With God, We Shall Do Valiantly

 

Psalm 108:1-13

 

September 15, 2022

 

With God, We Shall Do Valiantly

A Song​ A Psalm of David.

My heart is steadfast, O God!  I will sing and make melody with all my being!   Awake, O harp and lyre!  I will awake the dawn!  I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.  For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

 

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!  Let your glory be over all the earth!  That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me! God has promised in his holiness:  “With exultation, I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Valley of Succoth.

Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.   Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom, I cast my shoe; over Philistia, I shout in triumph.”

 

Who will bring me to the fortified city?  Who will lead me to Edom?  Have you not rejected us, O God?  You do not go out, O God, with our armies.  Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

 

The introduction tells us about the heart and power of King David, “With God, We Shall Do Valiantly”.  But should anyone with any intelligence come to the conclusion that without God you will not be fearless, but fear will reign in your life?

A steadfast heart is a heart is one that center on something that can overcome the world.  Jesus is recorded by John as saying in John 16:33, “ 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.”  You and I have witnessed, the fear of loss in the world, of stuff, of friends, and family, of income and saving.  And as we see lawlessness increase and the leadership tell lies, fear fills many a heart.  But not if you have a foundation that is built on the One that overcomes the world.

 

Let me share a testimony of Jan and mine, most nights before our prayer time together, we get the old Hymn book and sing to the Lord,  Most Church, have praise teams, and have gone away from the Hymnbook, so you should not find it hard to find one, maybe at your Church, or the second-hand book store.

 

One does not encounter many who desire conflict but we do witness many who long for peace.  Let me share that I was consumed with fear until I asked the Prince of Peace to come into my heart.  So ask the Father in heaven to bring His peace into your heart and then share with your family and friends the peace you have since Jesus came into your heart.  Now you can ask the Father to wake His Church to the last verse of Psalm 108.  With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Let the Redeem of the Lord speak

                                                                

                                                                     Psalm 107: 39-43

 

September 14, 2022

 

Let the Redeem of the Lord speak for it’s the End Game

 

When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.  The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

 

It is easy to read these five verses and miss the message the Lord put into the Psalmist's heart.  This is what I came away with from the five verses; I’m living in a time like this, people all around me are devaluing the under-resourced cheapened by a government and others that give handouts with no plan to give them back dignity.  Yes, God has blessed us with the ability to take pride in our work.  It brings us a sense of pride in working to support ourselves and our families.  Take that from a person and have a slave to the welfare of the government and others.  And yes it is my belief that work and fair pay for that work is of such great value than a token with no plan to give back dignity, that God has put in the heart of man to earn an honest living. 

 

Who are the princes of our time; all forms of government and others that give tokens but have no plan to give them what they desire self-worth?  And what does God have planned for the princes?  It is evil when anyone can provide for a person to earn a living but chooses to keep them dependent on the government to earn a vote. But we have done that in the USA, and yes it is evil.

 

Now when God blesses the poor and needy because they cried out to Him, the followers of Christ should rejoice, and the wicked have nothing to say.  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.

 

What would a Program at your Church look like to train all that would come:

  

    

·      Begin the program by teaching the trainers how to overlook the past and look forward to what God has planned for each person that comes.

·      A program to train how to earn a living using the resources of those in your membership?  Plumber, Secretary, Electrician, Custodian, business men & women as your trainers.

·      A class is the best method to seek a job.

·      How to dress for the interview, and to equip them to accept rejection.

·      But the end game is to tell them why you have spent this time with them.  Because Jesus loves them and wants to bless them by having His Spirit live in them.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Faith & Hope Look Up

 

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your hearts be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, . . .” (Ephesians 1:17-21).

 

“Sorrow and regret look back.
Worry and fear look around,
But faith and hope look up!”

 

My dear reader who are in Christ, Jan and I will be praying this prayer for each of you and ourselves.  Last night or better stated at 3 a.m. this morning I was sitting in the living room void of sleep and thing about all the mistakes, some big and the quote above came to mind.  Why am I doing looking back, I need to look up. 

 

I often act like the kid who just got the best bike money can buy from his dad, and it is in the garage unused.  And each day I ask my dad for a bike like the one in the garage.

 

The desire of Jan and my heart is to know our Father in heaven better, and I believe it is also yours.  To fully understand God's calling on our lives, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.  That power is not from a worldly source, but from your Creature, your Redeemer, who loves you and wants to use each of us in powerful ways.

