Category: General

• Intro:
  • Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
  • This Sunday is regarded by many as Easter Sunday, but “Easter” is the name of a female pagan goddess.
  • In actuality, for us, this is not Easter Sunday but rather Resurrection Sunday, the day on which the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead following his crucifixion. 
  • So, today I am going to preach on some Biblical aspects of the resurrection that are helpful for all of us.
• The prophecy of his resurrection – 1 Cor 15:3-4
  • – his resurrection was “according to the scriptures”
  • – Peter knew where the principle verses were in Ps 16:10-11 which say, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 
  • On many occasions the Lord prophesied of his resurrection.  He said to the Pharisees, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” [Jn 2:19]. 
  • In another place he told them, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,” [Matt 12:40]. 
  • He told his disciples, “… that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be raised again the third day,” [Matt 16:21].
• The proof of his resurrection – Acts 1:3 says that,
  • “he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days”
  • – 1 Cor 15:5-8 identifies the different people that saw the Lord risen from the dead: Cephas, the twelve, above 500 brethren at one time, James, all the apostles, and Paul
  • – in Rev 1:12-18 John saw him in heaven
  • – Thomas wouldn’t believe until he saw him face to face and had the opportunity to touch the wounds
  • – when he saw him he worshipped him and said, “My Lord and my God,” Jn 20:28 – not the least of all of these proofs is the empty tomb.
• The purpose of his resurrection 
• – there are several very important reasons why Jesus had to rise from the dead
  • – first, for Israel, their hope is in the resurrection of the saints of their nation [Acts 23:6]
    • – according to Ezek 37, the saints who are laid in their graves will rise and inhabit the land of Israel forever
  • –    David is mentioned by name as one who will rise and lead the nation [Ezek 37:24-25]
  • – second, the gospel is incomplete without his resurrection
    • – in his death and burial our sins are paid for and the body of sins is destroyed [Rom 6:6]
    • – but in his resurrection is where we get to walk in the newness of life [Rom 6:4]
    • we are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord [Rom 6:11]
  • – third, because of his resurrection his body in now in heaven seated at the right hand of God
    • – when we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into his body we are already seated in heavenly places in him [1 Cor 12:13; Eph 5:30, 2:6]
    • – his resurrection gives us proof and assurance that the life he offers us is, in fact, eternal.
• The power of his resurrection – in Phil 3:10 Paul said,
  • “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” 
  • In Gal 2:20 Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” 
  • In 1 Cor 15:31 Paul said, “I die daily.” 
  • What all this means simply is that when you receive Jesus as your Saviour you don’t have to try to start living like you’re a Christian. 
  • You simply die to yourself and let Christ live his life through you.
  • You are crucified with Christ to be made conformable unto his death so that the power of God that raised him from the dead will work in you to change who you are and thereby change what you do.
• Take a thief, for example. 
  • He didn’t become a thief the first time that he stole something. 
  • He was already a thief at heart or he would have never stolen anything. 
  • Once he steals, he reveals that he is a thief. 
  • Now this thief gets saved; he’s still a thief. 
  • He comes to Christ and he says, “I am a no good, sorry, guilty thief and I need to change.” 
  • He repents of being a thief but, because he is a thief at heart, simply refusing to steal doesn’t change him. 
  • Under the wrong circumstances he will steal again. 
  •  So, in Christ he dies to being a thief and is risen to walk as an honest man. 
  • Christ living inside of him gives him the power to quit being a thief and, therefore, he quits stealing. 
  •  If the old fellow decides to come down off of that cross where he is crucified with Christ and start living his old life again, you can be sure that he’ll start stealing again one of these days. 
  • Why? 
  • He’s back to being a thief. 
  • You see, it is the resurrection power of Christ that changes us into God’s creatures. 
  • Without the resurrection, we would just be another brand of religion.
• The promise of his resurrection 
  • – the promise of his resurrection is simply this: as his body literally rose from the dead so our bodies will literally rise from the dead. 
  • We are buried in corruption and we will be raised in incorruption. 
  • We live in mortality but we will be changed into immortality [1 Cor 15:50-55]. 
  • Jesus Christ, because of his resurrection, is going to “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” [Phil 3:21]. 
  • Folks, those of us who are saved are going to rise one day with a brand new, glorified body which will never sin, never suffer pain, never die and never sorrow again. 
  • Glory to God.
• Conclusion:
  • You have no need to doubt whether the bodily resurrection of Jesus is real: it was prophesied, it was proven and its purposes are being fulfilled. 
  • If you want the power of Christ to work in you to save you, to change who you are, to give you eternal life and to change what your body will be like in eternity, then you need to trust Jesus Christ today. 
  •  And if you are already saved and struggling with the same sin over and over with no change and no victory, you need to admit what you are, die to yourself on the cross with Christ and yield to the power of his resurrection within you. 
  • And remember to be comforted by this fact, Jesus is coming soon to give you a brand new body that will live forever with him in eternity!!

