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Psalm 13 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

³ Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

⁴ Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

⁵ But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

⁶ I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

There are tragedies that send us running to God and questioning why?  Sorrow fills our hearts and we ask God where is He.  Yet, as David concludes in this Psalm and every other, God is right there.  He stands with open arms to receive all who would turn to Him and receive mercy and grace.  Sorrow will always be a part of our life on this earth; because mankind has chosen the darkness of their own hearts rather than to stand in the light of God’s Glory.  Mankind prefers to trust in his own egotistical heart rather than acknowledge his own need of a Savior; therefore, evil continues to increase in this world that so surrounds us. Yet, our Savior and High Priest does not stand so far away that He cannot understand our grief.  Just as Isaiah had prophesied of Christ: He came and bore upon Himself the sorrows and iniquities of us all. 

Isaiah 53: ³ He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Christ bore the wrath against sin that perfect Righteousness and Justice demand.  As we search for those responsible for the bombings yesterday, we cry out for justice; that the perpetrators of such acts be punished.  Rightly so. We can fully understand the need for justice and wrath against evil when we see such acts of cowardly violence.  Yet, we seem to want to request that God in mercy just forgive all our sins without our accepting the gift of atonement that He has offered through His son.  Do we see our own guilt as so little before the throne of heaven?  Do we see the Glory of His Righteousness as so dim that we cannot see the darkness within each of our hearts?  Yet, we have a high priest whom we may cry out to.  Jesus Christ bore our sins upon the cross and only asks that we come to Him in true repentance, seeking Him so that we might be saved.  He understands our sorrows, our infirmities, and our frailties; yet, He has loved us and wants to provide grace for our time of need.  Will you come to Him today?   Oh, that the eyes of your hearts may be opened; so that you might see a glimpse of His Glory; seeking and savoring Christ with all your heart, your mind and your soul. 

Hebrews 4: ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

¹⁵ For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

A Soldier Wounded

by Effie Barba

A Soldier wounded in the fight

Oh Lord I need your strength, Your might

I need to go, a place to hide

That draws me closer to Your side

This battle lord has knocked me down

Until it’s hard to glimpse Your crown

With evil pushing all around

I dearly need Your solace found

That I might rise again to fight

With vision of the brilliant light

Of your great glory in the end

On that your love I might depend

Within this world, pain doth abound

I need your word my mind surround

Until I cannot hear their voice

So I might know what is your choice

Oh Lord, I lay my sword tonight

And pray for strength tomorrow’s light

That I might stand once more for you

With Christ’s dear love my only view

So hold me tight within your arms

And keep me safe from all that harm

My tears may fall against your chest

My Father’s love in which to rest

And when the dawn of morning sun

Doth signal forth that night is done

A song of praise my lips to sing

A joyfilled hope found in my King

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EVco7eba0

Romans 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

(New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.)

This commandment came from Paul, who was imprisoned by the government and later killed for preaching Christ.  His statements here were that we are to demonstrate our Christian faith by trusting that God is in control.  We are to pay our taxes and to submit to the authorities peaceably and still continue to teach Christ and Christ only for salvation.  Quite a fitting verse for today, April 15.  As Christians, we should never cheat on our taxes, argue with the police; but rather, treat those in authority with respect and proclaiming the love of Christ to them.  We can demonstrate to the world who we are in Christ.  Look at the example Paul had set; himself following this same statement. 

Acts 16: ²² And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

²³ And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

²⁴ Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

³² And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

³³ And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

³⁴ And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

We must continue to pray for our nation and pray for revival which begins within our own hearts first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXLQ2RPLO78

Ephesians 1:

¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

¹⁸ The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

¹⁹ And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

²¹ Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

²² And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,

²³ Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Romans 15:

¹³ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

Hope you enjoy the following sermon from John Piper. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1BPh3q0sRg

Zephaniah 3:  ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Think about this the Creator of the Universe rejoices over me with Joy and singing.  So amazing.  Think of this when you are facing trying times on this Earth.  God wants to share His Joy and His Love with you.  He knows that He is the only true source of Joy that can fill your heart to overflowing.  That intimate relationship with Him provides a Joy that is overflowing no matter what the circumstances on this earth are and no matter what the trials you are facing.  Christ, soon before He laid down His Life on the Cross to take upon Himself the wrath that Justice demanded against my sin and your sin, spoke to His apostles telling them that He must go and complete this work.  He was sending the Holy Spirit to be their comforter.  He told them, "³³ These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."   He reminds us that if we abide in Him (resting upon His covenant promises of Grace which we continue to learn through reading His love letters) we will have joy.  Listen to what Jesus said in John 15, "⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

