- araratchurch
- Mar 13, 2024
- 4 min read
“I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people.“
Psalms 116:14 NKJV
Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his own brothers, found himself back in prison because of the false accusation of Potiphar‘s wife. While in prison, he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Both had been thrown in prison because of their offenses against the king of Egypt.
Joseph’s interpretation of the butler’s dream indicated that he would be restored to his position in three days.
“Now within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your place, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand according to the former manner, when you were his butler. But remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house. For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.””
Genesis 40:13-15 NKJV
Joseph also interpreted the dream of the baker. But this interpretation, was not of restoration, but of his being executed.
“Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head from you and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from you.””
Genesis 40:19 NKJV
Sure enough, Joseph’s interpretations proved to be accurate with the butler being restored to his position and the baker being executed.
“Now it came to pass on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. Then he restored the chief butler to his butlership again, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.“
Genesis 40:20-23 NKJV
Yes, the interpretations came to pass. However, the butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot about him.
After two full years of Joseph remaining in prison, Pharaoh had the dream of the seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. None of his magicians could interpret the dream for him. It was at this point that the butler’s memory was suddenly jogged.
“Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.“
Genesis 41:9 NKJV
The butler told Pharaoh about Joseph’s accurate interpretations of his and the baker’s dreams. Pharaoh then called Joseph before him. And, from Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph ended up second in command in Egypt, overseeing the storing up of food for seven years, preparing for the seven-year famine that did come.
Breaking our promises, not keeping our word, is a terrible thing. Joseph stayed in jail an extra two years because of the butler’s forgetfulness.
But, as bad as is to not keep our word to each other, imagine how much worse it is when we promise God we’ll do anything if He will just get us out of trouble, or will give us what we are requesting, then don’t even think about Him again. Even worse, some not only forget to fulfill what was promised to God, but also fail to simply obey Him.
The Lord takes His own word very seriously. As we have discussed, the Lord keeps His promises.
The ecclesiastical writer tells us that we would be better not to make a vow, than to make it and break it.
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.“
Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 NKJV
Jesus instructed that we should be very careful in terms of making vows.
“”Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.“
Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV
Don’t rashly promise things to the Lord. Rather, keep His word, and—as we have discussed before—don’t fail to praise Him. Walking in obedience, and praising Him, is the best way to show your gratitude for what the Lord has done. That is the best way to show that you have not forgotten Him.
Now, if you have made promises you did not, or cannot keep, quit ignoring your failure, your sin, confess it to Lord, He will forgive you.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.“
I John 1:9-10 NKJV
In today’s portion of Psalm 116 we see that the psalmist, after rehearsing what the Lord has done for him, says that he will keep his promises to the Lord. Not only that, he will do this in the presence of God’s people.
After the spiritual journey, the Lord required that I share what He showed me through it, all of it, which I have. In my case, it is not that I had specifically told the Lord that I would speak about the journey if He would bring me out. However, I have devoted my life to speaking, to the best of my ability, what He gives me. I keep that vow.
Friend, if you have failed the Lord by not honoring a promise to Him, again, repent. And, going forward, watch your words: Don’t rashly promise something you can never, or will never, do.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 12, 2024
- 4 min read
“I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.“
Psalms 116:13 NKJV
David was running for his life from King Saul. At one point, he sought refuge in the cave of Abdullam. It wasn’t long before all those who were in some sort of trouble and distress, gathered to him there. These men would come to be known as David’s “mighty men,” David’s army.
At one point while in that cave, David longingly mused to himself:
“”Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!””
II Samuel 23:15 NKJV
Now, at this point, Bethlehem was occupied by a garrison of the Philistines. Even still, three of his mighty men, upon hearing David’s words, broke through the Philistines’ camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. However, when the men returned from this mission, David poured out the water to the Lord, saying:
““Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.“
II Samuel 23:17 NKJV
David, knowing what peril these three men had faced to bring him that cup of water, saw it as too precious of a thing, to consume. He chose rather to offer the water as a drink offering to the Lord.
