They Had Been With Jesus

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."  Acts 4:13.  Those who have been with Jesus have boldness.  The presence of Jesus removes fear from our life.  He gives us an inner power that motivates us to go forth and do His will.  These enemies of Christ saw that these men had been with Jesus.  They were amazed at the willingness of the disciples to oppose them.  Jesus changes those who are with Him.  As His followers, we oppose evil and wrong doing.  The world must witness our relationship with Jesus.  They must know that we have been with Him. Our conduct will show our faith and commitment.  Faith comes from a personal relationship with Jesus.  Faith moves us to live faithfully to the cause of Jesus.  We are commissioned by Him to change the trends of society.  We are to move about in this world doing good.  The world will not appreciate the good that we do, but they must ever see that we have been with Jesus.

Enquired Of The Lord

"Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?  And the Lord said unto David, Go and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah."  I Samuel 23:2.  David's men expressed concern over going to Keilah.  So David enquired of the Lord again, and was given the same instruction.  The Lord will be with those who enquire of Him.  More people would be on safe ground spiritually if they enquired of the Lord.  Many people choose to serve God in their own way without making an enquiry of the Lord.  The Lord needs to be consulted as to how we are to serve Him.  The Lord has spoken through His word.  His instructions are exact.  His instructions do not change from time to time nor from culture to culture.  We know from Scripture that there have been those who offered sacrifice unto the Lord without enquiring of Him.  The consequences for such action was devastating.  God is never pleased with those who do not enquire of Him and seek His wisdom or will in any matter.  We must enquire of the Lord as to how we will obey His will and offer unto Him our worship.  In this way only will we be accepted of Him.

I Will Teach Thee

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."  Psalm 32:8.  There is a way that God would have us to travel.  And, He has given us a compass.  We do not know the way that we should go.  We are not mindful of the pitfalls and the obstacles.  As a captain sails across the sea and uses his compass, so we must rely upon God for our direction.  We have received from Him a word of instruction.  Let us hear what He says.  Let us learn from His divine mind for He teaches us eternal truth.  God can see what lies ahead of us, and so we follow His guidance.  If we receive His instruction, we will learn from Him who knows all.  If we will allow Him to teach us, we will be wise unto salvation.  His teaching will guard us against sin and loss.  His teaching gives life and health for the soul.  His instruction unlocks all of the mysteries of life.  His instruction leads us in the way of holiness.  God teaches us so that we do not fail in life's grand purpose.  As God instructs us, we learn of Him and what He would have us to be and do.  

Delivered For Our Offenses

"But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead: who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification."  Romans 4:24-25.  The righteousness which Abraham acquired because of his faith in God was intended for us as well.  Through our faith, we can know the righteousness of God.  We must believe in God who raised Jesus from the dead.  Jesus died for our offenses that we committed against God.  God delivered Him as an offering for our sins.  The cross and the empty grave was the means by which God would justify us.  We must believe as did Abraham.  Abraham's faith prompted him to follow all the instructions which God gave unto him.  He embraced the promise that God made to him.  As a result, he achieved the righteousness of God.  The key to our justification is "if we believe."  Jesus died for our offenses and was raised for our justification.  God allowed Christ to be offered for our eternal well being.  Righteousness comes by faith.  We are an heir of the promise made to Abraham long ago through our faith in  Jesus Christ.

A Strong Tower

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe."  Proverbs 18:10.  A tower provides refuge and safety.   The towers of men can be overthrown.  The great wall that protected Jericho was thrown down.  But, the tower of the Lord stands firm against all assaults.  The Lord protects the righteous.  The righteous need a place of safety because of the worldly elements that seek their destruction.  The righteous live in a world of evil.  In the tower of the Lord, there is purity and cleanliness.  This world is a land of darkness and deceit.  In the tower of the Lord, the righteous find light and truth.  Many are the burdens of the righteous.  In the tower of the Lord, the righteous find comfort.  This world is a place of weariness.  In the tower of the Lord, the righteous find rest.  This world is a place of war and disturbance.  In the tower of the Lord, the righteous find peace.  This world is a land of want.  In the tower of the Lord, the righteous find contentment.  The tower of the Lord is a sufficient refuge for the righteous.  There is an answer for every problem.  There is a provision for every need. Oh, ye righteous, run into the tower of the Lord and be safe.

A Glorious Name

"If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;"  Deuteronomy 28:58.  His name is the most glorious of all names.  His name is to be feared above all names. He is THE LORD.  His name is glorious because He is the Creator of heaven and earth.  His name is glorious because He is the Redeemer of all humanity.  His name is glorious because He is the Eternal One.  Exalt and praise His name.  Fall upon thy knees and seek His favor.  Fear Him for He has the power to build and tear down.  His name is glorious because He is the Father of all who will know Him through Jesus the Christ.  His name is glorious because He will call us forth from the grave.  His name is glorious because He will bring us into the judgment hall.  Those who fear Him keep His law.  They write it upon their heart.  The fear of His glorious name gives birth to eternal joy and everlasting hope.  The name of THE LORD THY GOD guides the step and gives light to the path.  It is the name that was shouted forth in the dark void of nothingness and it is the name that will shatter the caverns of the dead.  THE LORD THY GOD will endure forevermore.

The Foolishness Of Preaching

"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."  I Corinthians 1:21.  The wisdom of the world will cause one to deny the existence of God.  However, God's wisdom is greater than the learning of the world.  The design of God is to save the world.  For that reason, God sent preachers to declare the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The message of preaching is the gospel, which is the setting forth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  To the world, this is foolishness.  The world sees no need for preaching because the world does not see God.  The world is not affected by sin, and therefore, sees no need for salvation.  Preaching is to bring salvation to those who believe.  To be saved, one must believe in the message of preaching.  Without a belief in the truth of preaching, one will not seek to be saved.  Preaching sets forth the law that God would have us to accept so that we will be saved from sin.  If we believe, we will be saved.  If we do not believe, we will not be saved.