TRUE RICHES

 

We are once again looking at Ps 112, in our summer with the Psalms.  It has been an exciting journey.  Ezra, who is the writer of Psalm 111 and 112, has a goal, mission and aim.  He wants to reacquaint his readers and audience with God and our relationship with Him.  Ezra has used an acrostic form of Psalm which is using the Hebrew Alphabet with q corresponding truth about God.  Psalm 111, was about who God is and 112 is how we need to respond and the promises given to those who do what the writer of Hebrew 11:6 says, “God is the rewarder of them who diligent seek Him.”  Today we will look fourth more truths about God as revealed in this psalm.  

 

1.      Wealth and riches are in their houses.  Ezra says the blessing of God, His wealth and riches will be in their house.  We often attached riches to material possessions and that can happen but true riches are righteousness, love, mercy, grace, kindness, patience, peace, forgiveness, truth, honesty integrity, acceptance and joy.

 

a.      I do believe in prosperity and health but as 3 John 2, describes it.  Health and prosperity that comes from a soul that prospers.  The problem today is so many preachers make this about material wealth which can be taken, ruined and lose its value.  The reality is the more stuff you have the greater care it takes.  Talk about when we were moving.  I spent 30 years building a library no one wants.   

b.      Antiquities, is big business because people thought they could take it with them.  Hollywood has proven over and over the folly of riches.  Jesus says seek treasures from above.  Salvation is the greatest treasure of.  Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added.

c.      Ezra says wealth and riches are in the home.  This is a good spouse, godly children, love for prayer, the word, worship and the house of God.  You value these and you are rich beyond measure.  If God gives you wealth and material riches that is a bonus which are to be used for the benefit of others.  In God’s economy material possession is about others not ourselves. When we do things for others we are doing it to Him.

 

 

2.      And their righteousness endures forever.  When we talk about righteousness we are talking about a communicated attribute of God that guides ethical conduct.  In essence you want to do the will of the Father.  You are right with God and people around you.  You are doing what God wants.  You are holy, loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, generous, faithful, gentle and self-controlled.

 

a.      This is also something you pass onto others and your children by you example.  This is what we talked about last week.  This is a promise of godly legacy.

b.      It is your testimony long after you are gone when people think and talk about you.  Your influence will be felt long after you leave this world.  Daniel, David, Paul, Peter and Esther are examples. 

c.      How we live and what we does matter.  I want people to remember me as a person they were glad to know not wished they never knew me.  When you focus and center your life on the Lord this is a wonderful promise.  Talk about Mary and Jennifer Rice.

 

3.      Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.  When the darkness of hurt, bitterness, offense, misunderstanding, sorrow, discouragement, fear, pain, anxiety and overwhelming burdens comes there is light.  Remember sorrow is for a night but joy comes in the morning. 

 

a.      The mercies of God are new every morning and great is His faithfulness.  The light of God has come and His name his Jesus Christ.  By His death, burial and resurrection He has defeated death, hell and the grave.  His broken body brings healing and His shed blood brings salvation nd friendship with God. 

b.      The light of Jesus comes back motivates us daily to serve the Lord.  To go and tell others about Him and to love, accept and forgive unconditionally.  The upright will always stand.  Even though you fall down seven times you will get up eight.  I love a FB quote.  Rule One, “Never give up,” Rule Two, “Remember rule one.”  Even in the darkest times there is light coming. 

c.      Our responsibility is to reflect the light.  Like the moon reflects the sun so we reflect the Son of God.  As the upright we have the light in us.  John Wesley said, He wanted to a match to light a fire of revival in His world.  Our prayers do that.  This dark world needs light and we provide that through Jesus Christ.  Again we are talking about the power of influence.

 

4.      For those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.  Your light will shine when you are first gracious.  Courteous, kind, pleasant, courteous, polite, civil, chivalrous, well mannered,

merciful, forgiving, compassionate and lenient.  Being a gentlemen or lady is making people feel as comfortable around you as possible.  Good conduct is always in fashion.