• Text:         Acts 7:48-60
• Introduction:
  • What fills your mind?
  • The things of God or things of the world?
  • Stephen is a great example to each of us as to what we should be filled with.
• Question:
  • What are these things?
  • He was a man:
• 1)   Full of Faith (Acts 6:5,8).
  • Faith binds us to God.
  • Faith has three qualities:
    • a)   It is the act of the will in receiving Christ as Saviour – John 1:12.
      • Saving faith.
    • b)   It is living in obedience to God – Acts 5:29,32.
      • Walking by faith.
    • c)   It is the attitude of the heart in leaving things in God’s hands.
      • (II Cor.4:13-18)
  • Faith rest.
    • To be full of faith means that there is no room for doubt, nor fear in the heart, just as there is no room for anything else in a full vessel.
• 2)   Full of the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5).
  • How do we become filled with the Holy Spirit? – Eph.5:18.
    • a)   Sing (Eph. 5:19).
    • b)   Give thanks (Eph. 5:20).
    • c)   Submit yourselves to one another. (Eph. 5:21)
    • d)   Children, obey your parents (Eph. 6:1)
    • e)   Be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10).
    • f)    Put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:11).
    • g)   Pray always (Eph. 6:18).
    • h)  Fill yourself with Scripture.
• 3)   Full of Power (Acts 6:8).
  • Power is the ability to do things.
  • God never asks us to do things without giving us the power to do them.
  • With every command there is a promise.
    • “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost..” Acts 1:8
  • We need power to share the Gospel, to have compassion on the needy, to teach God’s Word, to rebuke error, and to edify others.
  • We are filled with God’s power as we are filled with God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
    • ‘Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.’ Micah 3:8.
• 4)   Full of Light (Acts 6:15).
  • The light within caused Stephen’s face to shine as an angel’s face.
  • Sin makes us ugly, but being filled with Christ makes us beautiful.
    • Matthew 5:16 ‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works…’
    • II Corinthians 4:4 Stephen had the light of the glorious gospel of Christ.
    • II Corinthians 4:6 Stephen had the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in his life.
• 5)   Full of Scripture (Acts 7:1-50).
  • As we read Acts chapter 7, we realize that as Stephen related the history of Israel, he was filled with the knowledge of the Bible.
  • If we fill our lives and minds with God’s Word, we will be full of power and full of the Holy Spirit.
  • Question: Are you full of God’s Word?
  • Question: Do you study, memorize and meditate on God’s Word daily?
• 6)   Full of Courage (Acts 7:51).
  • The face of man and the fear of man did not affect Stephen.

