A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omnipotence _{part 2}

 

God’s omnipotence extends to governments and leaders (Daniel 2:21), as He restrains them or lets them go their way according to His plans and purposes. His power is unlimited in regard to Satan and his demons. Satan’s attack on Job was limited to only certain actions. He was restrained by God’s unlimited power (Job 1:12; 2:6). Jesus reminded Pilate that he had no power over Him unless it had been granted to him by the God of all power (John 19:11).

Being omnipotent, God can do everything that is in harmony with His Holy character. The Bible reveals that He cannot do things which are contrary to His Holy character. For example, Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, and Hebrews 6:18 teach that He cannot lie. God lacks the ability to lie because lying is contrary to His moral perfection. In the same way, despite His being all-powerful and hating evil, He allows evil to happen, according to His good purpose. He uses certain evil events to allow His purposes to unfold, such as when the greatest evil of all occurred—the killing of the perfect, holy, innocent Lamb of God for the redemption of mankind.

As God incarnate, Jesus Christ is omnipotent. His power is seen in the miracles He performed—His numerous healings, the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44), calming the storm (Mark 4:37-41), and the ultimate display of power, raising Lazarus and Jairus’s daughter from the dead (John 11:38-44; Mark 5:35-43), an example of His control over life and death. Death is the ultimate reason that Jesus came—to destroy it (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 2:14) and to bring sinners into a right relationship with God. The Lord Jesus stated clearly that He had power to lay down His life and power to take it up again, a fact that He allegorized when speaking about the temple (John 2:19). He had power to call upon twelve legions of angels to rescue Him during His trial, if needed (Matthew 26:53), yet He offered Himself in humility in place of others (Philippians 2:1-11).

The great mystery is that this power can be shared by believers who are united to God in Jesus Christ. Paul says, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9b). God’s power is exalted in us most when our weaknesses are greatest because He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). It is God’s power that continues to hold us in a state of grace despite our sin (2 Timothy 1:12), and by His power we are kept from falling (Jude 24). His power will be proclaimed by all the host of heaven for all eternity (Revelation 19:1). May that be our endless prayer! Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omnipotence _{part 1}

 

The word omnipotent comes from omni- meaning “all” and potent meaning “power.” As with the attributes of omniscience and omnipresence, it follows that, if God is infinite, and if He is sovereign, which we know He is, then He must also be omnipotent. He has all power over all things at all times and in all ways.

Job spoke of God’s power in Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be thwarted.”Job was acknowledging God’s omnipotence in carrying out His plans. Moses, too, was reminded by God that He had all power to complete His purposes regarding the Israelites: “The LORD answered Moses, ‘Is the LORD’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you’” (Numbers 11:23).

Nowhere is God’s omnipotence seen more clearly than in creation. God said, “Let there be…” and it was so (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, etc.). Man needs tools and materials to create; God simply spoke, and by the power of His word, everything was created from nothing. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6).

God’s power is also seen in the preservation of His creation. All life on earth would perish were it not for God’s continual provision of everything we need for food, clothing, and shelter, all from renewable resources sustained by His power as the preserver of man and beast (Psalm 36:6). The seas which cover most of the earth, and over which we are powerless, would overwhelm us if God did not proscribe their limits (Job 38:8-11). Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omniscience _{part 2}

 

Clearly, we observe Jesus’ omniscience on earth, but this is where the paradox begins as well. Jesus asks questions, which imply the absence of knowledge, although the Lord asks questions more for the benefit of His audience than for Himself. However, there is another facet regarding His omniscience that comes from the limitations of the human nature which He, as Son of God, assumed. We read that as a man He “grew in wisdom and stature” (Luke 2:52) and that He learned “obedience through suffering” (Hebrews 5:8). We also read that He did not know when the world would be brought to an end (Matthew 24:34-36). We, therefore, have to ask, why would the Son not know this, if He knew everything else? Rather than regarding this as just a human limitation, we should regard it as a controlled lack of knowledge. This was a self-willed act of humility in order to share fully in our nature (Philippians 2:6-11; Hebrews 2:17) and to be the Second Adam.

