PSALM 66
Everyone should praise the LORD verse 1- 4
Make a joyful noise to God – all you lands
sing forth the honor of HIS name
make HIS praise glorious
Say to God
How terrible are YOU in YOUR works
through the greatness of YOUR power shall
YOUR enemies submit themselves to YOU
All the earth shall worship YOU – and shall sing to YOU
they shall sing to YOUR name SELAH
Omnipotence of God verse 5- 7
Come and see the works of God
HE is terrible in HIS doing toward the children of men
HE turned the sea into dry land
they went through the flood on foot
there did we rejoice in HIM
HE rules by HIS power for ever
HIS eyes behold the nations
let not the rebellious exalt themselves
SELAH
God purifies HIS people verse 8- 12
O bless our God – you people
and make the voice of HIS praise to be heard
which holds our soul in life
and suffers not our feet to be moved
For YOU – O God – hast proved us
YOU have tried us – as silver is tried
YOU brought us into the net
YOU laid affliction upon our loins
YOU have caused men to ride over our heads
we went through fire and through water
BUT YOU brought us out into a wealthy place
Keeping vows to the LORD is important verse 13- 15
I will go into YOUR house with burnt offering
I will pay YOU my vows – which my lips have uttered
and my mouth hath spoken
when I was in trouble
I will offer unto YOU burnt sacrifices of fatlings
with the incense of rams
I will offer bullocks with goats
SELAH
LORD only answers prayer of repentant sinner verse 16- 20
Come and hear – all you that fear God
and I will declare what HE has done for my soul
I cried to HIM with my mouth
and HE was extolled with my tongue
IF I regard iniquity in my heart – the Lord WILL NOT hear me
BUT verily God HAS HEARD me
HE has attended to the voice of my PRAYER
BLESSED be God – which has not turned away my PRAYER
nor HIS mercy from me
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Make a joyful noise to God, all you lands. (7321 “joyful noise” [ruwa] means cry out, shout, to utter a sudden loud cry, triumph, to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle, to shout in triumph over enemies, or to shout in applause)
DEVOTION: Here we have a psalm of praise. Who are we praising? It is always the LORD. We need to remember that HE is the one who gives us blessings and HE is the one who gives us victory over the world, the flesh and the devil.
The children of Israel are commanded to make a shout of triumph because they have the LORD working with them as long as they are obedient to HIM. HE does send judgment to correct HIS people but when they repent they can go to HIM for victory and HE will give it to them.
Are we shouting to the LORD on a regular basis in our daily walk with HIM? Do we turn to HIM for direction as we walk in the world on a daily basis? If our answers are “yes” to these questions then we can know that we will have victory over any enemy that comes our way.
Too often we think we can handle anything that comes our way without going to the LORD first. It is sad but true of most Christians. They think that they are strong enough to defeat the enemy on their own until they realize that they can’t. Sad but true.
CHALLENGE: We need to go to the LORD in prayer as soon as we know that a trial is coming our way. Once we turn to HIM, HE will give us the victory in HIS timing and in HIS way.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Tested – 974 974 בָּחַן [bachan /baw·khan/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 230; GK 1043; 29 occurrences; AV translates as “try” 19 times, “prove” seven times, “examine” once, “tempt” once, and “trial” once. 1 to examine, try, prove. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to examine, scrutinise. 1A2 to test, prove, try (of gold, persons, the heart, man of God). 1B (Niphal) to be tried, proved. 1C (Pual) to make a trial. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Testing come in as many ways as there are people. There are some that are fairly familiar and constant. Physical issues and emotional times that try the heart and soul of a person. Yet the psalmist looked at the testing process as just that, a process. He recognized that the Lord knew the impurities and unnecessary things that were in his life and how to get rid of them. Like silver is refined, so our person is refined by the Lord and brought to purity and sterling quality. While the metal has no feelings and endures the heat and process of proving the quality of metal, an individual does and at times seeks for the Lord to reduce or stop the procedure.
A person who has endured a great deal of health problems recently stated that he had come to realize that the Lord always intends and does what is good for us! We are the ones that misunderstand!
CHALLENGE: When you are going through a test recognize that the Lord is allowing the heat to be turned up to burn off the unnecessary elements. It all for your ultimate good! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
_________________________________________________________
:10 “For YOU, O God, hast proved us: YOU hast tried us, as silver is tried.” (“Tried,” 6884 צָרַף [tsaraph] 1 to smelt, refine, test. [Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software]).
