God’s Help

10 Fear not, for I (God) am with you. Do not be dismayed (afraid, depressed, or anxious). I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand. . . . 13 I am holding you by your right hand — I, the Lord your God — and I say to you, do not be afraid; I am here to help you. 14 Despised though you are, fear not, O Israel; for I will help you. I am the Lord, your Redeemer; I am the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 41:10, 13-14 (The Living Bible)

"Fear not!" God is with us and we do not have to fear (Isaiah 41:10, 13-14; see also Isaiah 43:1, 5; Isaiah 44:2, 8). God promised to be with Israel. Even more, God also promises to be with us today to give us His strength, protection, help, and victory over sin and death. We should never place our trust in anything — money, career, family, or even military power — other than the true and living God of Israel. No nation can defeat the eternal and true God of Israel. Only God can save us! 

The ancient Israelites learned God is mighty to save them (Zephaniah 3:17). As the ancient Israelites faced the challenge of the long journey from Babylon (modern day Iraq) to the Promised Land, God assured the people He was with them and would give them success. God knew the glorious future plans for His people and He had everything under control. So, Israel did not need to worry. God would go before Israel and be with Israel working on their behalf. 

In fact, God purposely rose up Cyrus of Persia (559 – 530 BC) to defeat Babylon for the sake of His people Israel. Cyrus defeated Babylon in 539 BC. God chose Cyrus to carry out His righteous purposes to help and deliver Israel (Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1, 4-5). Amazingly, the prophet Isaiah called Cyrus by name over a century before he was born (Isaiah 44:28). Babylon had previously been a world power and devastated Jerusalem, including the Temple, in 586 BC. By God’s help, Cyrus issued a decree to allow the Israelites to return to their land to rebuild Jerusalem and the God’s Temple (Ezra 1:1-4; Ezra 6:3-5; see also Proverbs 21:1). 

Today, we can also trust God and fear not as we contemplate our situation and face an unknown future. God promises to “help you” (Isaiah 41:10, 13- 14). God keeps all His promises! God is with us no matter the circumstances, and He strengthens us no matter the assignment (Isaiah 41:10). Only God holds us as He helps us (Isaiah 41:13–14). God is the Master and Creator of the universe (Isaiah 45:12, 18), and He has not rejected Israel and not rejected you! 

So, do not be afraid or anxious for God is with you (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). God will strengthen, uphold, and help you by His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). God is our true Savior, Protector and Redeemer! God cares for you personally. When you feel your strength is gone, remember to call upon God for help. You can always trust God to help you.

28 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

References:
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
New Student Bible. New York: Zondervan,1992.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.
Wiersbe, Warren. With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1991.
Woman’s Study Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1995.
Zondervan NIV Study Bible. New York: Zondervan, 2008.

 

The Nations Will Worship the Lord

Loving God's Way and the Holy Spirit

When Jesus Christ gave His command to love (John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17), He knew people would find loving God’s way very difficult and would need help. So, Jesus sent a Helper to live inside people and give them encouragement, ability and power to love God’s way. This Helper is called the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity (John 14:26).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and Jesus Christ living inside us - God's Presence (John 14:16-17). The Holy Spirit is a part of the Godhead. There is one God of the universe who exists eternally as a Trinity of Three Persons - God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is one of the most important ideas of the Christian faith. The Holy Spirit has been active among people from the beginning of time, as seen in Genesis 1:1-2 and throughout the Old Testament.

God the Father and Jesus Christ freely and willing give every person who accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior the Holy Spirit to help them walk in love (Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit inside us gives us care, direction, and strength to live according to the teachings and commands of the Holy Bible (John 16:5-15). Most importantly, the Holy Spirit transforms us to live, act, and look more like Jesus Christ and to walk in love. The Holy Spirit within us helps us live as God wants us to (Galatians 5:14-26).

In addition, the Holy Spirit is a powerful Person on our side, working for and around us. The Holy Spirit lives with us and in us, and He teaches, helps and guides us into all truth, as stated in the Holy Scriptures (John 14:26; John 15:26). The Holy Spirit points to the teaching, illuminating, and reminding work of the Spirit. Moreover, the Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart and gives us the power, strength, and ability genuinely to love and to overcome hatred and evil in our world.

The result of the Holy Spirit's work inside our lives is a great and lasting peace (John 14:27-29). Unlike worldly peace, which we see as the absence of conflict, God’s peace is a confident assurance that in any circumstance God‘s Holy Spirit is there to protect, guide, and bless us.

Our fleshly bodies do not have the ability, despite our sincere efforts, to live a life of love God’s way. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit leads us into God’s holiness and righteousness and changes us from within. The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to please God and reveals the standards of love. Only the Spirit of God Himself living inside us can produce in us godly love, also called “fruits of the Spirit” or virtues.