 

a.      Compassionate.  Showing sympathy and concern for others.  Empathetic, understanding, caring

and concern.  This is showing love in a tangible way.  Love is never true love unless it is shown.  Jesus had compassion on the crowd because he saw them as sheep without a shepherd.  Compassion is a communicated attribute of God that moves us to help others. 

b.      Righteous.  It is a person whose conduct morally right or justifiable; virtuous, good, decent and ethical.  It also means that you chose to receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ by faith.  You are declared righteousness because of the free gift of God. 

c.      Today I encourage you to pursue true riches, claim a promise of legacy, be a light and walk in grace, compassion and righteousness. 

QUOTES FOR AUG 18, 2026

 

TRUE WISDOM

 

We are now looking today at the last three of the 23, statements about God in Psalm 111.  We have covered 20 and now we are looking at the last three.  To summarize, Ezra is the author of this psalm.  He is reintroducing the returnees from Persia and Babylon the Hebrew written language, culture and religion.  As a scholar and educator he knew that the written language was the best way to create a lasting generational effect.  He chose in Psalm 111-112 and 119, to use a Jewish form of poetry called an acrostic to make his point.  He uses a letter in the Jewish alphabet and then attached a truth about God.  We see it in its best form in Psalm 119. 

 

1.      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Ezra here is repeating what Solomon says in Prov 1:7, 9:10, 14;27 and 15:33.  When the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord it has several meanings. 

 

a.      It means to realize that God is your judge and you will have to give an account of how you live and His role and place in your life.

b.      It means, “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully. 

c.      It also denotes the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5). The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these. 

d.      Fear of the Lord can be defined as “the continual awareness that our loving heavenly Father is watching and evaluating everything we think, say, and do.”  Jesus told each of the seven churches in Revelation 1—2, “I know your works.” Nothing escapes His attention.

e.      In order to develop the fear of the Lord, we must recognize God for who He is. We must glimpse with our spirits the power, might, beauty, and brilliance of the Lord God Almighty (Revelation 11:17; Hosea 12:5; Isaiah 6:1–5). Those who fear the Lord have a continual awareness of Him, a deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him.

 

2.      Ezra says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Wisdom means, “knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.”  Knowing what to do with what knowledge, information and facts that have been revealed to do. 

 

a.      There are three types of wisdom.  Satanic, worldly and godly. 

b.      We live in a world where knowledge, understanding and wisdom are prized.  People look to Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, Mohammad, and the gurus of the east for wisdom.  It is big business.  People are looking it in man but true wisdom only comes from the author of wisdom.  The Bible says that wisdom was with God before the creation of the world and was part of it.  Wisdom is a communicated attribute of God.  It is part of the character, essence and nature of God.  James says in James 1:5, “if you lack it ask of God and He will give it to you liberally.”

c.      James gives us a great look at wisdom in the Bible.  James 3:13 “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

d.      A perfect example is found in Matt 22:15-22, where Jesus talked about paying taxes. 

e.      Ezra says that having a healthy respect for God is the beginning again repeating Solomon. 

 

3.      All who follow His precepts have good understanding.  Ezra then says to have wisdom is one thing to truly be wise is to apply, follow and do.  James says don’t just be a hearer of the world you must do it.  Ezra then answers this question.  The source of understanding and wisdom is the Word of God.  In the pages of the Bible you find wisdom and understanding. 

a.      The word precept means a rule, law or principle that guide thought and behavior.  We all have principles and philosophies that guide our lives.  For the believer it is the Bible.  It is the final authority of faith and practice. 

b.      The Bible is our compass, rulebook, guide and playbook for life.  If you model your life after Jesus Christ, obey the Bible and do the will of the Father as outline in this book your will have good understanding.  There are 10000 promises or reasons given to you and I.  Simple, clear and precise. 

c.      Application of what you read, see and hear is the secret of an abundant and eternal life.  You have to follow through with action otherwise it is just talk.  You are a just noise as Paul points out in 1 Cor 13.  We have had enough noise in this world.  We need people who show what God is by what they do and our silence is deafening.