DEVOTION: God allows testing to come into our lives for the purpose of refining us. This form of testing first occurred with Abraham in the offering of Isaac as a burnt sacrifice (Genesis 22), and this idea is repeated throughout the psalms. God allows mishaps to occur to His people so that they will trust Him more, and these are separate from the discipline that He brings into our lives when we sin against Him.
Testing is by its very nature not something we would seek for ourselves. It involves loss, and sometimes death of a vision. Yet God is working the background through this testing to refine us, so that we will be of greater use to Him. He wants us to learn the patience that will result in our knowing and serving Him more (James 1:2-4).
So testing is a sign of God’s favor, not of His disfavor, and it is designed to bring greater glory to God. God desires to wean us from the things of this life so that we will want Him and desire the life to come with Him more. We realize that we are part of two kingdoms, our temporal earthly life and our eternal heavenly life. God wants us to grow in our desire for the latter more than the former, so that we will rely on His provision for the former.
CHALLENGE: Are you in the midst of trials and testing right now? Pray to God (James 5:13). If it is not your turn to suffer right now, then pray for those who are suffering and are in the midst of testing (Hebrews 13:3). (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 YOU have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but YOU brought us out into a wealthy place. (7310 “wealthy” [revayah] means satisfaction, runneth over, saturation, place of abundance, or relief)
DEVOTION: The Psalmist wants everyone to praise the LORD with a joyful noise. Why should they? He gives them some reasons.
First, we should praise the LORD for HIS works. Secondly, we should praise the LORD because HE defeats our enemies. Thirdly, we should praise the LORD for HIS miracles. We should especially praise HIM for the miracle of salvation. Fourthly, we should praise the LORD for HIS watchful eye over those who are believers.
However, HE also tests those who say they are followers of the LORD. It is also stated by the Psalmist that the LORD doesn’t answer the prayers of those who are not followers. The first prayer that is answered is one of repentance and faith.
Our God does send us trials to prove us and cause us to grow. The psalmist tells us that we are to worship God. We are to worship because of all HIS works toward us. We are to worship because HE holds our soul in HIS hands. We are to worship because HE has tried us and proved us. We are to worship because of the afflictions HE sends our way.
The trials are no fun. HE sends some that we don’t think HE should send our way. During those times we question HIS love and HIS power. This psalm tells us that we should enter our trials with worship and end our trials with worship. Every trial we face HE brings us THROUGH to a place of relief.
Does that mean that the trials are over? NO! Just that HE does give us rest when we need it. HE gives us a glimpse of HIS presence. HE gives us a glimpse of HIS mercy. We need to keep our eyes on the big picture.
HIS works show us that HE finishes what HE starts. HE finished creation and HE will finish our road to Christ-likeness. Our responsibility is to praise HIM through it all. HE is going to bring us to a place of abundance for eternity.
During all our trials we need to come to HIM in prayer. Remembering “that if we regard sin in our heart, HE will not hear our prayers.” First, we need to confess our sins. Then, bring our petitions to HIM. Are we keeping short accounts with God?
CHALLENGE: Our place of satisfaction should be in HIS presence. The riches of this world should never be counted on. Our riches are in heaven. Use what HE gives us for HIS glory!!!
_____________________________________________________
: 20 Blessed be God, which has not turned away my prayer, nor HIS mercy from me. (3249 “turned away” [ yacuwr] means turn aside, direct away from something or someone, departing, go away, leave, or cause to forsake)
DEVOTION: The Psalmist teaches what he believes is true of the LORD in his life. He has a personal relationship with the LORD and keeps short accounts with HIM.
It is because of this relationship that the LORD hears his prayers. HE answers his prayers. There is a confidence in the work of the LORD in his life that calls him to bless the LORD for HIS actions in his life.
We know that he believes and the Bible teaches that the first prayer that the LORD hears of those who are not followers is a prayer of repentance. Once someone is in the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ the LORD hears our prayers if we are willing to confess our sins regularly to HIM. If we regard sin in our heart HE will not even hear the prayers of the saints unless they confess their sins which HE is faithful and just to forgive because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.
Too often those who say they have become a follower of Jesus Christ are not willing to give their life wholly to HIM. They might have said a prayer but the heart was not changed. Those who have genuinely changed would genuinely want to confess their sins before they come to the LORD for blessings.
Blessings come to believers who are genuine and regular in their confession. God doesn’t hear the prayers of those who are outside of Christ until it is a prayer of confession that is genuine. HE also doesn’t hear the prayers of those who are HIS saints if they are not keeping short accounts with HIM. HE wants us to be genuine when we come to HIM. HE wants us to ask for HIS help only after we have kept our part of the relationship fresh. Otherwise, HE has to chasten or correct us to get us on the right track again.
