We began with this statement: "You can tell a great deal about a person by listening, by watching and by discerning what he or she loves. For what he loves, is what he worships. What he loves is that to which he is committed. And, what he loves is that to which he is enslaved.
What do you love? What do I serve and worship? As I told you last time, my interest in these two sets of seemingly unrelated questions was piqued when I came face-to-face with Psalm 40:16, which states: "Let all those who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You [O LORD]; [and] let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified…."
Once again, the verse begins by saying, "Let all those who seek You…." Let all those who seek the LORD…." Seekers of the LORD – how about it? Would you say that quality is at least one of the definitions of a saint found in the Scriptures? Saints are those who seek the LORD! But then, listen to the rest of the verse again with me, and make the connection with me again between my question: "Are you a saint?" and my question: "What do you love and worship?"
Psalm 40:16: "Let all those who seek You [O LORD], rejoice and be glad in you! {And] let such as love your salvation say continually, ‘The LORD be magnified!’"
Beloved, where are we going with this? What am I up to as your teacher?
Here’s where we’re going: I’m not merely interested in a dictionary definition of the word saint – of the phrase child of God. No! Rather, my hope and my prayer is that, through His Word, God will show us what a true saint really is by helping see what true saints – genuine children of God – really love. And then, with that portrait of the things saints love before us, sort of like looking in a mirror, we’ll be able to discern whether or not those things are indicative of and manifested in our lives. We’ll see whether or not the things true saints love are the things we love.
The Things Saints Love
By way of review, let me just remind you that this Book in places like Psalm 40 and Psalm 119 and Psalm 122 and indeed in many other places, make note with me Beloved, that this Book – God’s Word – informs us that saints, true children of God – what do they love? They love, they are committed to the things of God. True saints invest themselves in the things of God. But what things are those?
A minute ago we read Psalm 40:16. Saints love God’s salvation, His rescuing and delivering work in their behalf, accomplished by Jesus Christ at Calvary. They love it.
Secondly, Psalm 26:8 shows us that saints, genuine children of God, love God’s house. They are glad, really really glad, when someone says to them, "Hey! Let’s go to the house of the LORD."
Thirdly, we learned last time that you can tell that saints really are God’s children. How/ By observing their love for God’s Word. By taking note of their love, and their love-inspired obedience to the Word of God.
Are you a saint? Am I? Saints, genuine children of God, love the things of God. They love the things of God. But, that’s just the beginning. We’re just getting started. How else can we tell a saint, an honest-to-goodness child of God, from someone who isn’t?
Once again, like we’ve said before, we’ve got to look at the things a person loves, at what he or she worships and serves. Saints. How do you know they are such? You know it because they love the things of God. That’s number one. But that’s not all. You know it.
By looking in the mirror of God’s Holy Word, you can discern who is and who isn’t a child of God, a true saint, by observing whether or not they love the things God loves. You see, saints – true children of God – what do they love? Point number two: real saints love the things God loves.
Now here’s the $64,000 question. What does God love? What does God love?
You may not have picked up on it as we read the three different passages from the book of Psalms earlier, but the fact of the matter is the Bible is explicit and exceedingly clear in saying, "This is what God loves!" For example, we read Psalm 33 at the outset. The psalmist calls God’s people to praise the LORD. He says, "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful! Praise the LORD with the harp and make melody to Him with an instrument of ten-strings! Sing to Him a new song and play skillfully with a shout of joy! Praise the LORD."
But why? Read on to find the answer. "For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth." He loves – there it is, my friends – the LORD loves – what does He love? Say it with me. "He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD."
What does God love? From Psalm 33:5 we learn that He loves righteousness. He loves righteousness. He loves what is straight and even and true – what is born out of loyalty and excellence. But why?
Turn just a few pages to Psalm 11:7. The reason God sets His love on righteousness is because He is righteous. The old King James Version says it oh-so-succinctly, "The righteous LORD – the righteous LORD loveth righteousness. In other words, God’s love for righteousness first and foremost is due to the fact that He is, by His very nature, righteous! When He speaks, He speaks what is true. When He acts, His actions are always – as the carpenter puts it – ‘on the level’ – straight and even and true.
But, so what? So what? What difference does it make to you and me that God is righteous and the He loves what is righteous?
Here’s that question again. Are you a saint? Are you? Well, if you are, then listen. Take note. Psalm 23:3 tells us that God is leading you in His righteousness. The One who is the Shepherd and Overseer of every true child of God leads you in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Or how about this one? Psalm 31:1-5. What’s so important about God’s love for righteousness, about His being righteous?
Mark it down, brothers and sisters. God also saves and rescues and delivers His people in righteousness. He does! And so, what can we say? With David the psalmist, with Jesus our Savior, we can exclaim: "You are my rock and my fortress. Yes, You are my strength. Into Your hands [Your strong and righteous hands] I commit my spirit,… O LORD, God of truth."
God loves righteousness. He is righteous. So what does He do? He revives, He renews His people, His saints in righteousness.
Psalm 119:40 reads "Behold, [O LORD], I long for your precepts; please revive me in your righteousness."
Then one more, one that has got to be the most staggering, the most astonishing of all, Psalm 89:14-18. God is righteous. And He loves righteousness. So what does He do? How does He appropriate that righteousness into the lives of His people? Are you listening? Psalm 89. Our righteous God exalts His people, sets them on high, in His righteousness. "Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted."
The LORD loves righteousness. The righteousness God loves righteousness. And what did we say was the case for true saints, for genuine children of God? They love what God loves. They love the things God loves. Keeping that in mind, listen now to these verses from the lips of Jesus, one more time. "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness" After what? After righteousness. Blessed. "Oh the abundant joys of those who hunger, who thirst, who yearn for and long for what God loves. Righteousness. For they shall be filled." That’s Matthew 5:6. And then there’s Matthew 6:33. Jesus says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness." Over and above everything else saints love, saints pursue what God loves – His righteousness – "and all the other things they need will be added to them." Saints. Children of God. Do love what they love? Do we love what the LORD loves?
There’s a second thing that saints love because it’s something that God loves. And it’s something that we need a whole lot more of these days. Do you have any idea what it is? Let’s read Malachi 2:10-16.
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously with one another by profaning the covenant of the fathers? Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem, for Judah has profaned the LORD’s holy institution which He loves. He has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob the man who does this, being awake and aware, yet who brings an offering to the LORD of Hosts!
(More to Come!)
Caleb
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Patriarchy:: Father's Day 2008
"Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth
the LORD, That delighteth greatly in his
commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth:
the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth
and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness
endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariesth light
in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of
compassion, and righteous. A good man sheweth
favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with
discretion. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the
righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He
shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed,
trusting in the LORD. His heart is established, he
shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his
enemies. He had dispersed, he hath given to the poor;
His righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be
exalted with honour. The wicked shall see it, and be
grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away:
The desire of the wicked shall perish."
Psalm 112
_________________________________
Only A Dad~
Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.
Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper or pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.
Only a dad, neither rice nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.
Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.
Edgar Guest
We love you Dad, and may the Lord bless you and give you many more Father's Days!!!
Gratefully,
Joel, Abby, Caleb, Phoebe, Johanna & Jaden
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