 

4.       To him belongs eternal praise.  Ezra then closes off this psalm as He started it with praise.  To God belongs eternal praise.  Let us thank the Lord not just for this moment but for all time.  He has done great things.  He is the God who creates, loves, forgives, heals, restores and gives eternal and abundant life.

a.      Let everything that has breath,  praise the Lord, TODAH - sacrifice of praise, YADAH - let your hands be raised, BAROUCH- with a quiet voice, HALLEL - let your soul rejoice, ZAMAR - play for Him a song, TEHILLAH - you can sing along and SHABACH - shout for joy!  This is seven ways to praise the Lord.

b.      Let us clap and thank the Lord.  You can dance, jump, wave say yes, and thank you Lord.  In everything, give thanks and praise the Lord.  Let us close our time together with a song of praise and thanksgiving.  Let us now have our communion.

 

TRUE WISDOM

 

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,  “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.

 

1.      The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.  Such a sad fact.  Why is that? 

 

a.      People do not look at themselves as sinners.   They are blissfully ignorant.

b.     They do not have any want of salvation they feel fine the way they are.

c.      They do not see themselves as people to be judged.  They believe in their own goodness.

d.     They cannot or will not see that they cannot help themselves. 

e.      They do not want or see the need for Jesus Christ.  Satan has blinded them.  He has shut up their ears, eyes, minds and hearts.

f.       They have not been awakened to look for what their soul needs or they try to fill that need with other things.  Sometimes religion has made it to convenient.  It tells them through some church right or ceremony they are heading for eternity.  This may be the most damaging of all.

g.     They are not content with Christ or what God wants and they want eternity on their terms.

 

2.      To us who are being saved it is power of God.  Do you know how long God has worked on your heart?  How many times He has sent people across your path?  How many media messages people have heard?  In Canada it is in the hundreds.  Throughout the world only God knows.  That is why I love bringing Christ through social media, love our worldwide coverage on Am 930 the light.com and the 5 days a week I get to share on the radio.  Right now someone is being awaken by the Holy Spirit to the fact that they are being saved.  The Holy Spirit now is convicting someone of their sin, how they are facing judgment and how they can be righteous. 

3.      God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and power are reaching out to the ones who are being saved.  I pray every day for my unsaved loved ones.  I claim Acts 16:31.  I pray for the church that we will go into our world to tell others and love them.  I pray for the disenfranchised that God will employ them again and return them to God’s house to be healed and whole.  I ask the Lord every day to bring back the backslider to reinstate them.  For the unsaved, I cry out to God to open their eyes and ears.  To reach into their minds and hearts.  My heart breaks because I know the joys of heaven and the agonies of hell.  While I was a sinner Christ died for me.  I grew up in a church but did not know I was perishing.  I thought going to church made me a Christian.  Such folly.  Going to church does make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car.

4.      The Bible makes it clear God does not want anyone to perish.  He sent Jesus so that it would not happen.  As we learn that week Jesus gave everything that all mankind could to be saved and free.  God has done and doing everything possible.  Our part Is to agree and to do our part in this rescue mission. 

5.      Paul then says that God will destroy the wisdom of the wisdom of the wise and the discernment of the discerner He will thwart.  Why would God do that?  There are three types of wisdom in this world.  Satanic which originates from satan.  Worldly and godly.  James 3:13-18 describes the different types of wisdom. 

 

a.     14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.   This is demonic and worldly wisdom.

b.       17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  This is godly wisdom.

c.      Now I chose to use verse 13, as the application of godly wisdom.  13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.  Godly wisdom is knowing what to do with what has been revealed through the word, prayer, revelation, and knowledge.

