THOUGHTS FROM RONALD REAGAN

 

THOUGHTS FROM RONALD REAGAN Remarks at an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast in Dallas, Texas on August 23, 1984 Those who created our country -- the Founding Fathers and Mothers -- understood that there is a divine order which transcends the human order. They saw the state, in fact, as a form of moral order and felt that the bedrock of moral order is religion. The Mayflower Compact began with the words, "In the name of God, amen.'' The Declaration of Independence appeals to "Nature's God'' and the "Creator'' and “the Supreme Judge of the world.'' Congress was given a chaplain, and the oaths of office are oaths before God. James Madison in the Federalist Papers admitted that in the creation of our Republic he perceived the hand of the Almighty. John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, warned that we must never forget the God from whom our blessings flowed. George Washington referred to religion's profound and unsurpassed place in the heart of our nation quite directly in his Farewell Address in 1796. Seven years earlier, France had erected a government that was intended to be purely secular. This new government would be grounded on reason rather than the law of God. By 1796 the French Revolution had known the Reign of Terror. Without God, there is no virtue, because there's no prompting of the conscience. Without God, we're mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what the senses perceive. Without God, there is a coarsening of the society. And without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

 

THOUGHTS FROM NOAH WEBSTER

 

THOUGHTS FROM NOAH WEBSTER He was a Revolutionary Soldier, Judge, Legislator, Educator, and Noah Webster was known as the “Schoolmaster to America.” The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles: this is genuine Christianity and to this we owe our free constitutions of government. The moral principles and precepts found in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. Our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion. The Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children under a free government ought to be instructed. No truth is more evident than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people. The Bible is the chief moral cause of all that is good and the best corrector of all that is evil in human society – the best book for regulating the temporal concerns of men. The Christian religion is the basis, or rather the source, of all genuine freedom in government. I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of Christianity have not a controlling influence.

 

EZEKIEL 34: BAD SHEPHERDS AND ORNERY SHEEP

 

EZEKIEL 34: BAD SHEPHERDS AND ORNERY SHEEP The Lord GOD says: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost." Ezekiel 34:1-4 Ezekiel 34 is an amazing chapter about the condition of God's flock. Things were not going the way God expected. The Shepherds were lazy and only in it for themselves. Bullies had taken over; pushing and butting the other sheep. They even muddied the waters so other sheep couldn't get a drink of cool, clear water. Some sheep had been abused and neglected so much, they fled into the wilderness to fend for themselves. God told those selfish shepherds that if he had to round up the missing sheep himself, they would no longer be employed and would not even be able to feed themselves. I've never heard a preacher speak on Ezekiel 34, but they should. The bullies need to be warned that they will be cut out of the flock if they don't change their ways. The strays need to be found and brought back. And the atmosphere of the flock needs to change so it becomes a loving, caring communal fellowship such as the early church of Acts enjoyed. God is speaking to the shepherds in Ezekiel 34: it's up to the shepherds to turn their flocks around and become the kind of Church that Jesus Christ can be pleased with. There's not enough love in modern churches, and it's because ambition and pride have taken over. The GOOD news in this chapter: God makes it clear that the sheep are HIS and HE will personally make sure that none are lost! I have also seen what happens to the sheep in the wilderness: they find each other and are able to have sweet Christian fellowship in small groups of two or more. The wilderness can become a place of blessing. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. 2 John 1:6 NIV Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 NIV All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Acts 2:44-47

 

THE LORD’S FAVOR

 

THE LORD’S FAVOR The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil. Proverbs 12:2 It’s always worth seeking the Lord’s favor. If we know He is pleased with us, we needn’t be overly concerned with what the world thinks. Christ’s commendation sweetens even the harshest criticism. When the disciples criticized Mary for anointing Jesus with perfumed oil, it was comforting for her to hear Jesus say, “She has done a beautiful thing.” His approval healed the hurt caused by their unfair words. “A good man obtains God’s favor.” A good man is someone who loves God and does His will. Notice the Scripture doesn’t say a great man, a rich man, or a strong man. If those were the qualifications, many of us would never be able to obtain God’s favor. But goodness is something within reach for all of us. If we are good, it doesn’t matter what our other circumstances are The other side of this proverb is also important: “But the Lord condemns a crafty man.” It’s not poverty, ignorance, or a humble position that misses God’s favor—it’s a deceitful, scheming heart. If we want God’s favor, we must keep our hearts sincere and pure. By J.R. Miller

 

BRIDE OF THE LAMB

 

BRIDE OF THE LAMB Study of Revelation Continued REVELATION 19.6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! 19.7 Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” 19.8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 19.9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” -WEB Bible. Immediately following the story of the harlot of Babylon, Revelation introduces the Bride of Christ. She is portrayed as a city, just as the harlot was. Each "city" is a representation of many, many people.  The contrast between the two women is meant to be noticed and appreciated, because they are as different as night and day. God intends for us to see the differences, and take heed. The Bride of Christ is chaste and lovely, seeking to please her husband. She is everything that a sweet bride should be, just as her husband is perfect in every way. The Bride of Christ is the ultimate revelation of a perfect marriage. Submission has become an extremely negative word in today’s world, but Jesus set a different example for submission. He submitted to his Father in all things, and he asks that his followers submit to him. Perhaps it’s impossible to understand the beauty of this relationship without God’s help. When there’s no sin or cruel subjection involved, submission is the path to perfect unity and fellowship. In its purest form, submission is a gift of love. God the Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are in such complete unity as they work together, that the Bible says they are ONE GOD even though they are three distinctly different persons. Humans are incapable of this kind of perfect unity so we really don't get it. We can't fathom how this works. It's a very beautiful mystery, because the unity that exists between the three persons of God is pure and perfect. It is this kind of perfect unity that God desires with us, and it only happens when we learn the spiritual benefits of submission to the will of God.  2 JOHN 1:6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. NIV ROMANS 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. NIV JOHN 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, 'Show us the Father?' 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.  WEB Bible John’s vision of the Bride of Christ is something that’s impossible to fully understand. We know that the vision was beautiful. And we know it’s something for believers to look forward to, but we won’t know what the vision means until the time comes. I do think this lovely vision is meant to challenge us to do better as Christians, and to embrace a life of holiness that is pleasing to Christ. We want to be ready to take our place in this beautiful city. The Harlot of Babylon is the end result of rebellion against God. The Bride of Christ reveals the beauty that comes from submission to God. Study of Revelation Continues Next Thursday IMAGE CREDIT: The Bride of Christ, generated by SeaArt.ai and edited by C.A. Stevens.