Let The Beauty Of The Lord Our God Be Upon Us, And Establish Thou The Work Of Our Hands - Part 1901

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)

"For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:27; Isaiah 27:9)

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23)

As believers in Jesus by faith, we can be assured that our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ does not hide His countenance and knowledge of Himself from those who love Him and worship Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. (Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4) Indeed, as the scripture declares, God has not cast away His people which He foreknew from the beginning. And, as history has repeatedly revealed, the Lord has always reserved to Himself a people who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Similarly, there has been a historical testimony among His people. That is, the tokens of this world have no hold because our salvation is not of this world. 

Also, that our faith established on the day of Pentecost -- to remain steadfast in the apostolic church -- was established as the beginning of the New Testament church in Acts 2 -- when Peter (standing with the eleven) told the first 3,000 souls to be saved, that this same JESUS whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) Note too that when the people asked, "What must we do?" Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38-47)

And since then, the Lord beseeches us, by the mercies of God, that we present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God -- which is our reasonable service, and also, to not be confirmed to this world, but instead, transformed by the renewing of our mind that ye/we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2; II Corinthians 10:1-4; Hebrews 10:18-20; I John 2:15; Ephesians 4:23; I Thessalonians 4:3)

Taste and see that the Lord is good! Indeed, our Lord God and Saviour is THAT good, and much more! His love and mercies which endure forever are established in heaven for you and I. 

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus ... that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 4:4-10)

This is why believers in the Lord Jesus by faith rejoice evermore. It is in this context that we pray without ceasing, and in everything we do, we give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. And that we quench not the Spirit, as the scripture declares, and neither do we despise not prophesying. Likewise, we are instructed to prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from all appearance of evil; so that the very God of peace can sanctify you wholly. Paul wrote -- "I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Thessalonians 5:16-23; II Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 6:18; Ephesians 4:30; I Corinthians 14:1, 31; I John 4:1; Philippians 4:9)

And to the end, that He may establish your hearts not blameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (I Thessalonians 3:13) 

But sadly, there are many who willingly reject the Lord Jesus the Christ in their hearts and minds. These do not receive the good news gospel message which continually confirms that we were not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who shed His holy precious blood for us on a cross ... so that we, like the wise men of old, would come to worship Him. (Matthew 2:2; John 3:16; Titus 3:4-7) As a consequence, these reject the truth of the good news gospel wherein Jesus was observed sharing His message with the multitudes. 

His message? "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17)

But in our hearts we have been given a choice. We can straightway leave our nets and follow Jesus, or we can choose the meaningless things of this world, decidedly not framing their doings and turning to God. Hosea refers to this as the spirit of whoredom that remains in their midst because they have not known the name of God. (Hosea 4:5)

 " ... they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes, that pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and trust aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid -- to profane My holy name." (Amos 2:6-8; II Kings 17:7-18; II Kings 18:12; Isaiah 29:21; Amos 4:1; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8:6; Ezekiel 22:11; Leviticus 20:3; I Corinthians 8:10; Exodus 22:26)

"For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right." (Amos 5:12; Hosea 5:3; Amos 2:6; Isaiah 29:2)

How do we know them? Because these will readily oppress the poor and crushed the needy. Willingly these would wrong the righteous, perverting the way of the meek, while hoping to lay the souls of others less fortunate to any abomination. Yes, lots of signs to show that the hearts and motives of evil men are displayed, and that their skirts (as Nahum wrote) will be raised, so that their nation(s) appear naked before all men and the earthly kingdoms ashamed.

Still, we who believe in Jesus by faith have a greater hope, a higher calling to rise above the things of this world. We have a crown of jewels awaiting us because we rejoice in the Lord, joying in the God of our salvation.

The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet, and He will make me to walk upon Mine high places. (Habakkuk 3:18-19) He is the King of kings and His brightness and glories covers the heavens and the earth full of His praise. Meditate upon these things this day.

Stand in the offering plate.