On that Day

Psalm 16-18

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.”

The cry of so many people, some who go by the name of Christian, but many who have never heard, never seen lived out to them the love of Jesus Christ, and yes, they are lonely and afflicted, often by their actions.  But unlike King David, they get angry and bitter at a God who does not remove these obstacles from their circumstances.  And the more they dwell on the situation, the larger the problem becomes and many of them foolishly look to government to solve a need that only the grace and love of Jesus can change.  Many never consider their sins, and some who are religious believe God is punishing them for their actions.

Let us deal with punishment when Jesus Christ was put on a cross by fearful and evil, self-seeking men.  He was without sin, perfect in God’s eyes.  There never was a moment Jesus and the Father had not been one, till that day, and on that day, Jesus allows sin, yours and mine, and all sin from the beginning till the end of time, to fall on Him.  On that day God, Jesus’ Father took His full anger out on Jesus.  All the punishment that you and I deserved fell on Jesus Christ, so never be foolish and say God is punishing me; Jesus became our punishment, on that day and our Redeemer. 

To long have we who are followers of Christ looked with sorrow in our hearts for those who we see who are lonely and afflicted.  We give money to help, and even some of us have fixed a few ramps for the wheelchair-bound people when we know of the need.  But what about those who live around us, on our street, do we care that they may need someone to listen and care for them?

If I understand Micah 6:8 correctly, are we not to be the hands and feet of Jesus are we not called to love our neighbor as our self.  Let’s review Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”  It is time to begin obeying as followers of Christ?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God is very concerned about character

Psalm 25:8-15

“Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way.  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

 For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.  Who is the man who fears the Lord?  Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.  His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.  The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.  My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.”

God is very concerned about character, first and foremost His.  As followers of Christ each day we choose to allow God to build His character into us, it is a choice, will you and I bring shame or praise to His name.  In saying that He also wants us to adopt His leadership, commandment, and desires while we live on planet earth.  Now the world ' s system has set a net to catch you and I and molded us into a religious follower of what the world values, and it hates having a moral authority over it.  The world system is opposed to anyone thinking they or sinners, but Jesus tells us all have sinned and fallen short of God’s requirements. 

So ones more you must choose, agree with God or the system that calls black white and good evil.  The world's system loves the proud and despises the humble; they call them weak and needed, and yet God calls them teachable.  So each of us must choose the ways of God or the foolishness of this world that is passing away. But to the faithful that choose to follow Jesus, this is the path of steadfast love and faithfulness, to all who keep His covenant and testimonies.

Many have a problem with the word fear of God, but not David and I hope not you.  David desire is to obey God’s covenant, but as the Psalmist also knows how he misses the mark often.  I like king David must proclaim; ^“For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”  Yes, I am a man who knows the love of God, and yet I have a very healthy fear of a Holy God.  I need to have a friendship with the Father and the Son, and they have made know to me. His desire is found in Micah 6:8. “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The world has many nets, little one, and a big one at every corner of this life, and a wise man will not get caught up in them.  And when you do only Jesus can open the net, so call to him, if you're in the net of this evil world, that is still under the authority of the evil one.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Lead me, Teach me - to know You ways

Psalm 25:4-7

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you, I wait all day long.

 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.  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!”

Reading these verses, I hope messes with you, for I should not be the only one that is saying like Isaiah the prophet, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips . . .” (Isaiah 6:5)

As I read verses four and five of Psalm 25, it was clear the Lord was speaking to me, let me share what the apostle Peter instructed all who are followers of Christ to do.  “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

On January 26 of 2019, my wife broke her ankle in two places while we were burning brush on the back part of our property.  It may be of help to say we live in the hill country of Texas and we were down the hill, and she slipped on a rock, and her ankle went under her body as she was falling, it was a nasty break.  Thank God we have strong neighbors who helped me splint the ankle and carry her up the hill to my car.

But talk about being out of my comfort zone, it has been nothing but, and that is how I’ve learned how blessed I’ve been to have a wife who can cook, clean, and keep a house looking perfect, wash clothes, dishes, and cater to my needs.  Now I’m learning how to do that, so far I’ve only broken six bowls, chipped a few plates, and made a mess of boiling stuff all over the stovetop.  That is the bad news and my actions when cleaning up my messes has not been holy in my conduct, and that is not good!  Learning how to use the washer, and clean the filter on the dryer, are examples of what this kept man has learned, we will not even talk about my learning how to make muffins or bake a pie.