• He did not hesitate to charge those who were opposing God’s work with being ‘stiffnecked and uncircumcised,’ of resisting the Holy Ghost, with not keeping God’s law, and with murdering Jesus Christ. (v.51-53).
  • His courage and conviction resulted later in the conversion of Saul.
  • Question: Are you full of courage for Christ?
• 7)   Full of Love (Acts 7:60).
  • The stones that the persecutors hurled at Stephen broke his head, but they could not break his heart of love for Israel.
  • His lips were bloodied with the blood of persecution, but they could not stop the pouring forth of love’s intercession.
  • When the love of God fills our hearts and minds, it will enable the servant of God to do greater things for Christ.
    • ‘The love of Christ constrains us.’ (2 Corinthians 5:14).
• 8)   Full of Wisdom (Acts 6:3,10).
  • Stephen was full of wisdom because he spent time with God in the Bible, in prayer, in preaching the gospel, and in humbly serving God’s people.
• Conclusion:
  • As Christ is sufficient to carry Stephen through martyrdom, so Christ is sufficient to carry us through every situation of life.
  • Let us seek to be full of these 8 qualities.
    • Faith
    • The Holy Spirit
    • Power
    • Light
    • The Scripture
    • Courage
    • Love
    • Wisdom

Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.“

Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and Pray for them which despitefully use, and persecute you;” (read verses 45-47)

Matthew 6:12 (in the model prayer) says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” and verses 14-15 say, “For if we forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.“

Luke 17:3-4 says, “Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against thee rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.“

Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.“

Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.“

The Scriptures speak so plain that there is NO ROOM FOR DOUBT… THERE IS NO PLACE FOR AN UNFORGIVING SPIRIT IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH!

Here are some thoughts that you may want to consider:

• An unforgiving spirit is not Christ-like.
• It is a tool of Satan.
• Destroys relationships.
• Causes division.
• Causes depression and robs joy.
• Damages testimonies.
• Weakens the Gospel message.
• Becomes a barrier to Spirituality and power in prayer.
• Becomes a burden to the heart and mind.
• It is never too late to win the victory. Do it today! Call your offended brother, friend, or relative and enjoy life again.

Will it be easy? No! Why not? Because Satan will attempt in any way possible to keep you from this victory!

• Introduction:
• Cremation (the burning of the dead) is not a Christian practice.
  • God commanded the dead to be buried – Deuteronomy 21:22-23.
  • God buried Moses, Deuteronomy 34:5-6.
    • According to Jude 9, Michael the Archangel and Satan came into conflict over the body of Moses and possibly because Satan wanted to make a shrine or place of idolatry of it.
    • If so, God could have burned him just as well as burying him.
    • Note that GOD HIMSELF buried Moses!
  • God commanded Israel not to burn their children – Leviticus 18:21
  • God punished Moab for cremating the king of Edom – Amos 2:1
  • Cremation is associated with idolatry.
    • 2 Chronicles 28:1-3
    • 2 Chronicles 33:1-6
    • 2 Kings 16:1-3
    • 2 Kings17:17,31
    • 2 Kings 21:6
    • Jeremiah 7:30-31
    • Jeremiah 19:3-5
    • Ezekiel 16:20-21
    • Ezekiel 20:30-31
    • Ezekiel 23:37
  • God’s people burned the dead to show contempt.
    • Joshua 7:25
    • 2 Samuel 23:1-7
    • 2 Kings 23:16,20
  • Burial following death is an important spiritual symbol.
    • Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death”
    • And Colossians 2:12 says, “Buried with Him in baptism”.
  • Burial is a part of the Gospel, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
    • Read and notice verse 4 “And that He was buried, and that He arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures.”
  • All Scripture is “profitable for instruction” and thus, Christ is the believers’ example in the proper mode of handling the dead.
  • Now, if Christian is cremated, it is not difficulty for God to transform those ashes into a glorified body.
  • The same is true for those burned or consumed by wild animals.
  • God will raise all the bodies of His children, no matter what their manner of death or disposal and will fashion them, “like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:21)
• Conclusion:
  • Cremation should not be practiced by Christians who are looking forward to a resurrection.
    • 1 Corinthians 15 – Chapter on the resurrection

“Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure

is, there will you heart be also” (Luke 12:33-34).

