Isaiah 65:17-20, 23-25;

RELATED TEXTS:

Genesis 1:9-13; Jeremiah 5:22
Psalm 104:14-15;

RELATED TEXTS

Job 12:7-12; 38:8-11
Psalm 104
Revelation 20:11-21:4; 22:1-3

courtesy of Jamie and Jennie Abeyta

I am accepted . .

• John 1:12 – I am God’s child.
• John 15:15 – As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
• Romans 5:1 – I have been justified.
• 1 Corinthians 6:17 – I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 – I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
• 1 Corinthians 12:27 – I am a member of Christ’s body.
• Ephesians 1: 3-8 – I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
• Colossians 1: 13-14 – I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
• Colossians 2: 9-10 – I am complete in Christ.
• Hebrews 4: 14-16 – I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure . . .

• Romans 8: 1-2 – I am free from condemnation.
• Romans 8: 28 - I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
• Romans 8: 31-39 – I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
• 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22 – have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
• Colossians 3: 1-4 – I am hidden with Christ in God.
• Philippians 1: 6 -I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
• Philippians 3: 20 – I am a citizen of Heaven.
• 2 Timothy 1: 7 – I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
• 1 John 5: 18 – I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant . . .

• John 15: 5 – I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
• John 15: 16 – I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
• 1 Corinthians 3: 16 – I am God’s temple.
• Ephesians 2: 6 – I am seated with Jesus Christ in the Heavenly realm.
• Ephesians 2:10 – I am God’s workmanship.
• Ephesians 3: 12 – I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
• Philippians 4: 13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 has been called the greatest archaeological find of the 20th century. The ancient manuscripts hidden in the caves near Qumran are the oldest known copies of key Old Testament books. In 2007, the San Diego Natural History Museum hosted an exhibition featuring 24 of these scrolls. One often-repeated theme in the exhibit was that during the past 2,000 years the text of the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament) has remained virtually unchanged.

Followers of Christ who believe that the Bible is the eternal, unchanging Word of God find more than coincidence in this remarkable preservation. The psalmist wrote: “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations” (119:89-90). Jesus said: “My words will by no means pass away” (Matt. 24:35).

The Bible is more than a historical relic. It is the living, powerful Word of God (Heb. 4:12), in which we encounter the Lord and discover how to live for Him and honor Him. “I will never forget Your precepts,” the psalmist concluded, “for by them You have given me life” (119:93).

What a privilege we have each day to seek God in His remarkable Word! — David C. McCasland

via God’s Remarkable Word – Our Daily Bread.

A message by Pastor Al Keech, shared on December 13, 2009 at The Rock at Church Ranch. Based on John 10:10, Pastor Al outlines the difference between life and life more abundant, as Jesus promises.

Psalm 107:20 says,

He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

God has given us His Word for our benefit, and yet so many Christians ignore it to their hurt.

It is like the story of the woman a preacher went to visit one day. She lived in a dilapidated house. As long as he had known her, she had struggled with poverty. Twenty years earlier she had been the housekeeper for the wealthiest woman in town, but the wealthy woman had died. So this housekeeper moved into an old shack.

more via “Do You Cherish God’s Word?” – Answers for Each Day – Dec. 2.

Daniel Henderson

March 16, 2009 Every Sunday morning for over 20 years, with very few exceptions, I have gathered with a group of prayer partners to read a Psalm and then spend an hour in worship-based prayer. Typically, we have started at 6:15 AM. The worship in the Word is sweet and the Spirit always guides us as we take time to specifically focus on prayers for the Sunday services of the church and all God wants to do through them. This past Sunday was no exception. We enjoyed an hour of prayer from Psalm 92. The first verse of the Psalm is very familiar but, as often happens, struck me in a fresh way. It reads:

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.” Psalm 92:1-2

find more at Why it is Good to Give Thanks – Online Bible Study Tools.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

see the rest at  God Gives Beauty for Ashes – Bible Study Planet.

BY THE REV. C. G. FINNEY,

OF AMERICA,

AT THE TABERNACLE, MOORFIELDS

“Thy kingdom come.” –MATTHEW vi. 10

You will instantly recognize this petition as being one of those contained in what is generally denominated, “the Lord’s Prayer.” In considering these words I propose briefly to explain,–

1. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
2. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN AN ACCEPTABLE OFFERING OF THIS PETITION TO GOD.
3. THAT THE STATE OF MIND THAT CAN ACCEPTABLY OFFER THIS PETITION TO GOD, IS UNIVERSALLY BINDING UPON ALL MEN.
4. THAT IT IS ALSO A CONDITION OF SALVATION.

What is meant by the kingdom of God.

In some respects there are two ideas concerning the kingdom of God. One class of divines suppose that the kingdom of God is purely spiritual; others suppose that the Lord Jesus Christ will reign personally upon the earth, that when he comes a second time, it will be to set up his kingdom in this world, and reign here in his visible presence. These two classes, however, agree in this–that his kingdom must be spiritual, whether outward and visible or not; in either case he can reign over man no further then he reigns in their hearts.

A spiritual kingdom must be set up in the soul–the Divine law must be written in the heart. If the Lord Jesus Christ should come and dwell visibly in London, walk in its streets, and mix with its people, and be here as truly as the Lord Mayor is, what would it advantage the people unless they were converted and truth prevailed in their hearts? Unless the laws of his kingdom were written in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, the people of London would be none the better for the Lord Jesus Christ’s living amongst them. Therefore, whether the Lord Jesus Christ come and reign personally or not, his kingdom will be established and his dominion extended by the same means that it is now. When persons pray, therefore, “thy kingdom come,” if they pray sincerely, they pray that there may be universal holiness in the earth–that this kingdom of grace may be set up in all hearts, and that Christ should exercise universal influence over the minds of men. I am to notice–

read more at  THE KINGDOM OF GOD UPON EARTH by Charles G. Finney.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

see the rest at The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry Blog.