So what am I learning, I need to wait on the Lord?  To seek Him before I’m in the middle of a mess, to listen when I hear that voice that tells me not to carry too many things or to try doing several things while I’m cooking oatmeal.  I have learned to despise, and I mean with contempt in my heart, the cooking of oatmeal and the problems it brings into one's life.  Yes, I’m learning how needy and ignorant I am in so many areas of this life.

And thank God for His great understanding and mercy, in that He not only has chosen to forget the sins of my youth, but the bad language I used when the oatmeal boiled over and I dropped another dish and glass went all over the floor.  For I, like King David, understand Jesus’ steadfast love for me. 

Note from the kitchen; it has been a joy to serve Jan and to be the kind of man I told God and a group of people at our wedding over 52 years ago that I would be. 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice 

Pitfalls followers of Christ encounter

Psalm 25:1-3

“To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.  O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.  Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly

 treacherous.”

Most men who go by the title of Christian would state that's a beautiful prayer, that is the kind of man I want to be, but also few, if they were honest with themselves would say that is the man I am.

What is the problem with men who go to Church, and try to lead their families in righteous living, where are we dropping the ball?  As a man who wants to be a follower of Christ each day, let me share some of the pitfalls that as dads and providers I have encountered.  But first let’s make sure we are on the right page in our understanding of the word soul, it is your mind, your will, and your emotions. 

My friend Bill Gillham often said in his teaching that you have never made up your mind about anything, for it is the mind and emotions that give will the information, and will 100% of the time makes a choice.  I always enjoy Bill explaining how this works, and he often uses this example; you come upon a giant bear in the woods, your mind says bears eat people, bears run faster than people, and they climb trees very fast.  Your emotions are screaming you're going to die, and you see a cabin 20 feet away, your mind says to run for the cabin, your feelings are shouting you're going to be lunch, and you make up your will to run to the cabin.  (Key concept – never look to your emotions as the main barometer of spiritual reality.)

My first area of needing to lay those emotions at the feet of Jesus, when reading a Psalm or Proverbs without asking the Spirit of God to open your mind to what your reading.  And be willing to act on what God showed you, helps prepare you for the encounters of that day. 

And often my enemies did win and looking back it is so clear why I was to wait on the Lord, so if I did more like I’m doing now and sought the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and learned to wait I would not have been put to shame.

When I think of these words; wantonly treacherous my mind does not go to a man that goes by the name of Christ, for the word treacherous has these meanings; unfaithful, traitorous, disloyal, deceitful, two-faced, and underhanded, to name a few.  Only you know if those words fit your character, but if they do, makeup your mind that you will stop before you bring more shame on our LORD.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

How can one love an Enemy

Psalm 24:5-10

“He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.  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 up 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!”

As we go back to verse four, we understand that a person in right standing with God is the one that will receive the blessing from the Lord.  But it is not by their merit but God’s grace and mercy and the faith He has given us to believe on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Aren’t you glad it does not depend on your actions, but on God’s goodness, for often I fall short of seeking His face, of looking to God in my business, and daily life?

David often used poetic language, and it seems he is not referring to the gates of heaven but a mighty warrior King, whose name is Yahweh, you and I refer to Him as our Father in Heaven.

There is not a doubt that heaven is my home, and it is not because of my good works, but because Jesus told me in His word that He is going to prepare a place for me. I often find I fall short when it comes to my prayer life of asking the King of glory to go into the hearts of people I’ve never met, and those whose actions show they hate my Lord and His Father.  But that is not what Jesus ask of me, read all about it in Matthew 5:44-48, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?   Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 

My many brothers and sisters, when you send out hate-filled things about a person who desires to destroy our freedom in the USA is that showing love?  I’ve been guilty of doing so in the past, it is a choice to follow Jesus and pray for the person and ask Jesus to show you how He loves us, for at one time we were His enemy.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Your Goodness is not the Answer

Psalm 24:1-4

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.  Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol
or swear by a false god.”