 

6.       Paul asks four questions?  Where the one who is wise?  Where is the scribe or learned one?  Where is the debater?  Has not God made foolish of the world?  We know why from what we read in James.  Socrates, Plato, Buddha, Krishna, Confucius and the list goes on.  They are the wise of this world but not one can save you.  No mantra, creed, teaching, philosophy or religion can save you. 

7.      The world cannot know God through wisdom,  enigmas, word puzzles or wise sayings.  Solomon said in Proverbs 1:6 that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.   Only through the foolishness of preaching can someone be saved and they must believe.  They must hear with their ears, put in their minds, mull over it and then decide by an act of the will to transfer it to their heart and put their complete trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  Through the method of what I am doing now will people get saved.  The really amazing thing is that God has done all the work all we have to do is present it.  Also what is amazing it can happen anytime and anywhere.  All we have to do is be ready.  That is why Paul said, be ready in season and anytime.  What a great message.  People do not have to perish.  They can have eternal and abundant life.  Redemption is amazing.  We can have love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, peace joy and righteousness.  I love salvation it turns a sinner into a saint.  In a moment of time a person heading for hell is heading heaven.  It cost Jesus everything but He knew you were worth it.  In the sight of God you are precious, priceless and loved beyond measure.  God cannot love you anymore than He does because to Him you are His greatest creation. 

 

For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

 

1.       In Paul’s day the Jews sought a sign.  They asked Jesus for a sign and He told them the story of Jonah in the belly of the big fish.  The Son of Man who would be in the grave for three days.  The Greeks wanted wisdom.  The three great Greek Philosophers were Plato. Socrates and Aristotle.  They ideas are the foundation for our Western society. 

2.      Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jews.  Remember Jesus was a rebel, breaker of the law, radical, revolutionary and He was killed because of His claims to be the Messiah.  To the Greek to think man needed salvation that God would send His Son or that a good man would die for sinful man.  Foolishness

3.      This next part is so powerful.  To those who are called.  To those who answered the call.  To those who realize they have been called.  To those who make themselves chosen by responding to the call and giving their lives to Jesus Christ.  Both Jews and Greeks, slave, and free.  Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Jesus Christ is the embodiment of the power and wisdom of God.  He is power and wisdom.  Oh that is good.  Jesus is power and the wisdom of God with a face.  He is the two in one.  You want power and wisdom Viola Jesus Christ of Nazareth.  His resurrection proved it.

4.      Paul close off with saying for God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom.  God uses the foolish to confound the wise.  Crazy, wild, beyond human comprehension.  This is God’s way.  God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.  I might add demonic as well.  Paul made a choice.  To preach and know Christ crucified, dead and risen.  Let us do the same. 

HE IS THE DEFENDER

 

Aug 18 – He is the Defender - Isaiah 49:22-26

 

     The Lord has two messages here.  The Lord is beckoning to the nations and lift His banner to the peoples.  They are going to bring your daughters and sons on their arms and hips.  Kings will become foster parents to them.  Queens will nourish them.  They will bow down and honor Israel.  They will know that the Lord is God and those who hope in Him will never be disappointed. 

     The Lord then asks a question.  Can plunder taken from the warrior or captives from the fierce?  Of course not.  The Lord will contend with those that contend with them and will save their children.  The oppressor will become the oppressed.  All mankind will know that the Lord is Lord.  He is Savior, redeemer, and the Mighty One of Jacob.  Such a powerful promise for them and for us.

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST

 

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin[b] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel.[d]

 

1.      There are four things wish to share from this scripture today.  The first, is the Lord will give a sign.  Why did the Lord do this?  We all need a supernatural experience.  All here who have given your life came through a supernatural encounter.  You heard the word of God, by some means.  Tt entered your mind, your ponder it and then accepted it.  You chose by an act of will in your heart , to put your eternal and natural life in the hands of God.  Behind the scenes the Holy Spirit was working.  The Lord did this because you could not save yourself.  Mankind has been trying to recover paradise loss through on effort since the beginning.  Cain tried and failed.  Religions around the world are all about behavioral truth.  You follow a mantra, code, set of rules, person’s teaching y and you will have heaven or heaven on earth.  God saw that and knew we needed a savior.  That is why in Gen 3:15 right after the fall God told us the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.  Man lost it but God would restore it through Jesus Christ.  The Lord Himself we initiate and provide salvation. It would be through grace.  Christ riches at God’s expense.  We would through unmerited favor to live an abundant and eternal life.  Through the Old Testament there are 300 prophecies and promises about Jesus Christ.  Isaiah says it will be the Lord who will give a sign.