Is God hearing your prayers? If you have never made a genuine commitment to HIM that has changed your direction in life then the answer is no. If you have made a genuine commitment to HIM but are not keeping short accounts with HIM, HE is going to chasten or correct you before HE answers your prayers.
CHALLENGE: Only YOU know where you stand with the LORD. The Psalmist knew where he stood with the LORD. He was blessed!!!
_________________________________________________________________
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Regard iniquity – HE will not hear verse 18
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
God answers the prayers of the righteous verse 17- 20
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Joyful noise verse 1
Sing verse 2, 4
Praise verse 2, 8
Worship verse 4
Rejoice verse 6
Bless verse 8, 20
HIS house verse 13
Offerings verse 13, 15
Vows verse 13
Burnt sacrifices verse 15
Prayers verse 17- 20
__________________________________________________________
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 1, 3, 5, 8, 10,
16, 19, 20
Works of God verse 3, 5
Greatness of HIS power verse 3
HE rules by HIS power verse 7
HIS eyes behold the nations verse 7
Holds our souls verse 9
Suffers not our feet to be moved verse 9
Proves believers through trials verse 10
Allows affliction on believers verse 11
Brought believers to go through fire
And through water – brings them out verse 12
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 18
Not hear prayers of those who will not repent verse 18
Hears believers verse 19
Attends to the voice of prayer verse 19
Shows mercy verse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemies verse 3
Children of men verse 5
Nations verse 7
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Rebellious verse 7
Iniquity verse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Joyful noise verse 1
Sing verse 2, 4
Honor verse 2
Praise verse 2, 8
Worship verse 4, 13
Rejoice verse 6
Bless verse 8, 20
Souls held by God verse 9, 16
Unmovable verse 9
Proved us verse 10
Tried us verse 10
Affliction verse 11, 14
Brought out of affliction verse 12
Wealthy place verse 12
Pay vows verse 13
Fear of the LORD verse 16
Prayer verse 17- 20
Cry to the LORD verse 17
Mercy verse 20
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
God’s house: Temple verse 13
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
____________________________________________________________
QUOTES regarding passage
20. Yet the final word of gratitude is not for the answered request alone, but for what it signifies: an unbroken relationship with God, which is pledged (see on 17:6), personal, and—since it might deservedly have been removed—ever a gift of grace. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 254). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
_______________________________________________________
66:16–20. Here he addressed the congregation in praise to God (a declarative praise). He told them that God responded to his prayer (I cried out to Him) and God delivered him. However, it would not have happened that way if he had clung to sin (cf. Prov. 28:9; Isa. 59:2). But God did listen and answer his prayer. The point is clear: God’s people, when in need, should purify their hearts and pray to Him. Then He will answer and not withhold His loyal love, and other believers may praise and exalt Him. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 842). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
_______________________________________________________
But the grateful heart is not satisfied with this expression of thankfulness to God. It would tell of His goodness to all around, that they may praise Him too; and so the Psalmist here (ver. 16)—“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul.” So Jesus saith to him that was dispossessed of the Legion—“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee” (Matt. 5:19); and those who experienced His mercy could not be restrained from publishing it. He adds that the answer to his prayer had been vouchsafed on the ground of his innocence—not (as before remarked of such declarations) absolute innocence before God, but innocence as regards the prevailing “iniquity” and apostacy—integrity in God’s service; the evidence of which, and his vindication from the calumnies of his persecutors, is, that God, who hears not the prayer of the wicked, had heard and answered his prayer (ver. 17–20). (De Burgh, W. (1858). A Commentary on the Book of Psalms; Critical, Devotional, and Prophetical: With the Text of the Authorized Version (pp. 537–538). Dublin; London; Edinburgh: Hodges, Smith and Co.; Hamilton, Adams & Co.; John Menzies.)
_____________________________________________________
20. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer. That is, It is fit that I should praise and adore God for the fact that he has graciously condescended to listen to the voice of my supplications.
Nor his mercy from me. There is no more proper ground of praise than the fact that God hears prayer—the prayer of poor, ignorant, sinful, dying men. When we consider how great is his condescension in doing this;—when we think of his greatness and immensity;—when we reflect that the whole universe is dependent on him, and that the farthest worlds need his care and attention;—when we bear in mind that we are creatures of a day and “know nothing;”—and especially when we remember how we have violated his laws, how sensual, corrupt, and vile our lives have been, how low and grovelling have been our aims and purposes, how we have provoked him by our unbelief, out ingratitude, and our hardness of heart—we can never express, in appropriate words, the extent of his goodness in hearing our prayers, nor can we find language which will properly give utterance to the praises due to his name for having condescended to listen to our cries for mercy. (Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 2, p. 197). London: Blackie & Son.)