In my early days at 3M, I worked for a division of 3M called BPSI.  We were the Business product sales, and we sold overhead projectors to schools, copy machines, microfilm equipment and supplies to make them work.  I worked with some very diverse people, one such person was Butch in our service department, and he was an ex-navy chief that spent WWII in a submarine, and he told every customer many things, but always that all our salespeople were liars.  He was not my favorite person that served our customers, but some loved him, and others said never to send him back again.  Another was Joe Williams who was in sales, and he was one of those smooth talkers, who often told me that there were two things in the world no one could overcome, apathy and ignorance, never have I believed Joe more than in 2019.  So many people are indifferent, lazy, and unconcerned about the truth, they do not read, or listen to anyone or anything that would challenge them. 

In John 14:6, Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  One only has two choices; he is a mad man, or He is the Son of God.  No other objects are open to one seeking the truth.  Today is no exception, from the day Jesus walked on planet earth.  A seeker of the truth we will find in the gospel according to John, chapter 1, and verses 9-13 this insight.  “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  He came to his own,^[ and his own people^[b] did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” 

Now if you are indifferent, or not interested, or have no concern for Truth, you fit what Joe was telling me about people in general, they are apathetic and ignorant, but you still have a choice, and I pray you start searching today.

These questions are worthy of pondering and seeking answers, “ Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who may stand in his holy place?  Many have said, I’m good, I’m moral, and I even give money to the guys on the corners who are begging, and I save stray dogs and cats.  But Jesus said when called a good teacher by a rich young man, only God is good, so how do you compare to God?

At the age of 27, I knew goodness was not my strong suit, in fact, I had discovered that the Bible teaches that my good works are like filthy rags before a Holy God, so I knew that my desire to earn goodness was not going to give me   answers to those two questions above.

But, I found the answer was not in my goodness, but in God’s only Son, Jesus Christ who took my punishment and died for my sin and yours.  For all have sinned and fall short of God’s requirements.  So how does one meet God’s demands?  I found the answer in Romans 10:9-10, “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Fear, the theme of this world

Psalm 23:4-6

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.^”

My pastor has often said that death still is holding 100 percent for everyone, and yet often we live life as if we will overcome death.  Death is no respecter of wealth or titles, and the Scripture is clear that after death comes the judgment.  For a follower of Christ, we only walk through a shadow of death, for our mighty God; Jesus Christ has overcome both the grave and death and has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven.

Now when it comes to fear, it is the theme of this world, fear is what drives many of the decisions mankind makes, but it should not be so with a person who has Christ living in them.  So the battle always will be, will I allow the world to mold me or will I look to the Scriptures and my Lord for He is with us.  When we walk in victory over fear, we are reminded of Isaiah 41:10, “fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

As you look at verse six we are not promised a life without trouble, David knew heartache and pain, and yet he also knew that God's goodness and mercy were close at hand.  And as followers of Christ we can shout from the rooftops just as David did; we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Are you a Follower?

Psalm 23:1-3

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

One of the most quoted and put to memory Psalm in the Bible, and yet most readers do not deal with it in anything but a warn fussy way.  Maybe one should ask themselves a few questions; like is the Lord, my shepherd?  Being a member of a church does not disqualify or qualify you; going by the title of Christian does not meet the requirements, or being baptized.  Jesus is very clear that it is not the words we use but the object of our worship in John 10:25-27, “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.   My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

  Have you enter into Christ, and has He come into you, the Scriptures call that being born again.  Romans 10:9 gives a clear picture of how one does this; ^“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

How often we forget that each day is a choice, to listen to what I refer to as Channel One, the (DECEPTIVE CHANNEL) the one that sounds like our voice or to listen to Channel Two, the Holy Spirit, a much quieter voice.  The Scripture is clear on this point, read Galatians 5:17, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”  So remember as you read verses 2 and 3, that Jesus has restored your soul, but He leads, it is your choice as to whether you follow.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Is this a prophesy about Jesus?

February 25, 2019

Psalm 22:12-31

I cannot state with any authority that this part of the Psalm is referring to Jesus the Christ, but I believe with 100% accuracy that David is not referring to himself.  But if one was to look only at history, it is described in Josephus's account of Jesus.  Many have said that it was not written by Josephus, but that has been proven not to be true.  Josephus lived from 37 A.D. to 100 A.D., and it does look like he may have read the Gospel of Luke that was an account of the early Church between A.D. 30 – 63, so it is possible that Josephus may have read this account and taken from it. 