 

2.      There are three four reasons by a Virgin was the chosen reason for Jesus to be born.

 

a.      To Fulfil prophecy.  Gen 3:15, the seed of the women.  A woman does not have seed but an egg.  This said that the one born of the woman would have a supernatural origin.  Our scripture today points this out.  Also Isaiah 9:6-7, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6).  The virgin birth fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in order to establish the uniqueness and particular duties of this coming child. He will bring peace and establish an unending kingdom. It is not only a prophecy about the future. Rather, it is a prophecy that cements the identity of Immanuel.

b.      To establish is divine origin and identity.  God with us.  It shows that God will dwell among His people.  Isaiah 11:10 records, “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.”  The virgin-born Immanuel will do something that requires the miraculous power of God. And this power finds a root in the Holy Spirit: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isa 11:2).  In Luke’s account, Gabriel tells Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).  An angel tells the shepherds that the baby is “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The word “Lord” echoes the Old Testament’s primary title for God, “LORD.” What Luke intimates through the whole story of Jesus’s life, death, and especially his resurrection, John says quite plainly: “The Word was God” (John 1:1).  The virgin birth establishes Jesus’ divine origin through the Holy Spirit’s act in Mary’s womb. In some mysterious and glorious way, the Spirit unites humanity to the divine Word of God. Jesus is and always was the union of God and man: Immanuel, God with us.

c.      To confirm Jesus’ sinless humanity.  Given Jesus’ divine origin that the virgin birth underscores, we can now understand why Jesus could be like us in every way “yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). While the human flesh may be weak, the power of the incorruptible God is not. Christ as one person with two natures could withstand relentless temptation (without ever caving to temptation to relieve the suffering of temptation) because of his divine nature.  why God came to visit us. He came to redeem us from our sins, to overcome death, and to defeat the devil. Yet the question here concerns why God chose the virgin birth of Jesus. In answer, he did so to fulfill prophecy, to establish Jesus’ divine origin, and to confirm Christ’s sinless humanity.

d.      Sin was a manmade problem and an eternal problem.  Only an eternal man could solve it.  So Jesus the God man did this. 

 

3.      The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son.  In my previous point I gave you the reasons why virgin born.  God became like us through Jesus Christ.  He was 100% and 100% God, the perfect union of the divine and natural.  His broken body and shed blood, his death, burial and resurrection would accomplish it.  Mary was the vessel.  I love the phrase, Mary did you know you are kissing the face of God.  Christmas is the story of this incredible scene.     God visited us in our frailty and weakness in order to save us from our sins. Had God not become what we are, then we would remain what we were—dead in sin, children of wrath. Instead, we have become by adoption (children of God) what Christ is by nature (the Son of God). By following his Spiritual birth, we too are all born of the Spirit. And we follow the firstborn of the new creation into heaven where we will have joy forevermore.

 

4.      He is called Immanuel.  Luke makes it clear that Jesus is God with us.  God dwells among us.  Jesus lived among us.  He got hungry, tired, had all the difficulties of mankind yet without sin.  He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and only wanted to do the will of the Father.  What proved His claims was the resurrection.  He rose from the dead.  Christmas is the beginning but Easter is the end, yet also the new beginning.  This message I have spoken has changed the lives of billions of people over the centuries.  As we begin our Christmas celebrations.  Remember Jesus is the reason for the season. 

QUOTES FOR AUGUST 16, 2026