______________________________________________________
The reason for this thanksgiving is that God has attended to the voice of my prayer (v. 19). The OT insists that each member of the people must own the covenant for himself; thus each one would have some report of what God has done for his soul (and not just for the people as a whole). The wording here is quite general, allowing the song to be used in a wide variety of situations. The one requirement is that the worshiper has not cherished (lit., “looked forward to,” “aimed for”) iniquity in his heart (v. 18). The term “iniquity” here (Hb. ’awen) refers to what is vile and abhorrent to God. To “cherish iniquity” is to aim at it; in context it refers to praying for God’s help in order to be able to commit some form of sin—a practice the truly pious reject. Therefore it would be a misinterpretation to read this as implying that absolute sinlessness is a condition for answered prayer; rather, it reminds the faithful to pray for God’s help in order to give him thanks and to serve him better (cf. James 4:3). (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
______________________________________________________________________
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
________________________________________________________________________
A congregation is a fellowship of sinners, those who know their own waywardness, their own willfulness, and how much they need to be redeemed. It is precisely those who know such things who are in the churches or, at least, ought to be. For it is here, in the company of others, that we learn of God’s goodness and of his grace. It is here that we think together about life and its meaning. We are enriched through the gifts that God has given in the church. ….
The fact is that the meaning of life, in all of its grandeur, complexity, and tragedy should be understood nowhere more profoundly than in the church on Sunday morning. This is because it is being understood in the light of God’s Word. This, however, is an uncommon experience. We are, instead, adrift in so many of our churches on a sea of triviality, amusement, and superficiality. And I dare say that none of this would be true if our knowledge of Scripture were better, if our knowledge of God were deeper, and if our desire to make him central in our worship were greater. (p. 216, God in the Whirlwind, David F. Wells)
___________________________________________________________
Dawn shares: I have to admit, I always wondered what this part of Psalm 23 meant. I thought “He anoints my head with oil” was figurative language for God keeping the Psalmist healthy. I never knew this parallel. Anoint my head with oil
“Sheep can get their head caught in briers and die trying to get untangled. There are horrid little flies that like to torment sheep by laying eggs in their nostrils which turn into worms and drive the sheep to beat their head against a rock, sometimes to death. Their ears and eyes are also susceptible to tormenting insects. So the shepherd anoints their whole head with oil. Then there is peace. That oil forms a barrier of protection against the evil that tries to destroy the sheep. Do you have times of mental torment? Do the worrisome thoughts invade your mind over and over? Do you beat your head against a wall trying to stop them? Have you ever asked God to anoint your head with oil? He has an endless supply! His oil protects and makes it possible for you to fix your heart, mind, and eyes on Him today and always! There is peace in the valley! May our good good Father anoint your head with oil today so that your cup overflows with blessings! God is good and He is faithful!!” (Thanks Amber F.)
___________________________________________________________
No Darkness at All
“. . . in him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
Some have suggested that the gospel message is the most important truth in the Bible—and, perhaps, from a temporal human standpoint it may well be. However, there is another, more frequent message throughout all of Scripture here summarized by John: “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
In the Bible, God’s “light” is clearly focused on intellectual and moral holiness. That unique holy nature both drives and limits the revelation of Himself to His creation.
In the intellectual sense, God is the source of all truth (Psalm 119:130;Psalm 36:9). The holiness of God requires truth, and because of His holiness God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Whenever God reveals anything, He must reveal the truth about Himself and His nature.
The opposite of truth, even though it may contain some truth, is the active agent that opposes God’s truth as it is revealed to His creation.
Lies (darkness) oppose the revelation of that truth:
- In the created “things” (universe)
- In the written Word (Scripture)
- In the “new” creation (salvation)The incarnate Creator God must reveal truth and cannot “be” untruth. When God speaks, He must speak truth. When God acts, He must “do” truth. God’s holiness demands that the creation not distort anything about God—or about the creation itself.
God could not create a lie—He could not make anything that would inexorably lead us to a wrong conclusion. God could not create processes that would counter His own nature—or that would lead us to conclude something untrue about Him. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
_________________________________________________________
A JUDGMENT
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8
The apostle Paul was once very proud of his achievements, all he had accomplished as Saul of Tarsus. But when he saw Christ, all he could say was, “I count them but dung.” “From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” He will arrive at the bar of eternal judgment with nothing at all, just his own miserable, sinful self , naked, empty, forlorn, and hopeless–and he will go on living like that forever and ever.