I want to say thank you to God for the wonderful people I met last night at Atlanta Live.  Thank you Rick Goins (producer) for inviting me.  My host Cherisse Stephens overflows with the love and joy of Christ which is in her.  Her website is http://www.cherissestephens.com/.  I met an incredible young man, Brandon Maye.  He had worked hard, against all odds and had made it to the NFL only to have his football career put on hold due to injury.  God has led him to become a motivational speaker who now must go out to proclaim the name of Christ with the resounding verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."  He just finished his book, "Diamond in the Rough".  http://www.brandonmaye.com/.  There was Debora Coty, who has such a bubbling joy and has written 12 books which through humor helps women to face the trials of this world through faith.  Her lastest book is Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolates.  Her website is http://deboracoty.com/.  A Christian life coach, Denise Morton can be found at http://www.dominionlifeccc.org/.   There were amazing women who have the incredible talent of singing and who have a true ministry for Christ that they bring with song.  One was Rae Ellis, who shows through her songs that if we will fling open our diaries, become transparent God can use all that stuff we try to hide, for His glory.    Her website is http://www.officialraeellis.com/.  Wincey Terry-Bryant is a true blessing in song.  Her story was uplifting as she said, "God loved me back into His ministry"  Her website is:  http://www.winceyco.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2rBCMoQoew

Isaiah 63: ⁹ In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Jeremiah 31: ³ The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.

Hosea 14: ⁴ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely:

Zephaniah 3: ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

John 3: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 15: 9  ⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

John 17: ²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Why did God create man?  and why do I exist?  Are they the same question or are they two distinct questions?  The usual answer would be within the Christian world, "I exist to glorify God."  Although I might agree that Glorifying God is an ultimate result or as Jonathan Edwards says the ultimate means of my creation: yet, I want to cautiously break this thought down and propose that; although this may be a final result as I grow in my knowledge of Him and begin like a mirror to reflect His glory back to Him: God created man with a different immediate purpose in mind and that the ever increasing glorification that results merely increases eternally the purpose that He created man for.  That purpose was to share His overflowing fountain of love and Joy with a people.  There is nothing within me that can add one tiny fleck of glory to God; that end only occurs as I see, savor, and rejoice in the knowledge of His Glory.  The more I learn of His righteousness, His justice, His mercy, His love, and His grace to have chosen me; the depth of darkness that is my heart without Him becomes ever more visualized; so that I seek Him ever more diligently wanting to have His Word (the Bible) be etched on my Heart so that it reveals every corner of darkness.  My desire becomes such that I want God to rip from my hands any desire that stands in the way of my being fully focused on Him—destroying all hopes I might have in counterfeit joys, that I might stand in the light of His love and bask in the Joy I have in Him.  As that happens, my life can begin to reflect His Glory back to Him.  Have you ever seen a mirror reflecting light?  When a mirror, shiny and cleaned of all smudges, reflects light; the light becomes so great that it is nearly blinding and heat is intensified to the extent that a fire can be started by such methods.  That is the only means that God’s Ultimate Glory can be magnified, by the reflection of such Glory from the mirrored images of those who are the redeemed of Christ.  So, God created man in His Triune Image of (body, soul, and spirit) to share the overflowing Joy and Love that was His within His triune presence (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  This love and Joy was so great that He just had to create a being with free will to share it with.  Therefore, why do I exist?  To be loved by God and to rejoice with exceeding Joy in that love.  He becomes my greatest treasure which I then seek with all my heart.  The superfluous desires, temptations to immediate gratifications, self-centered, self-exalting desires, counterfeit joys must be set aside for the Joy, Glory, and Love that will be mine with Him–today, tomorrow and throughout eternity. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0qQCNRlBJc

Tonight I have the honor of being interviewed on Atlanta Live this evening which airs over WATC Atlanta TV 57. ATLANTA LIVE is WATC TV’s flagship program airing live weeknights from 7-9 p.m. with encore presentations every weekday morning from 7-9 a.m. In addition, one hour of ATLANTA LIVE is seen nationwide on NRB Network seen on DirecTV every weekday morning at 8 a.m. (ET). Also, Sky 21 in Summerville, Georgia now airs Atlanta Live from 7-9 a.m. every weekday morning. Please pray that I honor God through my words tonight and that I get out of the way, so He is shining through.  Join me if you can.