Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 05/12/24

This week’s scripture is from Psalms:

 “For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.”  (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV)

Who knows you better than you know yourself?  Who knows when you rise and when you rest? Who is the one who knows everything about you from before you were born to your place in eternity? Who holds the number of your days in His hands? The Lord says He knew you and He formed you; He was with you before you entered the world. You are meant to be His; you are meant to belong to Him. Praise the Lord and lift His name. You are a miracle of God; you are a child of the Most High. Stand in the glory of His grace; give thanks and bless His holy name. His hand is upon you; trust in Him.

May the blessings and wonder of the Lord’s grace and goodness light your way.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 05/05/24

This week’s scripture is from Luke:

“… make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”   (Luke 1:17b)

Let the people prepare. The coming of the Lord draws near. The world groans with conflict and trembles in anticipation. Yet where are the people? Do they languish in the pews and suck up the milk of truth like babes? Or do they go out as disciples, equipped and hardened for battle? Time has come and time is past; prepare the people for what is coming before the coming of the Lord. It is time to put on the full armor of God and draw the sword, the Word of God, for the war has come upon us. It is time for spiritual warriors. Harden the troops. Teach them how to pray; teach them how to fight on bended knee against all the attacks of the enemy and to pray without ceasing. Go!  Prepare your people; prepare your people! 

May the Lord bless you to train up the people to be mighty in spirit and deed. It is time.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 04/28/24

This week’s scripture is from John:

“For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.”   (John 12:47b)

The Word of God tells us that Jesus did not come to condemn us but to save us. For it is the Law that brings condemnation for it shows us where we fall short of the righteousness of God. In this fallen world and in our fallen state we cannot but fall short, and we certainly cannot save ourselves for our righteousness is not righteous before the Almighty Holy God. Though all are guilty and deserving of judgment, Jesus did not come to judge; He came to save us from condemnation, to save us from all unrighteousness and sin. He sacrificed Himself that we might obtain His righteousness and be forgiven. Praise God for sending His son Jesus that we might know salvation and the mercy of His grace and love.

May the Lord bless you to know the depth of His love for you.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 04/21/24

This week’s scripture is from 2 Thessalonians:

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work…”  (2 Thess. 2:7a)

Let us call on the Lord of Righteousness. The days of lawlessness are upon us. Righteousness is pushed aside. Everywhere we turn lawlessness abounds. Unruly mobs take to the streets; criminals rob the stores. Righteousness seems abandoned. Even our courts practice lawless prosecutions with litigators and judges twisting the statutes, for they do not love the truth but have traded it for a lie. They work in the shadow of evil; they call evil good and good evil. Yet they are not hidden for the Son of Righteousness sees them. He knows them. Their time is coming. Let us call on the Son of Righteousness for He hears us. His law is still in force. Let us remain righteous; let us fight against the lawlessness; let us pray; let us worship; let us be guided by the Law of the Lord. Let righteousness prevail.

May the Lord embolden you to fight for righteousness.  

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 04/14/24

This week’s scriptures are from Psalms and Zephaniah:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem …”  (Psalm 122:6)

“The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save …”     (Zephaniah 3:17)

The enemy rises up against us; nations rise against nations, but the God who called Abraham, the God who delivered Israel out of Egypt, the God who sent His son to die for us is not a God who will abandon His people. Though the sabers are rattling and the dogs of war are howling to cut loose, the Lord has already spoken. His people know: This is the time to call out to God, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem; this is the time to pray for His people Israel wherever they may be, for we are His people, we are His handiwork, we belong to Him, and He is mighty to save, the Lord our God, mighty to save.

May God bless you as you pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for His people Israel.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 04/07/24

This week’s scripture is from 1 Kings:

[“O Lord my God,] Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.”   (1 Kings 8:28b)

Let the call for prayer go out. Sin and wickedness rise like a tide. Our nation needs prayer; our land needs prayer. Let us humble ourselves before the Lord and bow down and seek His face. Let repentance begin with us; let us freely confess our sins and ask God’s forgiveness under the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let the people repent and turn from all unrighteousness. Let the churches gather and seek the Lord’s grace and forgiveness. Let us call upon our leaders to repent and bow before the Lord that our land might be healed. So come into His presence, you faithful, bow down before the Lord and pour out your prayers.

May the Lord bless you as you bow down and pray in His presence.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 03/31/24

This week’s scripture is from Matthew:   

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, [just] as He said.”      (Matthew 28:5-6)

Hallelujah! He is risen, He is risen, He is risen! Thank God, thank God, thank God Almighty. Jesus Christ is risen; He is alive. He sacrificed Himself that we might be reconciled to God our Father, that we might know Him and the mercy of His grace, for He is the Holy One, the Son of God. He sealed the new covenant in His blood that we might have the forgiveness of our sins, that we might have salvation and eternal life. Thank you, Lord Jesus. How blessed we are to know His love and the beauty of His grace.

May the blessings of the Lord’s sacrifice strengthen you as you follow in His ways.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 03/24/24

This week’s scripture is from Matthew:     

“So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Himon them. And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the [palm] trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

      “Hosanna to the Son of David!
      ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
      Hosanna in the highest!”            (Matthew 21:6-9)

Praise the Lord, God Almighty!  He is come! He is come! The Prince of Peace; the Lord of Salvation; the Holy One of God is come. Rejoice you saints, rejoice, for the Son of God is here. Shout!  Cry out!  Praise His Holy Name. Let loose your tongue and raise your voice; praise the heavens above for our King is come. Open your hearts and open your mouth, declare him King of Kings and Lord of Lords, for there is no other, and no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, for at His name every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen. 

May your heart cry out and rejoice at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 03/17/24

This week’s scripture is from Hebrews:

“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him…”   (Hebrews 3:1-2)

Each of us who belongs to Christ is called, but how easy it is at times to be distracted from one’s calling. The cares of this world and the challenges of life can often come quickly upon us. So many things can slip in and demand our time and attention. How adept the enemy is at keeping us occupied with his attacks against us, pulling us to the right or to the left or sidetracking us with distractions. O Lord, let us remember to fix our thoughts on Jesus, for He and He alone can keep us on the right path as we follow our calling. Let not the distractions or challenges of life keep us from the path the Lord has for us. Bless us, O Lord, to be faithful and to stay on track with Jesus.

May the Lord bless you each day to be able to keep your mind and heart fixed on Jesus.

Strengthen and Encourage the Brethren 03/10/24

This week’s scripture is from Psalms:

For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. (Psalm 117:2)

We are greatly blessed for the Lord is faithful and true. How blessed we are that the Lord loves us for He has made us children of the Most High God who pours out every blessing on those who belong to Him and are called by His name. How blessed we are that His faithfulness endures forever for He will never forsake us or leave us. In His great love toward us He sent His son to redeem us and save us for Himself for life everlasting. He has provided for every need; He has kept every promise. He is the faithful one and we are blessed by His love and faithfulness. Let us praise the Lord and lift His name on high. Praise be to the Lord God Almighty, King of Heaven and Earth and all the universe. Blessed be His holy name.

May the love of God and His faithfulness bless you this very day.