Finally, there is nothing too hard for an omniscient God, and it is on the basis of our faith in such a God that we can rest secure in Him, knowing that He promises never to fail us as long as we continue in Him. He has known us from eternity, even before creation. God knew you and me, where we would appear in the course of time, and whom we would interact with. He even foresaw our sin in all its ugliness and depravity, yet, in love, He set his seal upon us and drew us to that love in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3-6). We shall see Him face to face, but our knowledge of Him will never be complete. Our wonder, love, and praise of Him shall go on for all millennia as we bask in the glow of His heavenly love, learning and appreciating more and more of our omniscient God. 

Next, we’ll take a look at Omnipotence. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omniscience _{part 1}

 

Omniscience is defined as “the state of having total knowledge, the quality of knowing everything.” For God to be sovereign over the creation of all things, whether visible or invisible, He has to be all-knowing. His omniscience is not restricted to any one person in the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all by nature omniscient.

God knows everything (1 John 3:20). He knows not only the minutest details of our lives but those of everything around us, for He mentions even knowing when a sparrow falls or when we lose a single hair (Matthew 10:29-30). Not only does God know everything that will occur until the end of history itself (Isaiah 46:9-10), but He also knows our very thoughts, even before we think them (Psalm 139:4). He knows our hearts from afar; He even saw us in the womb (Psalm 139:1-3, 15-16). Solomon expresses this truth perfectly when he says, “For you, you only, know the hearts of all the children of mankind” (1 Kings 8:39).

Despite the condescension of the Son of God to empty Himself and make Himself nothing (Philippians 2:7), His omniscience is clearly seen in the New Testament writings. The first prayer of the apostles in Acts 1:24, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart,” implies Jesus’ omniscience, which is necessary if He is to be able to receive petitions and intercede at God’s right hand. On earth, Jesus’ omniscience is just as clear. In many Gospel accounts, He knew the thoughts of his audience (Matthew 9:4; 12:25; Mark 2:6-8; Luke 6:8). He knew about people’s lives before He had even met them. When He met the woman collecting water at the well at Sychar, He said to her, “The fact is you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband” (John 4:18). He also tells His disciples that their friend Lazarus was dead, although He was over 25 miles away from Lazarus’s home (John 11:11-15). He advised the disciples to go and make preparation for the Lord’s Supper, describing the person they were to meet and follow (Mark 14:13-15). Perhaps best of all, He knew Nathanael before ever meeting him, for He knew his heart (John 1:47-48). 

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at part 2 of Omniscience. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omnipresence _{part 2}

 

Just as the omniscience of God suffers apparent paradoxes due to the limitations of the human mind, so does the omnipresence of God. One of these paradoxes is important: the presence of God in hell, that place unto which the wicked are departed and suffer the unlimited and unceasing fury of God because of their sin. Many argue that hell is a place of separation from God (Matthew 25:41), and if so, then God cannot be said to be in a place that is separated from Him. However, the wicked in hell endure His everlasting anger, for Revelation 14:10 speaks of the torment of the wicked in the presence of the Lamb. That God should be present in a place that the wicked are said to be departed unto does cause some consternation. However, this paradox can be explained by the fact that God can be present—because He fills all things with His presence (Colossians 1:17) and upholds everything by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3)—yet He is not necessarily everywhere to bless.

Just as God is sometimes separated from His children because of sin (Isaiah 52:9), and He is far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29) and orders the godless subjects of darkness to depart at the end of time to a place of eternal punishment, God is still there in the midst. He knows what those souls suffer who are now in hell; He knows their anguish, their cries for respite, their tears and grief for the eternal state that they find themselves in. He is there in every way as a perpetual reminder to them of their sin which has created a chasm from every blessing that might be otherwise granted. He is there in every way, but He displays no attribute other than His wrath.

Likewise, He will also be in heaven, manifesting every blessing that we cannot even begin to comprehend here; He will be there displaying His manifold blessing, His manifold love, and His manifold kindness—indeed, everything other than His wrath. The omnipresence of God should serve to remind us that we cannot hide from God when we have sinned (Psalm 139:11-12), yet we can return to God in repentance and faith without even having to move (Isaiah 57:16).