This word is a judgment. Do you have this vital thing or do you not? “But what can I do?” asks someone. “I see now that I am a fool. I hadn’t realized that it was a mystery. I thought I knew what Christianity is, but I see now that it means being reconciled to God, being right for the judgment and for eternity. I know nothing about it–how can I get it?”
It is quite simple. Instead of shutting your eyes in blind prejudice, open them and pay attention to the message. Come as a little child, as a pauper. Come as you are, not to criticize, not to be clever, not to justify yourself; come and acknowledge that you have nothing. “Except ye be converted,” says our Lord, “and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). You need the simplicity of a little child. You need, in other words, an acknowledgment of your sin, of your utter failure. You have to come saying, “I am nothing. I have nothing. God have mercy upon me, a sinner.”
A Thought to Ponder: You have to come saying, “I am nothing. I have nothing. God have mercy upon me, a sinner.” (From The Kingdom of God, pp. 103-104, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
___________________________________________________
Abraham, Moses, David, and Esther are all living lives of obscurity when God chooses them. He uses them for great things because they are faithful to Him in the little things. While not all of us are destined to do incredible things in the eyes of man, greatness in the eyes of God is simply being faithful to Him the best way we know how. God has not forgotten about us; His eye is on us. And He will use us–even if only in seemingly “small” ways. (Quiet Walk)
________________________________________________________
Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Psalm 98
What brings Joy to the World? For many it is the blessing of work, financial advancement, relationships, or family. I truly love when all my family is in one place and the house is alive with activity and noise. While all these objects or people can bring a degree of happiness, the only One that brings true joy is God Himself!
Isaac Watts wrote hundreds of songs that the church has enjoyed over the years. His intent in writing new hymns was to move the church from just singing the Psalms to more experienced based songs. While many of his songs were still associated with the Psalms, he attempted to associate everyday truths in the lyrics he wrote.
Joy to the World was initially written as a paraphrase of Psalm 98. It speaks of the salvation that began when God became incarnate as the Babe of Bethlehem who was destined to remove the curse of Adam’s fall. Watts desired to emphasize the second coming of Christ and the church’s expression of praise as they anticipated the return of the Savior.
When combined with the music adapted from Handel’s Messiah in 1742, the hymn became incredibly popular. Even though it omits references to shepherds, angelic choruses, wise men, Mary or Joseph, this hymn has remained a constant in Christmas repertoire annually.
We have much to rejoice over as we listen to the words of this song and reflect upon the Lord’s first coming to earth. He came to remove sin and sorrow from man. We know that one day He will reign and rule as Savior for all time. Whether as a Babe in the manger or a crowned monarch coming on a white horse to conquer His foes (Rev.19:11-16), Christ brings Joy to the World. With Christ in us, are we examples of joy to our world? We can express gratitude for not only our Savior’s birth but also for His soon return with the words, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her king!”
With an Expectant Hope Pastor Miller
____________________________________________________________
1 John 3
Those who say they love God must manifest that love by loving others.
INSIGHT
The final test of Christian character is action, not words. It is not what you say that determines your life message, but what you do. John writes: “Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” (v. 18). Consistency is one of the great challenges of the Christian walk. Whenever our actions do not match our words, the message of our actions always overrides the message of our words. Therein lies the basis for one of the most consistent complaints against Christianity over the ages: hypocrisy. (Quiet Walk)
______________________________________________________
THE CERTAINTY OF EVERLASTING LIFE
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
The knowledge that we have eternal life is something that is possible to us. That is something that needs to be emphasized. There are those who would tell us that eternal life is something to which we attain only when we come to die and leave this world and go into the next. They suggest that it is wrong for anyone to claim that he has eternal life. Such people dislike the doctrine of assurance. “We do not know,” they say, “and we must not seek to know. Faith means that you are always grasping at it, but it is something you cannot actually have while you are in this world.”
But that is a philosophical concept of faith that is not in accordance with what we have here. John says in essence, “My whole object in writing to you now is that you may know that you have eternal life and know it certainly. I want you to know that you possess it.”
You find the other apostles saying the same thing. What was more characteristic of the apostle Paul than this assurance? In Romans 8 he says, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (verses 38-39). “I know whom I have believed,” he writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:12). “I know,” he says. There is no uncertainty about it.
So it seems to me that to interpret faith as a kind of constant uncertainty is to deny the teaching of the Word of God that we are His children.
A Thought to Ponder: The knowledge that we have eternal life is something that is possible to us. (From Life in God, pp. 92-93, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
__________________________________________________________
We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.