The Holy Bible lists nine fruits of the Spirit that are bound together by love. A person who shows the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the Law. Love encompasses all the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT).

If we want the fruits of the Holy Spirit to grow and work inside us, the Holy Bible teaches we must join our lives to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. We join our lives to Jesus Christ by reading His words as taught in the New Testament and praying to God daily in the Name of Jesus Christ. By growing and knowing Jesus Christ, we will fulfill the Law — to love God and our neighbors.

There is more Good News! We can generously receive the Holy Spirit when we accept and turn to Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives. When we sincerely trust and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by faith, we receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ baptizes us with His Holy Spirit. You do not have to wait for a certain feeling to guarantee the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. Jesus Christ promised and guaranteed to send the Holy Spirit to all those who trust and accept Him as Lord and Savior. As we accept Jesus Christ by faith, we also receive the Holy Spirit by faith. Then, the Holy Spirit stands by daily to help, guide, and give us the power to live and love God’s way. By faith, we obtain the Holy Spirit's power each day.

If you have not received the Holy Spirit, then like the apostles from the New Testament, ask Jesus Christ from your heart in prayer for a “baptism in the Holy Spirit.” Praying for this baptism could be done privately by the following:

1. Humbly and honestly turning your life, heart, and will to God
2. Admit you need God’s help, strength, and love to live
3. Apologize, repent, and turn from all your sins to God and ask God to forgive you
4. Believe that Jesus Christ is God, that He died on the Cross for all your sins, and that He rose from the dead by God’s power
5. Surrender every area of your life to God to allow Him to work in and through you
6. Trust that Jesus Christ as God has forgiven your sins with His death on the Cross
7. Then ask Jesus Christ to baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

If you have prayed that prayer, the Holy Spirit is now living inside you and equipping you to live and love God’s way. This is the beginning of a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ and is the start of a new life (Romans 8:14-17). God’s Spirit living inside you will teach, equip, direct, empower, and encourage you to live God’s way. Congratulations! As we continue to trust, follow, and obey Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit continually lives inside you daily.

Be Strong!

4 But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid. Haggai 2:4-5 (NLT).

Several times God through the prophet Haggai encouraged the people to "be strong . . . and work. For I [God] am with you." God had sent the prophet Haggai to motivate the Israelites (the Jews) to rebuild God’s Temple and return to wholeheartedly following God. At that time, the people neglected God and God’s work and pursued a comfortable lifestyle for themselves (Haggai 1:6–9). Haggai encouraged the people to be courageous, strong, and brave and to seek God and God’s work first (see also Zechariah 8:9; Colossian 3:17). In response, the Israelites resumed rebuilding God’s Temple (Haggai 1:14-15) and the Temple was completed in March 12, 516 BC (see Ezra 6:15).

Haggai reflects other passages of Scripture that encouraged God’s people to be strong, brave, and courageous for the Lord God is with us. King David used these words in 1 Chronicles 28:20, 28 when he encouraged his son Solomon to build the first Temple. The Lord God encouraged Joshua and Israel with similar words in Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18 and Joshua 10:25 as they conquered and captured the Promised Land of God. Moreover, God used these words to Hezekiah’s military officers (2 Chronicles 32:7). So, the same God that helped Joshua and Solomon would also help Zerubbabel, the Israelites and God’s people today to do God’s work.

God’s Holy Spirit goes with us as we humbly obey and trust God and God’s Word. In fact, God is always with those who walk with truth, faith, humility, courage, and love (see also Zephaniah 3:12; Matthew 5:5, 8; Colossians 3:14). As Haggai reminded the people, the one true God will always be with us wherever we go (see also Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; 1 Kings 8:57; Psalm 23:6). God is faithful and God will never leave nor forsake us no matter the difficulties and no matter the obstacle (Hebrews 13:5). So, be strong and courageous with wholehearted faith in God because God is with us (see also 1 Samuel 17:45; Matthew 1:23).

What's Important?

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 (NLT). 

What is truly important to you? Wealth, possession, people, goals, and other desires all strive for our attention to be first place. However, God desires to be the central and focal point of our life. To "seek the Kingdom of God . . . live righteously" means to continually seek God in our daily lives first and foremost for all our needs, wants, and desires and to live a life that pleases God (righteousness).

However, many people lose track with God worrying about money, possessions, and status (Mark 4:1-20). Fear and lack of faith is often the root of worry. Yet, worrying and stressing is pointless and a complete waste of time (Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 12:22-31). Instead of worrying, we are to continually seek God and live rightly (e.g., moral, honest, and virtuous). As we seek God first, God provides for our needs (Luke 12:31). God promises that He will never leave us and never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Even more, God promises to supply all our needs as we seek and trust Him (Luke 12:31; Philippians 4:19-20; Ephesians 3:20-21). Where God guides, He provides.