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at Omniscience. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

A Look at the 3 “O’s”

Omnipresence _{part 1}

 

The prefix omni- originates in Latin and means “all.” So, to say that God is omnipresent is to say that God is present everywhere. In many religions, God is regarded as omnipresent, whereas in both Judaism and Christianity, this view is further subdivided into the transcendence and immanence of God. Although God is not totally immersed in the fabric of creation (pantheism), He is present everywhere at all times.

God’s presence is continuous throughout all of creation, though it may not be revealed in the same way at the same time to people everywhere. At times, He may be actively present in a situation, while He may not reveal that He is present in another circumstance in some other area. The Bible reveals that God can be both present to a person in a manifest manner (Psalm 46:1; Isaiah 57:15) and present in every situation in all of creation at any given time (Psalm 33:13-14). Omnipresence is God’s characteristic of being present to all ranges of both time and space. Although God is present in all time and space, God is not locally limited to any time or space. God is everywhere and in every now. No molecule or atomic particle is so small that God is not fully present to it, and no galaxy so vast that God does not circumscribe it. But if we were to remove creation, God would still know of it, for He knows all possibilities, whether they are actual or not.

God is naturally present in every aspect of the natural order of things, in every manner, time and place (Isaiah 40:12; Nahum 1:3). God is actively present in a different way in every event in history as provident guide of human affairs (Psalm 48:7; 2 Chronicles 20:37; Daniel 5:5-6). God is in a special way attentively present to those who call upon His name, who intercede for others, who adore God, who petition, and who pray earnestly for forgiveness (Psalm 46:1). Supremely, He is present in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:19), and mystically present in the universal church that covers the earth and against which the gates of hell will not prevail.

Next up we will continue on to part 2 of the look at Omnipresence. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Taking a Look at the Spirit

What Is the Spirit?

The spirit is what separates believers from unbelievers in a sense. Your spirit comes alive when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior. Unlike the soul which is both physically alive and eternally alive—the spirit is what responds to the invitation of Jesus Christ, via the Holy Spirit which is, in effect, the breath of God (1 Peter 3:18, Ephesians 2:4-5, Colossians 2:13).

Now that we understand that we are three in one—which part of our beings are we to tend to? Romans 8:4, tells us how to live: according to the spirit & not the flesh: “In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

The spiritually dead view things of the Holy Spirit as ‘foolishness’ because they do not have the ability to discern the things of the spirit _{(1 Corinthians 2:12-14)}. This is the part of the spirit that is enabled by God to know Him _{(John 4:24)}. It is by our spirits that we interact with God. We pray and talk to the Lord in the spirit. In his letter to the Romans, Paul states that the Holy Spirit “testifies to our spirit that we are children of God” _{(Romans 8:16).} 

Let’s go to Luke 1:46-47 where Mary rejoices about God’s love shown through His only begotten son by way of her spirit. This means that she enjoyed and experienced God through her spirit. The expression of God’s love is through our spirit.

While the soul is the source of our expression through our humanity, it has its limitations and the only way we can experience God is through our spirit. The soul is merely a channel. Let us go back to our imagery of the parts. The body is the outer level, followed by the soul and the spirit is the core. The expression of love to God paved the way through the soul. We first magnify God’s power and grace, and then we express and experience it fully through our spirit.

This completes our brief study on the body, soul & spirit. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource:https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made/;www.crosswalk.com; www.gotquestions.com; www.christianity.com.