 

What standing in our ways, looking back, worrying and fear look around, and all we need is to ask the one that loves us to give us the faith to look up, look up to the power source of Life, you know His name, it is JESUS.

 

You are greatly Loved,

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob

Cry to the Lord for help in all times

 

Psalm 107:23-38

 

September 13, 2022

 

Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep.  For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.  They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits' end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.  Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!  Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

 

How often have you and I witnessed someone who going through deep waters of pain and loss and crying out to the Lord, for relief and making promises but as soon as they received the peace that they asked for, they forgot all that they had promised the Lord?  But I now can share that Jan and I have experienced those deep stormy winds and as our courage melted away, I often cried out to the Lord, I do not know what to do, please show me what to do!  Jan, Nat, and I clung to the Lord, and He brought us the Victoria we longed for.  I know that as the Lord brought us into our desired haven, of being able to walk out of Sun Dance a rehab center, and allowing me to come home, we have not stopped giving God the praise.

 

He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,
 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.
He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.  And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;  they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.  By his blessing, they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.

 

We live in a very evil time, where good is called evil and evil is referred to as good.  We were told in the Scriptures that on the last days people would not put up with truth, but have ears to only hear what their evil hearts desired.  Now if Jesus does not know the hour of His return for His bride the Church, then none of us do either, but Jesus has told us what must happen before He returns, and we are witnesses of that taking place.  In Matthew's gospel, verses 3-14, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”   And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.  And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.   All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.  “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.  And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.  And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.  And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

 

Psalm 107:10-22

 September 12, 2022

 

“Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  So, he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.   Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!   For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!   And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!”

 

  I AM, that what God told Moses to tell them was His name, and God the I AM is the same today as He was yesterday.  As you read Psalm 107, it becomes clear that obedience brings blessing and rebellion brings judgment.  Are you and I who have bowed our knees by faith, asking Jesus to come into our lives, much different than the people of Israel?  Often I’ve made decisions and then asked God to bless them, I did so without seeking His will first.  Am I the only one besides the Chosen People of God that are that foolish?

 

Some ignored the teaching of God and the Scriptures call them fools, seeking sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffering affliction, but please pay attention they almost were dead when they cried out to God, and God in His mercy and love rescued them.  Why did they test God, and as long as we ask why do we?

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

 

Psalm 107: 1-9

 

September 12, 2022

 

Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north and from the south.  Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;  hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.   He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!   For he satisfies the longing soul and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

 

For years in my search for truth on living victories in Christ, I made a habit of reading the Scriptures.  But unless I was teaching a class, I read not study to show myself a workman who needs, not to be shamed.  It was more of I met a requirement to put God’s word in my heart.  If you want to be equipped to stand, it requires so much more than reading the Bible.

 

To be a seeker of truth requires a person to digest the teaching of the Scriptures, and to ask the Holy Spirit to equip you with both knowledge and wisdom. As a student of the Word of God, a person should be clear that the enemy of your life has a plan to destroy you, your testimony, and your relationship, with your family, and friends.  But most of all to make you believe that living out the Christ life is to keep quiet and never tell anyone what Jesus has done for you.

 

Take a moment to ponder on Ephesians 6:10-12, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  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.”   Only a very unwise person, or one that has put faith in a religion of self, would ignore Ephesians 6:10-12.  We must be equipped and verse 13, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”  If you are a truth seeker you will not only read but apply the following verses that teach you how to prepare for the battle and have no doubt my brother and sister in Christ, the days of evil and we need truth, and the Word of God tells us that Truth is found only in Christ, for He is Truth.  And when we are instructed to put on the breastplate of righteousness, it does not refer to self-righteousness, but to put on Christ, who lives in you.  The shoe of peace, that is only found in letting Christ reign in your life.  The shield of faith is one of the great needs of this battle we have entered, as King David said when encountering the giant, found in 1 Samuel 17:45, “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”  Now if you want to see faith in action, it is a young shepherd boy named David who put his trust in the Lord and not in himself.  Read verses 46-47, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”  That is what faith in action looks like.  But it requires one to get dressed, for, without these tools that are only found in Christ, you nor I will live in victory, but the defeated life of unbelief, or ignorance of the Scriptures.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

 

Mercy to His Chosen

 

Psalm 106:40-48

 

September 8, 2022

 

 

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,  and he abhorred his heritage; he gave them into the hand of the nations so that those who hated them ruled over them.  Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.   Many times he delivered them,  but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity.

