The Friend of God

What does it take to be the Friend of God?
As I mused over the past Messages on Jehovah, our God I remembered that Scripture talks about being a Friend of God. As I went to the Scripture my mind was on; “What does it take to be a “Friend” of God?  There is much to be said about “friends” in the Bible.  It talks about good friends and it mentions friends of betrayal.  The Kingdom of Saul had fallen because His friendship with God had become void and there was no sound communication. His relationship with God had turned to disobedience.  Scripture reveals it was at this point that God chose David... The prophet Samuel brought the Message to Saul.  It is found in 1 Samuel 13:14 as the Prophet under the guidance of God speaks to Saul ─ “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought Him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded Him to be captain over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. And in Acts 13:22 we read: “And when He had removed Saul, God raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also He gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine Own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.” Is not the First Commandment of God, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, thy soul, thy might, thy mind, thy strength and thy neighbor as thyself …?  [Deut 6:5 -Matt 22:37-Mark 12:30- Luke 10:27] This is the pattern for the Friend of God. Those of our forefathers who obeyed the Lord were His Friend. It takes communication to develop a friendship. If we desire a friend we must be a friend! Consider Moses, Abraham, and Jesus spoke of Lazarus as a friend. The Wisdom Literature of Scripture declares: “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  Prov. 18:24 Jesus! The Friend that sticks close – Hear His Words: John 15:15-16  “… I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.  Loving you Pastor

The Faithful God

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the Faithful God, which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that Love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations;” ~ Deut 7:9

My heart has been captivated once more as the Messages of “God our Jehovah” has come into my spirit. Over and over it rolls in my mind, the Faithfulness of our God. All through Scripture we are given precious promises of His Faithfulness, of His Holiness, and of the Mighty Power of the God we serve.  There are many Gods today in our society and yet there is only One God and He is Jehovah, the One who has given us His Son and the Written power of His Word.  He is taken for granted a lot these days as our country is slowly losing sight of His glory and Majesty. He is a Faithful God, keeping Covenant thousands upon thousands of years. In a day when contracts are easily broken and vows set aside as they had never been vowed ... there is a Faithful one keeping His Word.  He has be rejected, neglected, cursed, and forgotten to many in our society, yet He remains the same – full of Love and Compassion for His creation! In our temptations, and sometime disobedience, He never wavers. Our God is always on hand with forgiveness and a way of escape from the evil one. He is a Faithful High Priest and a Faithful Creator.  His Faithfulness is new every morning! Yesterday was full of trials and temptations, harassment and perhaps stress, and perhaps some weeping, but as His Word declares; “Joy cometh in the morning!” Because His Mercy endures and His compassion never fails – it is new every morning! O church, Great is the Faithfulness of our God!  Give Him praise, Give Him Honor and Magnify His Holy Name! Loving you, Pastor

There is None Like Thee

“Forasmuch as there is none like unto Thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and Thy name is great in might. Who would not fear Thee, O King of Nations? For to Thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the Nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto Thee. ~ Jer. 10:6-7

O Worship the Lord let us exalt His name together!  Truly the Lord Jesus is to be praised, and our Father God is to be revered, let us hallow His Holy name!  What an awesome service the Lord extended unto us last week. I have rejoiced all week just to see hungry souls in the altar at Commerce. So much is going on in our world, and many are hurting and desolate! Jesus Christ is our only answer.  As I mused over all the things that the Lord did in our midst, I could only say unto Him, “There is none like unto Thee!”  Immediately I knew that such a phrase came from Scripture and so the Message was born.  O God there is none like thee!  How important is such a statement in this moment and time? The signs of the time [God’s timing] are all around us! As we keep our eye on Israel and a Prayer in our heart for her Peace, we recognize that “There is no God like Jehovah!”  Scripture reveals His glorious power:  Jeremiah speaks as the Oracle of God and declares:  “The Lord is the True God, He is the Living God, and an Everlasting King: and there is none like unto Him!”  As you Read Chapter 10 of Jeremiah, he speaks about the gods of this world and twice he proclaims “There is none like unto Thee, O Lord!” He admonishes us not to learn the way of the heathen [think on this] and not to be dismayed by the signs of heaven; the heathen will be dismayed!  Here is a powerful statement as we remember there is none like unto our God ... “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,,,”  The psalmist echoes the cry of Jeremiah; “Among the gods, there is none like unto thee, O Lord; All the nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, and shall glorify Thy name, for Thou art great and Thou art God alone!” I hear David’s Pray ... “Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”  ~ Ps 119:35 Loving you, Pastor