Taking a Look at the Soul

            Many have debated whether or not there is a difference between the soul and spirit. But there are several scriptures that clearly separate the soul and spirit. One key verse is Hebrews 4:12 where the author says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

    In the simplest terms, a soul is made up of our mind, emotions, and free will. It is our humanity that makes us feel emotions. Let's see what the Bible has to say about the soul as we analyze the verses of Scripture. Matthew 10:28: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." No man can kill our soul. Although they can kill our bodies, they cannot do anything personally to affect our souls. Ezekiel 18:4: "Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die." Souls belong to the Lord. He created them when he created us. This verse also mentions that any soul that sins will experience death. Considering every human, except Jesus, had sinned, everyone has earned eternal death. Thankfully, God has offered a way of salvation for those whose souls are doomed to die. Matthew 16:26: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"

 

Role and Functions of the Soul

 

    The soul is basically our mind, our emotions, and our will. It is who we are as human beings. But it is also used to express God. As written in Luke 1:46-47, Mary’s Song, “And Mary said: My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” In this verse, we can see that Mary uses her soul to glorify God and then uses her spirit to rejoice in what God has done for her. Glorifying God is a human behavior and a human responsibility. We express our humanity to God through our souls and magnify His power and presence through our souls. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: www.crosswalk.com; www.gotquestions.com; www.christianity.com.

Taking a Look at the Human Body

                 “The human body is the physical structure of the human organism, characterized by an internal skeleton with a backbone, hair, and mammary glands, typical of vertebrates and mammals. It consists of various systems and organs that work together to maintain life-sustaining processes, including digestion, respiration, circulation, and excretion. The body comprises approximately 78 main organs, each with specific functions necessary for survival and overall health.” ^[1]

                  The body houses one’s spirit & soul. Our body has been referred to as our ‘flesh tent’; that which holds our life together. It is composed, in part, by a skeletal system which gives us form or shape. With our bodies we move about from one place to another. When something is wrong within our bodies we tend to experience pain. Our bodies are designed to alert us to medical issues that arise.

 

The Grand Designer

 

                  Who is the grand designer of our bodies? According to the Bible, God created man in His image. Genesis 1:26 states, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’”

                  In Psalm 139, David's praying to God, and he says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” This speaks of the care and attention with which God has made us. By now, God has made billions of human beings, but we're not mass-produced. We're not churned out in a mechanistic way. Each one of us is individually handcrafted and there is something fearful about how we've been made. There is something so intricate and meaningful about how God has made us that we really should be in awe of that fact. The human body is not just a human body. It is an extraordinary work of art by the God of all creation. 

                  Next time we will take a look at one’s Soul. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] An Ai response based on various sources; such as: www.Britannica.com; www.en.wikipedia.com;

www.livescience.com; etc.

Resource:https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fearfully-and-wonderfully-made/;www.crosswalk.com; www.gotquestions.com; www.christianity.com.

Taking a Look at Body, Soul & Spirit

           We, as humans, are made up of a physical body, a soul, & a spirit. Each part has a specific function. With our body we see, taste, smell, hear, & touch. We feel emotions with our soul. Our spirit represents our deeper connection to God.  Therefore, we show our love for God thru our spirit. In this study we are going to look deeper into the three parts that make up a whole person.

There are a few places in the Bible where the body, soul, and spirit are mentioned. One of these is in 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” If we look deeper into this verse, it clearly states that we are composed of three parts: The body, the soul, and the spirit. The verse also uses the word “and,” which in the original Greek language means ‘to differ from each other’. Thus, this clearly states that each part is different and plays a different role in us. Having said that we must realize that Paul is ALSO establishing the fact that we must dedicate every aspect of our life to our Lord, for God wants all of us, not just our “religious” part one day a week.

It is easy to distinguish the body as physical, which means using the five senses; the sense of sight, the sense of hearing, the sense of taste, the sense of smell, and the sense of touch.  The spirit and soul are much more difficult because they seem similar but are actually very different. They have different functions in our lives as Christians, as it is written in Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” It is obvious in this verse that the two are separate and what is apparent is that the Word of God divides these two parts from each other. We need to understand that each of these 3 “parts” influences the other. 

Since we are “human”, created by God, He understands us in ways that would boggle our collective minds. To show His understanding He sent Jesus to become a man among us. He experienced everything that we experience in our soul and body.

The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus became our great high priest: “We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. That is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. Jesus understands every weakness of ours because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin!  So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help,” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Jesus spoke repeatedly of seeking the Lord in all that we think, say, feel, and do. He often secluded Himself from crowds and his own disciples to seek time with His Heavenly Father. It was Jesus’ faith that caused Him to turn to His Heavenly Father--much like it does for us in all of life’s circumstances. Our faith helps us believe God will move on our behalf or whether or not it influences our beliefs and attitudes. These will in part play a major role in our thinking patterns.