Everyone is to plan for the future with God’s help, guidance, and Holy Spirit. Still more, we are to all do good, work hard, and care for our families (2 Thessalonians 3:6–13; Hebrews 2:7). God condemns worry, not work (Matthew 6:25, 27–28, 31, 34). So, let us all live one day at a time with God and make an active effort to keep God first place in every area of our life!

31 He [God] will always give you all you need from day to day if you will make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. Luke 12:31 (TLB).

 

In God We Trust

5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans (flesh), who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. 6 They are like stunted shrubs (bushes) in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren (hot and dry) wilderness, in an uninhabited salty (bad) land. 7 But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence (see also Psalm 40:4). 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit (see also Psalm 1:3). 9 The human heart (mind) is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives (mind). I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NLT).

The prophet Jeremiah is listed among the major prophets of the Old Testament and he ministered primarily to the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah). Judah had turned their hearts away from wholeheartedly following the one true God and continued to sin. God called the prophet Jeremiah to warn Judah of their sins before the coming destruction.

Jeremiah proclaimed that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9), and "Judah's sin is engraved . . . on the tablets of their hearts" (Jeremiah 17:1) In the Holy Scriptures, the heart was the organ of reason, feeling, action, intelligence, and will where sin lives. The heart embraces our innermost being and the center of life. Unfortunately, our hearts are prone and bent toward sin, selfishness, and sickness from the time we are born. The human heart has a deep bent or inclination to sin that only God can repair and redeem. As humans, we cannot change our hearts through self-reform, self-will, or human efforts. Only God as the Great Physician can diagnose our heart problems and bring the necessary healing. As the Great Physician, God can repair our sinful hearts and place His Word on our hearts as we seek, love, and trust wholeheartedly in Him (Jeremiah 31:31–34). As we seek and trust God, God’s Holy Spirit transforms and strengthens our hearts and brings life, discernment, and healing to our whole bodies (1 Kings 3:9; Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5). Unfortunately, those who do not trust in God continue in their deceit and wickedness and have neither salvation nor security. On the other hand, those who trust in God are written in heaven (Luke 10:20) and the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27).

Moreover, the Holy Scriptures teaches us to continually protect and safeguard our hearts from sin and wickedness (Proverbs 4:23). We can protect our heart by setting boundaries on our outward actions and inward desires. To set these boundaries, we must continually seek God and bring glory to Him in every life situation (Colossians 3:17). A good rule of thumb to remember: will this action or desire bring glory to God?

People who totally trust in God are fruitful and lively, despite any outward crisis and difficulties. Those who trust in God flourishes like trees planted by water (see Psalm 1) with abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others (Isaiah 40:29-31). In contrast, those who do not trust in God are infertile, weak, and unfruitful. In times of misfortune and suffering, such people are often damaged, broken and spiritually weak (see also Jeremiah 13:1-11).

God can turn us away from sin and evil as we turn our hearts to trust completely in Him. God is ready and willing to clean and repair our hearts and give us a new heart if we seek and trust Him (Psalm 51; Amos 5:5-6). As we continually seek God, God send His Holy Spirit to help us resist sin, evil, and temptations. Self-help, money, and riches will never solve the sin and evil problems of our hearts. Only our committed trust in God will bring God's blessing or lasting happiness, despite any outward struggle or crises.

We must all repent and turn our whole hearts to God in love, commitment, and faithfulness (see Psalm 78:8; Isaiah 1:16-20; Hosea 6:1-3; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7). Repentance means to turn from sin, evil, and self-centeredness and turn to following and loving God and our neighbors (see also Jeremiah 18:1-17; Matthew 22:34-10). God’s blessings and restoration flows to those who confess and repent of their sins and honor God by seeking what is right (Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 18:7-11; see also Psalm 51). Most important, seeking God brings true life (Psalm 1:3). The Holy Scriptures are clear that God blesses those who trust and obey Him and seek His will (Proverbs 3:1-12).

Today, our world applauds self-importance, wealth, assertiveness, possessions, and independence (Jeremiah 18:12). However, God applauds a humble heart committed to trusting, obeying and loving Him and loving our neighbors (see Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 11:4; Matthew 22:34-40). God does not convict human resources but He does want everyone to seek His will and way first and foremost in every life situation and circumstance (Jeremiah 17:7; Matthew 6:33). So, let everyone seek and trust in God!

3 Never let loyalty (faithfulness, truth) and kindness (love) leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will (acknowledge God) in all you do, and He will show you which path to take (direct your path). 7 Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Proverbs 3:3-8 (NLT).