This is the list of orders which Christ has placed on record for His

people:

The Unexplainable Bargain– “Sell that ye have, and give alms … “

To the carnal man, this is no bargain at all. Instead it borders on folly. To the Christian, however, there is that which scattereth, and yet increaseth and there is that which maketh himself poor yet hath great riches (see Proverbs 11 :24).

The Unaging Bags – ” … provide yourselves bags which wax

not old … “

Ageless treasures must be placed in unaging bags. Heavenly treasures will be lost except they are bagged in Heaven. Lay up your treasures in Heaven, where your life is hid in Christ in God.

The Unfailing Bounty– ” … a treasure in the heavens that faileth not … “

Everything in Heaven is of God’s making. What we have to enrich us is but the gift of God. Bank your God-given treasures within the heavenly bank, and what interest will be due to you on the great dividend day!

The Unapproachable Bank -” … where no thief approacheth … “

Heaven’s bank has never been robbed nor have any of its treasures been stolen. Our treasures are absolutely safe therein. Happy are those who bank in Heaven.

The Incorruptible Barrier –” … neither moth corrupteth”

The moth cannot fly in between the bars of the treasure trove of Heaven. This Heaven cannot be infiltrated by the smallest of destructive forces. It is omnipotently impregnable.

The Unbreakable Bond –” … where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

What a bond to the heart of the saint is His treasure, the priceless Saviour. That bond forged in the fires of Calvary and hammered on the anvil of grace is unbreakable. It stands steadfast forever.

“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mark 12:41-42).

The operative word in this statement is the little word how. Jesus behold how the people cast the money into the treasury. The Master’s interest was not so much in what people were giving, but how they were giving. He was looking at the motive for giving, the impulse of the donation, the inspiration of the offering. There is a very illuminating phrase in 1 Samuel 2:3 which declares that “… by him actions are weighed.”

As Jesus watched, in came the lonely widow, and at once He saw something which deeply moved His heart. As she cast in her two mites, the Master observed that this act was the expression of faith, “… she of her want did cast in all that she had … “ (Mark 12:44). This is an outstanding example of childlike faith. The statement literally means that she gave all that she had to live on. In other words, she trusted God to supply her wants, and devoted her property entirely to Him. It is a comparatively easy thing to give out of abundance, but it requires strong faith to give out of poverty.

Her giving was also an expression of her hope. She gave “… all her living” (Mark 12:44). As Dr. G. Campbell Morgan points out, this woman had vision! She saw beyond this world to the next. Her heart was in Heaven, so she wanted her treasure to follow. She knew what Jesus meant when He said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Jesus also observed that her act was an expression of her love. She cast in “… all her living” (Mark 12:44). Only an hour or so before, the Lord had declared that the fulfilling of the commandments was to love God and to love our neighbour. What, it might be asked, had this to do with the gifts that were placed in the treasury of the temple?

The answer is “everything.” All gifts placed in the chest were divided between the priests and the poor; however, as much as the priests might have been degraded, let us never forget that to the simple heart of this woman they stood as the representatives of God. Then there were the poor. She was one of the poorest of the poor, but they were her neighbours, and when she dropped her gifts into the treasury, she was keeping the whole law. She was expressing her love to God and her love to her neighbour.

Jesus still sits “… over against the treasury …” (Mark 12:41), and as the Lord of all giving, He watches with deep interest to see whether or not our offerings are the expression of faith, hope, and love. He is interested in your giving. What does He see behind the coins, the paper money, and the bank book?

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein” (Hebrews 13:9).