Tomorrow we will focus in on ‘the body’. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.christianity.com; www.gotquestions.com; www.crosswalk.com

7 Reasons to Not Worry

Reason 7

 

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”- Matthew 6:34 ^NLT

 

                  If you live your life one day at a time, you will be less likely to be consumed with worry.  Planning for tomorrow is a good thing, even though we aren’t promised a tomorrow. Going into any day without some sort of plan for that day can lead to procrastination and the potential for laziness. There is a world of difference between planning for tomorrow and worrying about tomorrow. Either way there is little if anything we can do to alter the course of history. What will happen will happen and there isn’t a whole lot we can do about it. Trusting in God can put any fears or concerns you happen to have to rest. Why is that? Because God only wants what’s best for us and will never leave us hanging.

                  All of this falls under the category of this immutable fact: God either causes or allows everything that takes place in this life. If you are seriously living for God, then you truly have NOTHING to worry about. God hasn’t given you a spirit of fear. That comes from the enemy of our soul. Fear doesn’t originate from Almighty God. Never has, never will. He only wishes to bless you and keep you save from harm and danger. 

                  As you deal with each day, don’t lose your focus, and let your mind meander into anxiety about the future, which I refer to as “the land of the WHAT IFS”. We receive no benefit from wasting our time pondering on that which may never take place. As we live for Christ we need to remain fixated on the task at hand; serving our King. If our mind is preoccupied with all the things that are true and just and loving and hopeful, then we will have no time to be stressed about those things that may never materialize. If you become overcome with fear and hopelessness, recognize it for what it is and give it over to the Lord. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

7 Reasons to Not Worry

Reason 6

 

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” - Matthew 6:33 ^NLT

 

            As believers we are to live for God. We are to obey His Word. The tradeoff is that we will receive all that we need to exist and even thrive in this life. Once saved we are told that we are not of this earth, for our citizenship is in heaven. ^{[Philippians 3:20 NLT]} When we allow ourselves to fret and worry, especially about things we cannot change, it keeps us from pursuing that which the Lord desires for us. Our time is consumed by doubt and indecision which is from the enemy and not from God. Christ’s desire for us is to have a productive life as His followers. 

                  Discipleship is a full time learning process. To be Christ’s disciple requires a clear conscience and a sound mind that is solely focused on pleasing our Lord. Our seeking should be directed at the things of God and not our own pleasure. Pleasurable time spent is not intrinsically bad, but a necessary part of a person’s life. It just shouldn’t be all we focus on. A time of rest can be critical for the smooth functioning of our mind. To worry about things that cannot be altered in any way is foolhardy. A major waste of time, especially when we understand that God is in control of all things and will not let us fall or fail.

                  Worrying can be a major disrupter in our life. We waste time pondering the “what ifs”, rather than giving it over to God and asking Him to sort things out for us. Life doesn’t have to be as hard as it sometimes is. We do that to ourselves by not thinking things thru to their necessary conclusion. Read God’s Word to bolster your faith each day, for the enemy is relentless and is constantly looking for ways to trip us up. Shed worry like a snake sheds its skin. Leave it behind and don’t look back. As the saying goes: You can’t plow a straight row if you keep looking back. Serve God in love and don’t look back. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

7 Reasons to Not Worry

Reason 5

 

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” - Matthew 6:31-32 ^NLT

 

            Matthew points out that worrying “dominates the thoughts of unbelievers”. Does that mean we are poor Christians when we worry? I think not. We are human and God knows that all too well. That phrase poses as a challenge to all who believe. It begs the question: If your Father in heaven knows all things that can be known, then it stands to reason that He would know all our needs. Not wants. He knows them too, but His focus is on that which we need to survive. God is not necessarily interested in making our lives easy or comfortable. His interest lies in our living for Him and excepting His will for us as it is revealed to us. 

