" WORD of TRUTH Lighthouse ": May 2015

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

" A Song from the Heart "

Ephesians 5:18-20 " And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the SPIRIT; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD; giving thanks always for all things unto GOD and the FATHER in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST; "

Our songs, like our speech, reveal what is in the heart. JESUS spoke about this in Luke 6:45 when HE said, " For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. " Our text today speaks of " psalms and hymns and spiritual songs " and of " singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD " (v.19). Is there a song in your heart to the LORD right now ? Is it a song that comes from deep within - a song that cannot be suppressed by difficult circumstances but that is simply the result of a heart overflowing with love for the ONE WHO redeemed you by HIS precious blood ?

If our worship, our singing, our study of the WORD, and our service for CHRIST are motivated only by a sense of duty and obligation rather than love and thankfulness, do we think that we are pleasing our LORD WHO knows our hearts ? Our songs may be praised by the listener for their beauty and harmony, but if the heart of the singer is out of tune with the LORD, the result is entertainment rather than spiritual blessing. It glorifies man, not GOD; it may please the flesh and the world, but it cannot please GOD.

Our text reminds us of the importance of separating from " the unfruitful works of darkness " (v.11). So many of the world's songs are shameful (v.12) and represent the words of fools (v.15) and the music of drunkards (v.18). Believers who sincerely want to please GOD with singing that comes from the heart will pay careful attention to verse twenty of our text, for when we are occupied continually in giving thanks to GOD, the spiritual songs that please HIM will overflow our hearts and lips (Psalm 23:5). What a wonderful SAVIOR is JESUS our LORD (Isaiah 9:6), WHO is worthy of all our praise ! MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

www.feasite.org

Saturday, May 23, 2015

" The GOOD NEWS "

Romans 1:1-16 " Paul, a servant of JESUS CHRIST, called to be an apostle, separated unto the Gospel of GOD, (which HE had promised afore by HIS prophets in the Holy Scriptures,) Concerning HIS SON JESUS CHRIST our LORD, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the SON of GOD with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By WHOM we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for HIS name: Among whom are ye also the called of JESUS CHRIST: To all that be in Rome, beloved of GOD, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from GOD our FATHER, and the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

First, I thank my GOD through JESUS CHRIST for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For GOD is my witness, WHOM I serve with my spirit in the Gospel of HIS SON, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of GOD to come unto you. For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of CHRIST: for it is the power of GOD unto Salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. " Romans 1:1-16

The word gospel simply means " Good News. " However, this word implies that there is also bad news. The bad news is that all men are sinners (Romans 3:23). The horrendous nature of sin must not be understated, yet sadly it often is. But our purpose today is to look at the Good News ! What is this Good News ? It is that JESUS CHRIST the LORD died to pay the penalty of sin required of every single person: death.

Paul repeatedly emphasized " the Gospel " throughout the sixteen verses of our text (vv. 1, 9, 15-16). It is the only message that delivers sinners from the fate that each of us deserves - eternally paying the price for our own sins. Paul knew firsthand that the Gospel was the message that saved him and that it was entrusted to him to proclaim to all who would listen (vv. 14-16). The Gospel - that CHRIST the LORD, GOD's SON, would die and rise again - was prophesied in the Old Testament Scriptures (vv. 2-5). The Greek term underlying the word declared in verse four also gives us the English word horizon, and it pictures GOD the FATHER spreading across the entire horizon the message that HIS SON died and rose again to save sinful human beings. It is as if GOD put this message on a huge banner and hung it in the air for anyone and everyone to see and understand. Thus, the resurrection of CHRIST is an indispensable element of the Gospel message (1st.Cor.15:3-4). HE is not on the cross nor in the grave - HE is risen !

Dear Believer, may you never tire of hearing and meditating upon the simple Gospel message. This glorious " Good News " ought to be ardently treasured all the days of our life, and, like Paul, we must proclaim this wonderful news to ALL who will listen. GDF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

" My Heart Shall Not Fear " Psalm 27:1-3

Psalm 27:1-3 " The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear ? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid ? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. "

David was in a difficult situation, and the outlook, at least from all outward appearances, seemed overwhelmingly bleak. Yet, what David desired of his LORD in times of testing is truly extraordinary and serves as a helpful reminder to us when we find ourselves fearing future uncertainties. The psalmist's request for spiritual mercies rather than temporal relief is a prominent theme in this blessed psalm. Imagine what the LORD could do for us in our own time of testing if we would learn to elevate the spiritual above the physical, if we would realize that HE sometimes sends physical adversities in order to refine and strengthen our faith. Viewed from eternity's (and the LORD's) perspective, which is more important to you: spiritual victory or temporal relief ? David knew the answer and desired the " plain path " (vs.11), not just the easy way out. He also knew that GOD would guide him safely and securely along the way.

Enemies will always oppose the righteous, yet their purposes will surely end in disappointment (vv.2-3). Even the archenemy of our soul, who " as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour " (1st.Peter 5:8), will one day face defeat at the hand of GOD (Rev.20:10). David had formidable foes, and so do we. In addition to our personal struggles, the perilous political scene today can also bring fear and doubt. But notice David's response to pending conflict. Was it worry or hopelessness ? No ! " My heart shall not fear: ... in this will I be confident " (v.3). Wherein was the psalmist's confidence ? In HIS LORD, WHO was his light, salvation, and strength (v.1) ! We, too, can confidently say with David, " Of whom shall I be afraid ? " No one ! DWC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

www.feasite.org