 

Are we the Church that much different than the Chosen People of Israel?  God has not changed, could It be the people who hate God and His Church or now ruling over us?  And if God delivered, us would we be like Israel and rebel?  Lots of questions but few answers, will God save us for 1,000 righteous people?

Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,  when he heard their cry.   For their sake, he remembered his covenant and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.   He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.

 

At this time it is not pity but disdain, that our leadership has for the Church.  But our God is not blind to what is taking place in His Church or in this nation.   We as followers of Christ can rely on these words, I will never leave you or forsake you. 

 

Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

 

We are yet to be scattered as the nation of Israel, but I was sharing with my wife that many places in the USA would be like foreign nations, California, or the City of New York.   And the same might be true if they had to live in the hill country of Texas.   Sure are a lot of them coming here, and we hope if they do not like it they will find a new place outside of Texas to live. That is not from God, but it is how most Texas born here feel.  

 

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,  from everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, “Amen!”  Praise the Lord!

 

I pray that this would be my cry and the cry of the Church, that we would seek Him with all our hearts, and love our neighbors as ourselves.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Or you a grumbler

 

Psalm 106: 25-48

 

September 7, 2022

 

 

They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord.  So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the wilderness, make their descendants fall among the nations, and scatter them throughout the lands.

 

Could it be said that many of us who go by the title Christian are grumbling in our homes, at Church, with our neighbors, friends, and with anyone who will listen about the high prices of everything?  If so are we asking the Lord to guide those lying to us about the great economy, and many other things?  But has not God told us to pray for them, even the crooked politician?   Now it is much easier to pray for family, friends, neighbors, and anyone else but a crooked politician but if we do not we are not being obedient to our Lord’s commands.

 

They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.   But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plaque was checked.  This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.  Are you as a follower of Christ on guard to not yoke yourself to anything but God?  And if you do who is the Phinehas that will intervene for you?

By the waters of Meribah, they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them; for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.  Last Sunday I sat in an adult class and heard people justifying lawbreakers.  But does God?  And if I had said what was on my heart, it would not been received.

 

They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.  They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.  They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods.  They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.  They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.  Are we that much different than them?  God told them to kill everyone, is not because He not loving, no but being all-knowing He knew they would adopt the customs of those nations, and they did.  They sacrificed their son and daughters to the idols of Canaan.  They prostituted themselves and many who go by the title of Christian are doing the same.  Please repent, God is waiting with open arms to forgive you and welcome you back into His fellowship.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

 

 

                                                                        Psalm 106:4-23

 

September 6, 2022

 

Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.  

 

Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.  Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.  Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.  He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.  So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.  And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.  Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.   

 

But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.  But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.  When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord, the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.  Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.  They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image.

They exchanged the glory of God or the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.  Therefore he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

 

In verses 4-5, the Psalmist wants to see the nation turn back to God, and he will share in the gladness of the nation of the Chosen people of God.  In our day the people of God, and those who sit and listen to sermons each Sunday, go to Bible Studies and attend small groups, awake to the evil that is taking place in our nation.  Folks, we the people of Faith in a mighty God, who loves justice and hates evil,  are you asking the Lord to redeem and forgive the evil of the USA?  As a nation, we turn our back on God and seek the gods of wealth and power.  

 

Let me share a personal note; last night my blood pressure was 200-95-93 I called the doctor, and I had already done what he told me to do.  His next word was to not dwell on the blood pressure but to think happy thoughts.  Jan my bride had gone to bed and came in and prayed for me and then we got a hymn book and began to sing praises to our Lord.  Do you know that you cannot worry and praise God at the same time?  That is why I study God's word and pray that He will give Jan & me the ability to guide a young couple to live in victory.

 

Do you understand that if God allowed you and your family to be taken into a foreign land and at first you look to Him, but it reminds me of the time I walked out of the sunlight into a dark restaurant in Mexico and the group followed a person to our table?  My eyes became accustomed to the dark room and the people sitting all around us the longer I sat there.  A missionary we called pastor Joe, looked at me and said Young man when you came out of the bright light and into this dark room, you did not see anyone around us.  Well, young man, that is the way sin is, at first it is so dark, yet the longer you stay in it the easier it is to accept it.  Never have truer words been spoken!  The Church in the USA has allowed the darkness to creep into too much of its service, and some are teaching things God forbids.  Will you look to the word of God and seek His will for our nations?  And share the answer with those around you? 