               The previous verse asks the question, “why do we have so little faith?” Why do we? I know I’m beating the same drum repeatedly here, but the answer lies in where our FOCUS lies. What are we fixated on? Is it that which causes us angst or is it the problem solver? We must use each event in our lives to allow our faith to grow. Scripture is clear ... draw close to God & He will draw close to you. The closer He gets the more His image will block out anything else around us. 

                God knowing what we need is a huge benefit to us.  And we never have to beg. He hears us; He knows. Work at stopping the worrying part of your life. If your desire is to know God more and fear calamity less, surrender to the will of God and watch your life take a dramatic turn. 

                 Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

7 Reasons Not to Worry

Reason 4

“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” - Matthew 6:30 ^NLT

 

                  Romans 8:39 (NLT) tells us that: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If He loves us (unconditionally), then why would He not provide for us? He certainly would and does.

                  When money is short and the bills keep going up, it is our human tendency to be concerned for the future. But our Heavenly Father has us covered, so there is no need to become worried about anything. To combat worry, check out this verse: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ^{(Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)} Does that sound like someone who has no intention of providing for us. Not at all.

                  We must teach ourselves to TRUST God with our lives. His will for us is to guide is thru this crazy life while giving us all we NEED to not just survive but succeed. Please remember that God’s version of success in no way lines up with the world’s view of success. It may or may not involve financial success. It may or may not involve personal notoriety. The word NEED is capitalized to make a point. We tend to have difficulty deciphering the difference between WANTS & NEEDS. God KNOWS what we need and THAT is what He promises us, not all our wants.

Solomon was said to be the wisest man alive and that is because when God said to him that He would give him ANYTHING he asked for, Solomon chose wisdom and discernment in ruling over Israel instead of riches and fame. The Lord was so impressed with his request that He honored his request AND gave him all that he did not ask for. Seek that which pleases the Lord and NOT what pleases you.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

7 Reasons Not to Worry

Reason 3

 

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” - Matthew 6:27 ^NLT

 

 

“Worry is more likely to shorten life than to prolong it, and ultimately such matters are in God's hands. To trust him should be enough.” ^{[Expositor's Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament; Copyright 2004.]}

 

                  This verse shines a light on the futility of worrying. Nothing positive comes out of worrying.  Worrying is akin to being concerned and it is only natural to be concerned about certain areas of our life that have been cause for tension and stress. If unchecked it can lead to anxiety and that is never a good thing. The way you can prolong your life is to eat healthy, exercise, and digest God’s Word as a means of stabilizing your conscience and sub-conscience mind. 

There is too much negativity in this world, coming from people who have other ideas regarding what is wrong and what is right. Don’t agree with them and they are loaded for bear and ready to cut you down verbally. That does not even remotely resemble the Golden Rule now does it? Some say Christians are liars, hypocrites, racist, white supremist, and that is without even knowing us. That causes stress. Living a peaceful life almost doesn’t even seem possible anymore. However, if we live by God’s principles in the long run we will be able to negotiate the treacherous terrain that surrounds you.

NOTHING can add years or for that matter, even seconds to your life. NOTHING. But your life will end up being far more pleasant if we remain positive in the face of chaos and hold on tightly to our faith. The Lord has and will never let any of us down. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

7 Reasons Not to Worry

Reason 2

 

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” - Matthew 6:26 ^NLT

 

                  Back in the day MAD was a crazy, satirical magazine that I, along with millions of others, enjoyed reading. As I recall it was very funny. Alfred E. Newman was the face of the magazine who was famous for saying, “What me worry?” People today could take a lesson from Alfred. Some of us tend to worry about every little thing that happens to us that is out of our control. We also invent scenarios in our mind that we begin to stress about as if it had already taken place, though it hadn’t and likely would not. 

                  Worrying takes years off ones life. Stress, which is associated with worrying, can cause all sorts of health problems. The unknown, as in the future, can cause us sleepless nights and tension filled days if we don’t learn how to deal with it.