References:
Life Application Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Carol Streams, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. With the Word Bible Commentary. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991.

Gospel In A Nutshell

For I am not ashamed of this Good News (Gospel) about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:16-17 (NLT), see also Habakkuk 2:4.

God loves ALL people, regardless of race, identity, sin, gender, or age (Acts 10:9-16). His love is endless and very wide (Romans 8:38-39; Ephesians 3:14-21). No human can comprehend the never-ending depth of God’s love for all people of every tribe, nation, and tongue. God wants a close and daily relationship with everyone, from the least to the greatest, as Friend and Lord.

Yet, God also calls everyone to repentance from sin and to faith in Jesus Christ. The Gospel message declares we are saved by grace (unearned, undeserved favor from God) through faith (complete and genuine trust) in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. Saving faith is simply trusting and believing in Jesus Christ, and sincerely reaching out to Him to accept His wonderful gift of salvation. As we turn and continually seek God found in Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Spirit cleans us from the inside with a renewed heart and soul. Plainly, God does the cleaning of our lives as we continually seek Him by faith. Our persistent faith in God found in Jesus Christ gives us strength, courage, and victory over every life challenges and struggles. Jesus Christ sends us the Holy Spirit as our Friend, Helper, Counselor, Guide, and Instructor (John 14:15-29).

The God who saved Israel from the Egyptian soldiers (Exodus 15:2), Jonah from the fish’s belly (Jonah 2:9), and the psalmist from death (Psalm 116:6), saves ALL people who believe in Jesus Christ and faithfully follow His message of love from sin and sin’s consequences. God relents from sending His judgment as we turn from our sins (Jeremiah 18). Through Jesus Christ, we are now free from the power of sin (Romans 6:1-23) and free to live like Jesus Christ in God’s everlasting love (Romans 8:38-39).

Only God found living in Jesus Christ saves humankind from sin and sin’s destruction: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8 NASB); “Salvation comes from the LORD” (Jonah 2:9 NASB); through Jesus Christ we can stand before God justified, “not guilty” (Romans 3:21-5:21).

In a nutshell, the Good News or the Gospel message is that Jesus Christ

1. Died on the Cross at Calvary on a Friday over 2000 years ago;
2. Through His death humankind can receive righteousness and salvation;
3. He was buried in an empty tomb;
4. Came back to life (resurrected) on a Sunday morning by the Holy Spirit;
5. By confession with our mouth and faith in our hearts that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord and Savior of the world, humankind can be reconciled and given peace with God;
6. Sin and sin’s consequences from the past, present, and future are forgiven; and
7. Finally, the Holy Spirit cleanses a person’s heart and gives that person a new start and new life.

God through Jesus Christ has instructed all believers to take the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all people. The Gospel of the Kingdom is the power of God to give salvation from sin, heart peace and the hope of eternal life through the Person and life of Jesus Christ.

 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17 (NKJV).

GOD LOVES YOU AND HE CARES ABOUT ALL YOUR NEEDS. God loved you so much that He became a Man through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God’s only Son. God gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the entire world on the Cross at Calvary on a Friday afternoon more than 2000 years ago. Then three days later on Sunday morning, God raised Jesus Christ from the dead to offer salvation to all people.

Salvation is God’s gift to all people. No one can earn salvation by work or effort, but only through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). By having faith and belief in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the Cross for your sins, you are made right with God the Father and declared holy and righteous (Romans 3:21-31). Most importantly, you will now have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. You can approach God about all your concerns and needs through prayer.

Now, this belief in Jesus Christ is more than an intellectual agreement that Jesus is God. This belief means placing your complete trust, hope, and confidence in Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as payment for your sins and acceptance of Him as Lord over your complete life. While our good works and efforts do not save us, God saves us so we can do good works of love for others.

After rising from the dead, Jesus Christ ascended into heaven and His physical presence left the earth (Acts 1:1-11). Nevertheless, Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit so that His Spiritual Presence would still be among all humanity who had faith in His life, death, and resurrection.

Our next step is faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Bible tells us that everyone has fallen short and sinned against God, even with our so-called good and nice deeds (Romans 3:23). The wages of sin against God are death, darkness, and despair (Romans 6:23). Yet the GOOD NEWS is that God has sent His special gift, His Son Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins. You can receive this gift from God simply by calling on the name of Jesus Christ, to accept Jesus with all your heart as your Lord and Savior, ask Him to cleanse you from all your sins, and then you are SAVED! (Romans 10:13). With that simple prayer, you have become a new creature in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Find a good Holy Bible to read daily. The Holy Bible is God’s love letter to you. Then, find a good Bible-believing church to serve and worship God. Church is a good way to find other believers in Jesus Christ to help you daily in your love walk.