 

Could it be that our nations like Israel were blessed with so much that we like them forgot all the blessings come from only God, and they stopped teaching their children the ways of God?  It is much like the many who take the blessing as a right and are looking not to God, but to the government to supply their needs.  Government is a terrible god, it takes from those who work hard and gives it to others with a loud voice, but it does not work.

 

As you read that last paragraph is that what is happening to the USA, and do we have a Moses that God will listen to, who stands in the breach for us?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

Praise the Lord!

                                                                        Psalm 106:1-3

September 5, 2022

 

Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?   Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

 

As I reflect on giving thanks to the Lord, it brings questions, should the morning area where many awake from a deep sleep, what should be the first thoughts that come to our mind, mine often is thank you that I was able to sleep?  For so long I spent the nights sitting in a chair, or lying in bed with very little sleep.  At meals many of us will have time to thank God for this grub, but do we take time to reflect on how blessed we are for many who do not have enough food to eat?  That is normal for a non-believer, but for a child of God, we should have a heart that understands it was not luck that you were born in this amazing Country, but God’s blessing.  Unlike many countries, you have been blessed to have God’s love letter, which tells you to “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! “

 

Now can anyone with any understanding of the Scriptures believe they have a full understanding of God?  Let us begin with Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Our Father in Heaven is in a loving way making sure that His Children understand this truth, it is not a feeling, feeling, or deception, His written Word is facts and they are based on Truth.  So as you read, understand the following: when you get to heaven you will be learning from the Father but you will never have the full knowledge of God, for if that was possible you would be a God, and nowhere in Scripture is that implied.  “Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?”

 

A verse that has been my guide, ties into Jesus's answer; in Matthew 22:37-39, “Jesus replied“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”  The verse that has been my life verse is centered on Jesus' words and it is found in Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  It would be wonderful if I could report to you my reader, that I’ve been true to that in all my dealings with family, friends, neighbors, and everyone I’ve encountered, but that would be like the media, “Fake News.”  My goal is to live it out, but it is in that battle of the flesh and the Spirit.  I forget my identity, who I am in Christ.  Does anyone else have that problem?  Romans 7:14-20 should be titled “The defeated Christian life.”  ^“We know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.   As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.   For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.   Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” 

 

It has been my observation that many in the Church are living in defeat, and my Pastor in a sermon made clear the reason, it is a failure to study and apply the Word of God, to your life.  Never has there been a more truthful statement, than these words, from the Lord, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  Free from what you may be asking, from living in defeat.

 

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

God sent His man and Aaron

 

Psalm 105:26-45

 

September 3, 2022

 

He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.  They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of  Ham.  He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words.  He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.  Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.   He spoke, and there came swarms of flies and gnats throughout their country.  He gave them hail for rain and fiery lightning bolts through their land.  He struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country.  He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number,  which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground.  He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the first fruits of all their strength.  Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.  Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.  He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.  They asked, and he brought quail and gave them bread from heaven in abundance.  He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.  So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.  And he gave them the lands of the nations and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil, that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.  Praise the Lord!

 

After reading that account of our great and mighty God, let me share a few verses for you to give much thought to.  Hebrews 13:8-9, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.   Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

 

As you give thought to what God has done in the past for His chosen people when they were blessed with abundance they went after the little gods of this world, and He allowed them to do so.  But He also allowed His chosen to become slaves for 400 years in Egypt, before sending Moses His man to bring them into the land He had promised Abraham.  It seems the USA has chosen the little gods of this world, and because God is true to Himself, will we escape from His judgment?  Do you need to go back and read Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

Each of you can google “the fear of God”, and you will see more verses than most will read, yes it means to do as He has said for you to do in His love letter (the Bible) to you, so why not take a few days to read the book of John, and ask God to show you the Truth.  You have much to gain and nothing to lose but time wasted watching T.V.   How do I know because I also waste time watching it, but each day I make time to learn about what God has for me and I have come to desire Him more than anything.

 

From the Back Porch

Bob Rice