                  Things have been fairly unstable in our country the last several years and that can cause quite a bit of consternation. I have moments when I shift my focus onto that which is bothering me, but eventually come to my senses and shift my focus back where it belongs; on the Lord. Now, whenever I begin to stress about something I come to the place where I simply lift the entire situation up to God and acknowledge that everything that happens is either caused or allowed by the Creator of this world and all that is in it. God knows all about it and will take care of His children, of which I am one. 

God’s Word tells us in the verse at the top of the page, that our needs shall be met by our Heavenly Father, who in Hebrew is called Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. If you can find it in yourself to believe what I just said then your stress should begin to dissipate. You see God loves us without conditions placed upon that love. And NOTHING will ever change how He feels about us. And He is ALWAYS there, even IN us, thru the person of the Holy Spirit. Worrying does nothing positive for any of us. Fixate on God and be at peace. It is NOT God’s will for any of us to be stressed thru worrying. Shift your focus. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

NOTE: Alfred E. Neuman is the fictitious cover boy of the American humor magazine MAD*. The character's distinct smiling face, gap-toothed smile, freckles, red hair, protruding ears, and scrawny body dates back to late 19th-century advertisements.

*MAD was a satirical American humor magazine first published in 1952.

7 Reasons Not to Worry

Reason 1

 

            It should be noted that the very same God who made you from dust can absolutely be trusted to lead and guide you in every aspect of your life.

 

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food & drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” - Matthew 6:25 ^NLT

 

                  Why do we strive to get THINGS that offer temporary satisfaction, yet place less importance on the things of God? Is it because we trust more in what we can see with our own two eyes, rather than that which is real, yet not seen? We worry, even though we are admonished not to, because our humanness acts as a roadblock to our faith. Our stress and worry could come from a lack of trust in the unseen God. We can hear His Word all the time, but unless we apply what we hear / read and know to our everyday life, we will shortchange ourselves every time.

                  We get caught up in those things which are happening all around us and take our eyes off the source of peace and hope. That can be easily remedied by shifting our focus back where it belongs ... on the source of all things good and righteous and just. Stress and worry do not come from God, they come from the one who rebelled against God and was removed from heaven. Satan will trip you up any way he can. Be on guard. Trust God’s Word as true and reliable. Shed the cloak of fear that the enemy has tossed upon you in an effort to make you less effective for the Kingdom. Understand and know that life is a battlefield, and your mind is the front line. Your stress and fear are mental attacks from the devil and his minions. Rid yourself of such attacks by striving to live a life that is according to God’s Word and therefore pleasing to Him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller 

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible; p. 2013.

Trusting God 5

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”- Psalm 56:3 ^NASB

In past postings I have made a distinction between fear & reverence. In this verse being afraid is the other meaning of fear used in scripture. We’re human with emotions. We become afraid and we worry; however, God instructs us that we need not fear or worry. This is because we are his and he is our Heavenly Father. 

No matter what circumstances you may find yourself in, what good could possibly come from worrying or being fearful. Will it help you in your situation? No. Will it bring you peace or comfort? No. These are characteristics that emerge from a close, intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. 

Don’t misunderstand me. Fear can be a very real thing to some folks. Anxiety, even panic, can set in and be hard to deal with. I’m not trying to minimize the reality of these issues. I’m only trying to say that it doesn’t have to be that way. I know what I’m talking about because I have struggled with panic attacks for years and am on medication to deal with it. Anxiety can be a very scary, very real thing that some folks are not equipped to deal with effectively. It can rise up within you without warning and cripple your ability to rationally deal with your situation. Between my meds and the Lord I have seemingly conquered this foe, but it hasn’t been easy. However, it can be overcome. 