The text here is an apostolic caution against false doctrine. It forms part of a warning which Paul addressed to Hebrew Christians. It is a caution just as much needed now as it was two thousand years ago. Never, I think, was it so important for Christian ministers to cry aloud continually, “Be not carried about…”

The old enemy of mankind, the devil, has no more subtle device for ruining souls than that of spreading false doctrine. “… He was a murderer from the beginning …” (John 8:44); he never ceases going to and fro in the earth “… seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Outside the church, he is ever persuading men to maintain barbarous customs and destructive superstitions. Human sacrifice to idols – gross, revolting, cruel, disgusting worship of abominable false deities – persecution, slavery, cannibalism, child murder, devastating religious wars; all these are a part of Satan’s handiwork and the fruit of his suggestions. Like a pirate, his object is to “sink, bum, and destroy.” Inside the church, he is ever labouring to sow heresies, to propagate errors, to foster departures from the faith. If he cannot prevent the waters flowing from the Fountain of Life, he tries hard to poison them. If he cannot destroy the medicine of the Gospel, he strives to adulterate and corrupt it. No wonder that he is called Apollyon, the destroyer.

If any one ask me, “What is the best safe-guard against false doctrine?” I answer, “The Bible: the Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied.” We must go back to the old prescription of our Master, “Search the scriptures …” (John 5:39). If we want a weapon to wield against the devices of Satan, there is nothing like “… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). But to wield it successfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently, and prayerfully. This is a point on which, I fear, many fail. In an age of hurry and bustle, few read their Bibles as much as they should. More books perhaps are read than ever, but less of the one Book which makes man wise unto salvation. Rome and new doctrines could never have made such havoc in the church in the last fifty years, if there had not been a most superficial knowledge of the Scriptures throughout the land. A Bible-reading people is the strength of the church.

A story is told of a school boy who was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ through that wonderful verse in John 5:24, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

However, when that lad arrived home and was sitting on the couch by himself, the devil began to disturb him, and tried to make him think that Jesus had not really saved him at all. At length the struggle in his heart became so fierce it seemed as though the adversary of his soul was actually under the couch talking to him.

For a while he did not know how to answer Satan and his taunting charges; but finally the Holy Spirit reminded him of James 4:7 about resisting the devil, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Opening his pocket Testament, he placed his finger on John 5:24, and then, reaching his arm under the couch, he said aloud, “There you go, Satan, read it for yourself!” In that moment victory was won, assurance of salvation was gained, and the evil one ” …departed from him…” (Luke 4:13).

Satan laughs at our powers and mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles at God’s Word!

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever” (Psalm 12:6-7).

God gave His Word to His children upon earth with the instructions to proclaim and practice it. It is not our responsibility to preserve His Word. God has promised to do that, and His is promises are sure.

“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant” (1 Kings 8:56).

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

1. God has not promised us a fragmented preservation. In the text we are told that “The words of the LORD…” will be preserved. There are no lost books of the Bible. They are preserved! There are no lost words of God to man. They are all preserved.

“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

“That which is perfect” is the complete Word of God, and it is kept in tact and kept from injury or destruction and protected by God’s promise and power. We have God’s complete Word!

2. God has not promised us a remote preservation. If God’s Words were only preserved in Heaven, that would be of little value to us who are upon earth. God gave His Words upon earth and He has preserved them upon earth.

The Old Testament was given to the Jews, “What advantage then hath the Jew?… Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3: 1-2).

The Old Testament with its completion in the New Testament was given to the church. “I have given them thy word…” (John 17:14).

God’s Words were not preserved in a cave somewhere, but God’s children have had them all the time. God’s Words were not inerrant in the original autographs only, but have been preserved to all generations. It is not a remote preservation but a present reality!

3. God has not promised us a mingled preservation. “…The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). God has not preserved His Words mingled with the words of men.

Israel was not to sow mingled seed in their fields (Leviticus 19:19)

“Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled” (Deuteronomy 22:9).

The results would be defiled fruit. The result of sowing the preserved pure Words of God is true faith. Faith does not come by hearing man’s words (Romans 10:17). It is not necessary for scholars to search tirelessly through Greek manuscripts in an effort to distinguish between the Words of God and the words of men. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6).

4. God has not promised us a reasonable facsimile preservation. God has not promised to simply preserve His thoughts or doctrines. He has preserved His Words!

The doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures is a major doctrine. It is continually under attack. Who do you suppose provokes such attacks upon God’s Words? Satan would gnaw this foundational truth away if he could, but he can’t because we have God’s promise of preservation!

CONCLUSION

To say that some of God’s Words have passed away is to charge God foolishly. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

To say this promise of preservation has failed is an attack upon God. It is in essence blasphemy! A young Christian may for a time be confused and unsettled in his beliefs, but to say that God has not preserved His Words is to call God a liar!

God’s inerrant, infallible, inspired words are preserved in the authorized King James Version.

Thank the Lord for His promise of preservation!

These words were spoken by King Nebuchadnezzar, “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Daniel 4:32).

Perhaps never before in the history of the world (unless it was the “days of Noah”) has evil flourished and apparently “gotten by” us as today. Because iniquity (lawlessness) abounds, the love of many and the faith and faithfulness of many- waxes cold; and many people wonder, does it really pay to serve Jesus? Is the way of the transgressor hard? Is there any goodness, or selfishness, or love left in the world? Is a revival of true religion – Bible Christianity – possible, or has God turned everything over to the devil?

The fact is, God is Still on the Throne and rules the universe. He will never abdicate, nor share with another, the power and authority of that throne! Let us never forget that! God will stay on that throne forever.

His laws cannot be violated with impunity. The fundamental principle of The Word of God- it shall be well with the righteous and ill with the wicked- is unalterably and eternally true. The reprobate who thinks he is cheating the laws of God and nature will find out that “… God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). Some time, some how, some where, the harvest will come and that transgressor will pay up. Be not deceived; God is Still on the Throne. It is a righteous throne; it is a throne that sees all, hears all, remembers all, and pays all-in time or eternity.

Seven times in the book of Daniel God is called the God of Heaven, or a similar title. In the text before us, we are assured that the God of Heaven rules in the kingdom of men. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a great empire, a world rule. It turned his head, and he bloated with pride. He boasted, “… Is not this great Babylon, that I have built. .. by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30). Were the heavens silent? No! “While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee” (Daniel 4:31). The king lost his reason, turning insane. He lived for the next seven years in the wilderness as an asylum and ate grass as an ox, and his body was overgrown with hair like the eagle’s feathers, and his nails became like bird’s claws. He was humbled until, at the end of the days, his understanding returned to him, and he blessed the most High ” … whose dominion is an everlasting dominion … and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth …” (Daniel 4:34-35).

The Lord He is God! The Lord He is God! He sits on a throne which cannot be shaken. True prayer still can pierce the din and clamour and noise and confusion that prevails on earth and reach the throne! The eyes of the Lord are still running to and fro throughout the earth “… to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him …” (2 Chronicles 16:9). The promises of God have not been annulled or disannulled. Man’s unfaithfulness hasn’t changed God’s faithfulness one whit! He that sows good seeds today will surely reap an abundant harvest! Sow the Gospel, sow it in tears, and you shall surely come again rejoicing, bearing precious sheaves! (Read Psalms 126:6)

Dare to be a Daniel! Make your prayer steadfastly toward Jerusalem, though all earth, yea all Hell, be arrayed against thee. The darker the night, the brighter thy light will shine, and the more its glow will be needed.

Dare to be a John the Baptist. Witness fearlessly for thy Lord and against sin. Witness when the throngs crowd around thee; witness when thy head must be the price of they faithfulness.

Dare to be a Paul. Step out in faith in the midst of this godless and perverse generation to show that God lives! Exalt the Lord! Preach the Word! Pray with importunity! Seek and expect converts! Lengthen they cords, set out they stakes, enlarge thy borders for God, and remember that God is Still on the Throne!

His Word will never fail. His work will go on. The true church is invincible. The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. Let faith prevail. Let steadfastness plod on, never looking back, for “… your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

There is complete victory in Christ! Press on! Look Up! Walk with God! Be true! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Those faithful to the Lord will be vastly outnumbered in this day of apostacy, but stick to the right, be the crowds large or small.