“About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man if indeed one ought to call him a man.  For he was one who performed surprising deeds and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly.  He was the Messiah.  And when, upon the accusation of the principal men among us, Pilate had condemned him to a cross, those who had first come to love him did not cease.  He appeared to them spending a third day restored to life, for the prophets of God had foretold these things and a thousand other marvels about him.  And the tribe of the Christians, so-called after him, has still to this day not disappeared.  Jewish Antiquities 18.3,3  (Based on the translation of Louis H. Feldman, The Loeb Classical Library)

But we who study the Bible both New and Old Testaments have a much better account of the many prophesy and the words of Jesus and the accounts of the apostles.

Let me close with Psalm 22:28-31, “For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.  All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.  Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Where do you put your Trust?

Psalm 22:3-11

“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.
 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.  Let him deliver him since he delights in him.”  Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.  From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb, you have been my God.  Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.”

Many have bought into the prosperity gospel, but it's been my observation that only the ones promoting it are the ones flourishing for they get a poor sucker to give them money with the hope of getting well or rich.  If you want truth on what the Bible teaches; it requires first that you have the Spirit of truth living in you.  It is clear that one must have a relationship with the Author of the Scriptures to have any understanding.  You will find this teaching in 1 Corinthians 2:13-14, “And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

But you who have the Spirit of God living in you must study to show yourself as a worker that need not be ashamed rightly handling the Scriptures.  And so, let's take a brief look at David’s words, and we have seen the first that in this life one will have troubles as Jesus has taught us, but if one puts their trust in Him, they will overcome with peace and joy that Jesus gives.  Did you notice David’s heritage, men and women who also put their trust in God, and it was God who rescued them. 

David is no longer the victor who has the acclaim of his people, no, he is the one that is the object of their jokes and disdain.  This is not a role anyone likes, much less a man who has been used by God to save and conquer their enemies and His.  When David calls himself a worm he is expressing humiliation, and the proud hate anyone who shows humiliation, but this is one thing God loved in David, and you.  When we are told the people were shaking their heads, it was a physical gesture often associated with mocking or sneering.

But now we have David sharing his dependence on God and how he learned it from birth and his mother and dads teaching.  As one looks at David’s life, we find many victories and many mistakes, but always a man who when confronted of his sins, broken before a holy God.  In verse eleven, we see a man beat up and almost without hope, but God has promised never to leave him or forsake him.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Shepherd to King

February 20, 2019

Psalm 22:1-3a

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.  Yet you are holy,”

When I study the life of King David, there is so much to admire as a young boy, a shepherd taking care of his father’s sheep.  His dependence on God as the lion and the bear came to kill the sheep, and David knew it was God who gave him the ability to stand and protect the sheep entrusted to him by his father.  Later as he stood fearless before the giant Goliath, do you recall what the boy David told this mighty warrior?  You will find this record in 1 Samuel 17:45-46, ^“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”  

And that is what happened to Goliath and the Philistine army on that very day. 

Do you recall Saul trying to kill David and David leaving out the window on bed sheets tied together by his wife, the daughter of Saul?  Yes, so much to admire, but after David got wealth and power he had a loyal soldier killed to cover his sin of sleeping with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah.  David had trouble in his own family and did not deal with it, and it later came back on him when his son Absalom conspired to take the kingdom from him.  With all that said, we find that “David was a man after the heart of God.”

David had great faith in a big God, and often I find myself having small faith in a big God.  I, like David, am a mess, and usually all I want is God to speak in a way that this pea brain will understand for I also have discovered I’m very needy.  God has called me into His family; I’m not my own; I was brought with a price, a high price, the blood of Jesus Christ.  And I do not find peace in this upside-down world, my rest I find in Jesus Christ, and the finished work of the Cross.  And like King David I proclaim, God is Holy!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

His unspoken prayers

Prayer

Do you pray for your hearts desires, a Confederate often did, and this is what he learned.

“I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.  I asked God for health, that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.  I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise.  I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.  I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. 

I got nothing that I asked for but everything I had hoped for.  Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.  I am among men, most richly blessed.”