With regards to our fear of mortal men, they can inflict pain, suffering and death to us, but they cannot rob us of our soul or our future beyond this life. A travesty in this life is when someone rejects Almighty God and loses out on forgiveness and a subsequent eternal life in his presence. Matthew 10:28 says this: “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” We need to revere God with awe for who he is and what he can do and has done. For God controls this life and the next. We can trust our God with our very lives, without question. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Trusting God 4

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”- Psalm 118:8 ^{New American Standard Bible}

                  While it cannot be confirmed, many Bible scholars surmise that this Psalm was written by none other than King David. But it really doesn’t matter … the message is a familiar one, nonetheless.  Trusting in man is misplaced trust. Almighty God can do what no man could ever do. Our trust in God enables us to know exactly where to go in our greatest time of need. Proverbs 18:10 tells us, “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” Again, in Psalm 46:1 it says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

                  What can man offer us when trouble arises? Not much. As I have said in past postings, mortal man’s resources are sorely lacking. When you think of God and what scripture says of him, you should have confidence that he will protect you from anything that may come against you. God watches over his children as a mother hen watches over her chicks or a shepherd watches over his flock. Both are safe and secure, protected by their loving overseer.

                  As an illustration, a form of refuge could be a fortress, which can have outside walls as thick of 4 feet. Penetration by the enemy would be difficult. Infiltration from within would accomplish that goal. I would compare that to your mind being compromised by the enemy thru some form of media incursion or irregular association. Our relationship with God is meant to be deeply intimate. The closer we are to our Heavenly Father the more we will trust him, because we know him a little bit more each day we spend time with him. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Trusting God 3

“You who [reverently] fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.” - Psalm 115:11 ^{Amplified Bible}

            Once again, we see the reference to fearing the Lord. I’ve been using the Amplified Bible up to this point because it breaks down a word or phrases meaning in an easier to understand way. Fear of the Lord is not like being afraid. Those who should be afraid of the Lord are folks who live as they choose, without any consideration to God or his Word. Those are the people who need to take a real hard look themselves and think about the possibility of a higher power that is far greater than themselves. Not just a higher power, but a spiritual entity that IS love in its purest and most concise form. Because of His majestic power and endless wisdom, we are to be in awe of Him and treat Him with reverence. Our fear of Him should also lead to trust, just as our faith should. We should trust Him because there has, nor will there ever be a time when He will not be our help and protector. 

When I think of the word ‘shield’, I think of the Roman shields they sometimes used in battle.  They were convex in shape and had straight sides; 4 feet tall and 2-1/2 feet wide. They were made of wood and copper and at times had a thick leather overlay that was saturated with water to douse the flames of fiery arrows shot at them by some enemies. The average height of a Roman soldier back in the day was roughly 5’7”-5’8” tall. If they crouched down their entire body from head to toe would be covered by these shields. That is what comes to mind when scripture tells us God is our shield. He protects us from the fiery darts of the enemy. Satan is powerless against a child of God, unless that child gives the devil a foothold.^[1] Do not yield to the enemy, for God is your “help and shield”. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] Ephesians 4:26-27

 

Trusting God 2

“Trust [rely on and have confidence] in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and feed [securely] on His faithfulness.”- Psalm 37:3 ^{Amplified Bible}

For this posting I have chosen this simple verse from the Psalms. The Psalmist is King David, who had a heart after God. ^[1] No doubt thru his own experiences, David asks his readers to place their full trust in God and not in men, who are perishing like the lilies of the field that is here today and gone tomorrow. All of mankind is fading from this earth beginning on the day of their birth and are limited in what they can do. The Lord’s riches, wisdom and strength are limitless. In God we can trust both for things temporal and eternal, of the body and the soul, now and forevermore.

                  David follows his pitch for trusting the Lord by saying that we should “do good”. Now since Jesus said in Mark 10:18 that no one is good except God the Father, this implies than men are inherently NOT good at their core. Hence our need for forgiveness, aka, redemption. However, since God is good and we are his children, we are to emulate his goodness as we become closer to his heart. Our fruit will reveal our faithfulness.

                  Our trust in God is largely, if not exclusively, based on his faithfulness to us. We love because he first loved us. ^[2]Everything that is good and loving and kind and compassionate emanates from Almighty God. Salvation is designed to lead us to behaving like our Heavenly Father.

                  The final statement, I believe, is referring not just to the land we dwell on this side of heaven, but also in the heavenly realm. As sheep in their pasture would peacefully feed, we are to feed without fear on the faithfulness and goodness of our God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] 1 Samuel 13:14 & Acts 13:22

^[2] 1 John 4:19