The practice of giving drink offerings was what Paul was referencing when he said this to Timothy:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.“
II Timothy 4:6 NKJV
As well, Paul was referencing a drink offering when he spoke this to the Philippians:
“But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.“
Philippians 2:17 NLT
Indeed, the psalmist, prophetically speaking in the stead of Jesus, spoke of His life being poured out.
“My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.“
Psalms 22:14 NLT
Now here’s the mind blowing aspect of Christ’s drink offering of His own precious blood: He poured out Himself, His Life, to obtain and secure our salvation!
In today’s portion of Psalms 116 we see the psalmist, after having thought how to render something back to the Lord for His benefits, speaks of lifting the cup of salvation. The Lord had saved him from destruction. Now he offers a “toast” back to God, lifting the cup representing the Lord’s salvation, back to Him.
Think of it. Jesus drank the cup of suffering and death so that we could drink the cup of salvation and everlasting life!
Yes, Jesus was/is all God; but He was/is also all man. Yet, He drank the cup of suffering poured for Him by the Father.
“He [Jesus] went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””
Matthew 26:39 NKJV
As a matter of fact, Jesus refused any attempt to try to save Him from His cup.
“Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?””
John 18:10-11 NKJV
The Lord, speaking prophetically through Isaiah, says this:
“Therefore, I will divide and give Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], And He shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because He [willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors.“
Isaiah 53:12 AMP
Yes, we have obtained everlasting life by way of the awful price paid by our Lord.
And, as the apostle Paul remarked, our life doesn’t belong to us. Our life belongs to the Lord.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.“
I Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
David’s mighty men offered him a cup of water they had obtained at their own peril. Jesus offers us a cup He obtained, not just by exposing Himself to peril, but by offering Himself even to death. How can we not pour out our lives as an offering on the Lord’s sacrifice?
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“
Romans 12:1-2 NLT
Unless we are called to be a martyr, we pour out our lives as a living sacrifice. That is, we live our lives for His purposes and His purposes alone.
Each time we share in the Lord’s table, we are remembering the price He paid—His death—to offer us the cup of salvation. Let us show our gratitude for what He has done, by pouring out our lives for His glory.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 11, 2024
- 3 min read
“What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?“
Psalms 116:12 NKJV
In Moses’ rehearsal to the people concerning their 40 year wilderness journey, he gave them a very important warning.
“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.“
Deuteronomy 8:10-11, 17, 19 NKJV
Moses reminded the people of what the Lord had said concerning the fact that prosperity would tempt them to forget what He had done for them. And notice, the Lord said that forgetting about Him, would be the result of their personally taking credit for their victories!
Sadly, we know that the children of Israel did go through periods of forgetting God, resulting in their idolatry and the ignoring of God’s commands. And, each period of their ingratitude and rebellion led to the destruction about which the Lord had warned.
The psalmist knew the importance of remembering what the Lord has done for us.
“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.“
Psalms 100:3-5 NKJV
Indeed, entrance into the Lord’s presence is facilitated by our thanksgiving and praise.
We live in a time where many people have developed a sense of entitlement. As such, any good things are received as being “deserved.” And, any shortfall of their expectations is met with anger and resentment.
Tragically, even some Christians have come to view the Lord with the same arrogance and ingratitude. In such cases, the emphasis has shifted from the rule of Christ to man’s rule.
Make no mistake, as that trend always ended badly for the children of Israel, it will end badly for anyone who forgets God.
”"Mark this, then, you who forget God, lest I tear you apart, and there be none to deliver! The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!"“
Psalm 50:22-23 ESV
Paul warned that the ingratitude we are seeing is one of the signs of living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!“
II Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV
In today’s portion of Psalm 116 we see that the psalmist, having been delivered from destruction by the Lord, seeks to imagine what he could possibly give back in return.
Child of God, the Lord has done for us far above what we could have imagined; even now, we only realize a fraction of our benefits from the Lord.
“giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.“
Colossians 1:12-14 NKJV
Yes, through the Lord we have been delivered from darkness and destruction and have gained entrance into His holy Kingdom of light!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!