- araratchurch
- Mar 8, 2024
- 3 min read
“I said in my haste, “All men are liars.””
Psalms 116:11 NKJV
We all have felt the sting of being lied to by someone we trusted. But, even beyond that is the crushing blow of being lied on by those who were once considered friends.
In my telling of the spiritual journey, you may remember that I shared that right before the end scene of the journey, I was in the process of gathering witnesses to confront someone who had lied about me. The reality is that the person in this dreaming vision, has spoken what they know to be false concerning me. Of course, I have committed all vengeance and vindication to the Lord. But, to say that this betrayal doesn’t hurt, would itself be a lie.
Paul, making the point that all have sinned, quotes from the Old Testament, saying this:
“”Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”;“
Romans 3:13 NKJV
Indeed, lying is a part of the fallen nature, and finds its source in the father of lies.
“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.“
John 8:42-44 NKJV
Praise God that He does not lie. He is not like fallen man.
“”God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?“
Numbers 23:19 NKJV
Indeed, Paul pointed out that God cannot lie.
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;“
Titus 1:1-3 NKJV
The writer of Hebrews, in stressing the immutability of God’s promises, asserts that God cannot lie.
“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.“
Hebrews 6:17-18 NKJV
Now, being children of God through Jesus Christ, we must not lie.
“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.“
Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Sadly, many who claim to know Jesus continue lying. And, those who will not put aside lying will have their part of destruction with other impenitent sinners.
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”“
Revelation 21:7-8 NKJV
In today’s portion of Psalm 116 we see the psalmist speaking of the way he felt in the midst of his trouble. Whether or not EVERYONE had lied to/on him, doesn’t matter. It’s the way he felt. And, as we have been discussing, people do often lie.
But, the psalmist was delivered because he turned for help to the One Who never lies.
Friend, don’t allow the fact that some “friends” have lied to you, and/or lied about you, cause you to despair. Turn to the One WHO will not lie, Who cannot lie. He will help you.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 7, 2024
- 4 min read
“I believed, therefore I spoke, “I am greatly afflicted.””
Psalms 116:10 NKJV
Ahaz, king of Judah, had heard some terrible news: Two kings were conspiring to come up against him and take his kingdom. Because of this, the Lord sent Isaiah the prophet to give Ahaz a message of encouragement.
“But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “This invasion will never happen; it will never take place; for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed. Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.””
Isaiah 7:7-9 NLT
Yes, the Lord told Ahaz that the enemy’s plans would not work, and that Judah would be safe from them. As well, the Lord warned him that if he would not believe, he would not be able to stand against his enemies.
James echoes this truth when instructing as to how to receive wisdom.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.“
James 1:5-8 NKJV
Indeed, not only does doubt keep us from receiving from the Lord, it makes us unstable across the board.
The writer of Hebrews explains that Enoch did not have to experience death because his great faith pleased God. The writer then offers this commentary:
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.“
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
In today’s portion of Psalm 116 we see the psalmist giving commentary on his process of being delivered by the Lord. He is basically saying that it was because he believed that God could and would help him that he had cried out to God concerning his affliction.
Paul quotes this verse in his discourse to the church at Corinth. He was assuring them that God, having raised the Lord Jesus, will raise us also to be presented along with Jesus to Himself. Paul is saying that he can only tell them this because he believes what the Lord promised.
“But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.“
2 Corinthians 4:13-14 NLT
Friend, there may be things concerning which you can “fake it ‘til you make it.” But faith is not one of those things. The Lord knows our hearts; He knows whether we are walking/asking in faith. Asking the Lord to help, without believing what He has spoken, is probably an exercise in futility.
If you are lacking in faith, do what the man did who was asking Jesus to deliver his son.
“And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief!"“
Mark 9:20-24 ESV
The boy’s father wanted to believe, but knew that he still had some doubt. Therefore, he asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.
Yes, do what the disciples did when they found Jesus’ instruction to be difficult.
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"“
Luke 17:3-5 ESV
Don’t hesitate to ask the Lord to increase the faith you have. As well, do your part to starve your doubt and feed your faith by meditating on God’s word and keeping your thoughts centered on what He has said. It’s the only way we can please our Lord. And, it is the only way to receive from Him the help we need!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 6, 2024
- 3 min read
“I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.“
Psalms 116:9 NKJV
The Lord had already promised Abraham that He would give him a child of promise. Indeed, he would have a son through whom he would have descendants as many as the stars in the sky.
But, a lot of time passed; and we know that because of Sarah‘s insistence, Abraham went in to Hagar, and she conceived Ishmael.
However, the Lord had said that the child of promise would come from Sarah.
So, after the Ishmael incident, the Lord again appeared to Abraham, restating His covenant and instructing him concerning how he should live going forward.
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.””
Genesis 17:1-2 NKJV
Yes, the Lord instructed that Abraham should walk before Him and be blameless.
You see, “to walk before the Lord,” means to be constantly aware and reverential of the Lord’s presence. In fact, this aptly describes walking in the “fear of the Lord.”
This living and moving and having our being in the fear of the Lord (always aware and reverential of His presence), is what the proverbial writer meant by, “In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.“
Proverbs 3:5-8 NKJV
This “acknowledgement” of the Lord is not just the knowledge that He exists. It is walking in His ways of being and doing (righteousness).
“But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?“
James 2:18-20 NKJV
In our portion of Psalm 116 for today we see that the psalmist, after having acknowledged that the Lord had given him complete deliverance from death, grief, and trouble, turns to affirm that he will now live in reverential fear of the Lord.
Child of God, many people who seek God‘s help when they are in trouble, do not then turn to living in the fear of the Lord.
But make no mistake, the Lord does not deliver us so that we can go our own way. He delivers us to walk before Him, to let our light shine before a lost and dying world. Yes, He delivers us that we might bring glory and honor to His name!
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.“
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.“
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
Friend, even when we aren’t in a desperate situation, let’s be sure to walk before the Lord!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!