His unspoken prayers were answered, I like him have been richly blessed, not with wealth, nor with the praises of people, but with a clear understanding of who I am, and the understanding that God has adopted me into His family.  Not because I’m righteous, or even do good for I now understand what my friend T.W. Hunt meant when he said, “Bob, I’m a wretched man.”  My righteousness is found in Jesus the Christ, and any act of goodness is from the Holy Spirit that indwells my earth suit.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Living forever

Psalm 21: 8-13

“Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.  You will make them as a blazing oven when you appear. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.  You will destroy their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from among the children of man.  Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.  For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.  Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!  We will sing and praise your power.”

When you read a Scripture like the words from 1 John 2:17, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” What does that mean to you?  If it only means do not kick the dog and go to church on Sunday, are you that much different than the person who saves the whales and helps out at the local food bank?  Have you asked the Holy Spirit to give you insight into what the world’s desires are and make sure you are seeking the will of God?  If you do not have a time where you sit in a quiet room, and allow the Spirit of God to open the Scriptures and teach you how to live life on planet earth, can you be sure your desires are not centered on this world?

So what is David talking about in the verses above, I am not sure, but if I were to guess, it would be the Spirit of the living God allowing him to see the final battle, when Jesus has returned, and after the 1000 years Satan is free once more, and many who are evil come to fight with the Lord.

As you read Revelation 20:3-10, you may have a few questions, like why would God allow Satan to be free?  Harlan Caton in his book, “The Second Coming of Jesus Christ on page 212 gives us five answers. 1) To demonstrate the character of Satan.  Satan is incurably wicked.  2) To demonstrate the true character of man.  “There is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)  3) To demonstrate God’s complete authority over Satan and his followers who are the enemies of God.  4) To fulfill Romans 6:23 where we are told that the wages of sin is death.  This exhibits the complete futility of man’s attempt to refine man and to create a better and perfect society through the ingenuity of man.  It also reveals the complete futility of man and Satan to overthrow and to overcome God and His kingdom.  5) To justify eternal punishment.

Revelation 20:3-10, ^“He threw him into the Abyss and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.

 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

 When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number, they are like the sand on the seashore.  They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.  And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God's man

Psalm 21:1-7

“The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.  How great is his joy in the victories you give!

You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.  You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.  He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, forever and ever.  Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.  Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.  For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.”

Have you ever wondered why God would say, in the book of Act 13:22b “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”  Maybe verse one, and those that follow will give us a better understanding that David did not depend on his strength, but the Lord’s.  A man I grew to admire was Major Ian Thomas, and this was a favorite quote of his; “I Can’t, You never said I could, You can, and You promised You would.”  I believe David lived by that most of his life; he knew the Lord was his source of all power and wealth.

“He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, forever and ever.”  David understood that God was eternal and that it was in a relationship with Him that promised more than life on planet earth, but life eternal with the Father.

David was telling the Lord how grateful he was for all the victories and blessings that God had bestowed on him, but without the Lord’s presence, it would have only temporary joy, not lasting joy,  ^“For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.”

Do you now have a better understanding of how a mess like King David could be called a man after God’s own heart?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Desires of your heart

Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.  May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion.  May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings.  May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.  May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.  May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now, this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed.  He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.  Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Dear Holy Father who reigns over heaven and earth, what a profound prayer of King David and my heart's desire is that it be my prayer also.  You grafted me out of a wild tree that only could produce rotten fruit, and into the rootstock of Abraham by the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.  This prayer should be the cry of the Church; it should be the prayer of all who are in Christ.

Our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Creator of all that is or will be, has these words for you and me.  In John’s gospel chapter 16, verse 33, “ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”   With that said, take heart in Christ we have peace, run to Him, yes this world brings us some real misery. 

Are we blind to the evil that is happening all around us?  When we hear of evil deeds, when we read of the only son, a senior in High School, a young man looking and dreaming about college and a career had his throat cut by a couple of middle school punks, that both hadpolice records!  When you see the average citizen not getting the same justice as those who hold wealth and power in the government, such as we witnessed with the upper management of the FBI.  Yes, in this world you will have tribulation, but Jesus tells us to take heart, put our trust in Him, not in this world.

Have you examined the desires of your heart?  As a follower of Christ, you must do that unless you fail the test, and you desire the small gods of this present world.  Have you put your trust in government, in money, in self, what about the military?  If so, I have bad news, history tells us they all have failed, and on a scale of 0-100, it is hitting zero every time.  So put your trust in Jesus Christ, and you will still have trouble in this life, but in Christ you will overcome and in Him you will find peace and hope!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice