LOVE IS COMPASSIONATE

 

     Today we are focusing on the second part of Psalm 111.  Ezra is using this acrostic psalm to make 22 statements about God.  It is also a psalm to help the people of his day learn the Hebrew language that had been lost because they had been in captivity in Babylon and then Persia for 70 years.  His task was to reintroduce the Hebrew language, lifestyle and religious life.   Ezra gives us seven things to remember about the Lord.

 

1.      He has caused His wonders to be remembered;  He uses His people and the pages of the Bible to do this.  The Bible is a love letter, a written account of God dealing with mankind throughout history.  The Bible is a written account of redemption.  It is a record of the character, nature and essence of God.  We get a glimpse of God because of the Bible.

 

a.      He uses science.  Science is practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.  As mankind studies creation it points more and more to a master designer.  One policeman told me when he is in doubt all he has to do is look around.  Creation is God silent witness.

b.      He uses us to proclaim Him as creator, redeemer and love agent in our world.  We are His love letters.  We are His bibles.  Our words and deeds present Him.  Our job is to go into our world and love others.  “People may not always remember what you said but they will remember how you made them feel.” 

 

2.      The Lord is gracious, we have been saved by the gracious intervention of the Lord.  The Lord is merciful, forgiving, kind and lenient.  By grace He does not give us what we deserve.  All of that came because of the broken body, shed blood, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His grace gave us undeserved mercy and will lead, keep and help us no matter when and where we find ourselves.  As Christians we are to express, kindness, graciousness, being courteous, encouraging and inspirational.

 

3.      And compassionate.   This means to show sympathy and concern for others, pitying, empathetic, understanding, caring and concern.  When we love God and are healed we will in turn show true genuine love for others.  It flows out of our innermost being.  Jesus calls these rivers of living water.  Jesus showed compassion numerous times.  He often looked at people as sheep without a shepherd.  It was God’s compassion that brought about salvation and divine intervention.  Well we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  We did not go looking for Him He came looking for us. 

 

4.      He provides food for those who fear him;  Ezra, points out that God is Jehovah Jireh.  Phil 4:19, says our God will supply every need according to His riches in glory.  Jesus reminded us in the Sermon on the Mount that we do not have to worry if God can clothe the flowers of the field and feed the birds of the air He will take care of us.  Worry means you do not trust God, yourself and others.  God will take care of your needs, food, clothing, housing and transportation.  Remember the mercies of God are new every morning.  This is the day which the Lord has made so let us rejoice and be glad in it.  Live this day for the fullest it is the only one you have. 

 

5.      He remembers his covenant forever.  When God makes an agreement or promise He will keep it forever.  That why Paul could say in 2 Cor 1:20, the promises of God are yes and amen.  We may not keep our side but God will keep His.  That is why the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  He uses us in spite of us.  Ezra pointed this out because the people had just returned to Judah.  They had been in captivity because of their sin but God was restoring them because of a covenant He had made with Abraham.  When you gave your life to Jesus Christ God made a covenant with you.  You are His we may walk away but God will not.  This promise is the foundation for 1 John 1:9, if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us.  Remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever.  God will be with you as He was with those in the past. 

 

6.      He has shown his people the power of his works, Ezra was telling the people to remember the power of His works.  The exodus, parting of the Red Sea, manna, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  How God enabled them to take the land.  The prophets like Elijah, Elisha and Isaiah.  The judges like Gideon and Samson.  The Kings like David, Solomon and Hezekiah.  Today we have the record of the Bible with its miracles, healings, resurrections and prophecies.  He is no respecter of persons.  As His people He will do the same for all of us the secret to look and expect.

 

7.      Giving them the lands of other nations.  Ezra was reminding them that the reason they were back in Jerusalem and Judah was because God gave them back their nation.  Other people had been living there but God gave them back their promised land.  The grace of God was again extended to His covenant people.  In 1948, that happened again.  This of course has not been without opposition.  For Ezra, Zerubbabel, Joshua and Nehemiah their resettling of the land was filled with opposition.  Israel has fought five wars, numerous attacks including one this year.  God did this because of His covenant with Abraham. 

 

Conclusion:  Jesus told us to go into our world.  We have a mandate to take our world.  We have the power, enablement, authority, right and boldness to do it of course there will be opposition but we can and will win if we rely on the Lord.  I love the testimony of Paul in Thessalonica.  The people there said the men who have turned the world upside down have come to our city.  Let us turn our world upside right today. 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 26, 2026

 

GAIN OR LOSS

 

Mark 8:31-38, Jesus began to teach his disciples that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.

 

1.       Right after the declaration by Peter that Jesus was the Christ when they were up near Caesarea Philippi.   This next incident happens.  Jesus began to teach, instruct and even warn His disciples.  Jesus is making it very plain and clear what was going to happen to Him.  There were four signs or indications of what was going to happen to Him in the future.  Jesus was preparing them for the worst and the best.

2.      So what are the four things

 

a.      As the Son of Man.  This means God’s Messiah in human form presiding over the final judgment of man.  Jesus was going to undergo great suffering.  He would be whipped, beaten, spit on and He would be reduced to human hamburger.  He would be beaten beyond recognition.  His body would be broken and His blood shed. 

b.      He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes.  The spiritual elite, religious leaders and teachers of the law would all reject Him.  Remember they were the ones who incited the crowd to call for Jesus execution.  They paid Judas, 30 pieces of silver.  They held a mock trial in the middle of the night. 

c.      He would be killed.  Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come.  Jesus was killed for our salvation, redemption and liberation.  It was for freedom He died so we could be set free.

d.      The after three days He would rise from the dead.  Jesus was setting the stage for what was going to happen. 

 

3.      The gospel writer makes it clear that Jesus spoke of this openly.  Jesus wasn’t hiding a thing.  That is the thing you can trust about God He will tell you openly what His will, plan and purpose are for your life.  God has given us the Bible to be our guide, compass, rule, or play book to help us navigate the complexities of life.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  It is not rocket science to follow the Lord when you live within the pages of the Bible.  Smith Wigglesworth said that a person is never fully dressed unless they carry with them the Bible.

4.      Right after Jesus talked about this Peter takes Jesus aside and rebuked him.  Rebuke means to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.  He did not belief or want to believe this was going to happen.  Peter was going on a tirade, diatribe or pontification.  Now this happened just after he had acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ.  He could not believe that was going to happen.  This did not line up with his thinking or belief.  This is not what he signed up for.  Jesus was supposed to usher in an earthly kingdom, where they were supposed to reign with Him.  Jesus in Peter’s thinking was going to throw out the Roman rule and begin a new righteous rule.  This did not fit up with his plans.

5.      Peter did this privately but Jesus turned to all his disciples because they were all thinking the same thing.    He says to Peter, “Get behind me satan.  For you are not setting your mind on divine things but natural things.”  Did Jesus just call Peter satan?  Yes you heard right.  Here is a truth we can speak both godly and satanic things at the same time.  Man is the only creature who can do that.  We can draw from a good and bad well at the same time.  Peter was talking from his flesh not from the Spirit.  Here are ten things that Jesus died by dying, being buried and rising from the dead.  These are things the devil, the world and the flesh do not want you to know.

 

I.        Jesus gave us salvation, redemption and freedom.

II.      He destroyed the power of sin, death, hell and the grave.

III.    He destroyed the works of the devil.

IV.    Jesus’ broken body gives us healing.

V.     Jesus’ blood is the most powerful element in the universe gives us forgiveness, freedom, all the benefits of heaven and victory.

VI.    The resurrection gives us power authority, anointing enablement, wisdom clarity and boldness.

VII.  We have eternal and abundant life.

VIII. We have a new life in the Spirit with gifts and fruit.

IX.    We have armor, weapons and power in our fight in the spiritual realm.

X.      We have authority and victory over every force of hell.

 

The first part of this message is what did it cost Jesus to give us salvation, redemption, eternal and abundant life?  Plain and simple it cost Him everything.  Now the second part is what will it cost us?

 

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

 

1.       So what is the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ?  You will not hear this very often in a prosperity preacher’s sermon.  Wikipedia says a follower is an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.  In Jesus’ case it means complete and total devotion.  So here is the cost.  In dollars and cents here it is.  This is what God demands.

2.      Deny yourself, take yourself off the throne and put Jesus on.  Put your will, plans purpose destiny on hold.  Say no to you and yes to the Lord.  He is the pilot of your plane, ship or car.  If God is your co-pilot swap seats. 

3.      Take up your cross, crucified your flesh.  Render yourself dead.  It is God’s way or the highway.  You cannot live in both worlds.  It will take all of your power and God’s to live a victorious life.

4.      Follow Jesus.  Let Him be your role model, mentor and example.  He did the will of his Father and you must as well.  He love, forgave and accepted people unconditionally and you must. 

5.      Here reality those who want it their way, to save their life will lose it, to be in charge will lose it.  There is a price for personal autonomy.  Hell and eternal damnation is the price.  You cannot escape this reality except through Jesus.  Look at John Lennon, Prince, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Elvis, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, John Kennedy the list goes on. 

6.      Those who lose their life for Christ and the sake of the gospel will save it.  Jesus is the only way, truth and life.  You get eternal and abundant life.  Jesus is the lifesaver in the storms of life.  Jesus is the only way to save your life.  Not Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad, Confucius or anyone else.  He is the only one who can save you.

7.      What profit is it if you gain the whole world to lose your soul and your life?  In fact what can they give in return for their life?  Nothing.  Plain, simple, precise and clear.  Nothing.  No money, no sacrifice, penance, mantra, religious system, good works and treasure.  Nothing.  Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.  The devil would love you to continue to believe the lie.  Jesus tells this morning a harsh truth.  To save us.  A beautiful lie never stops a harsh truth.

8.      Those who are ashamed of Christ and His words in this adulterous and sinful generation.  What a perfect description of His world and ours.  We have not got better.  No social reset, experiment has worked and will never work.  The wicked elitist of today.  The Biden’s, Trudeau’s, and the Macron’s cannot do anything.  Why? Because satan is the god of this world and they do his bidding and he robs, kills and destroy.  He has no compassion, grace, love or mercy.  He is corrupt and so are all who do his bidding. 

9.      Jesus will be ashamed of them when He comes in the glory of His Father and with His angels.  Reality check, Jesus is coming back.  He came the first time as the suffering Savior.  Next, time His coming will begin the tribulation period and then He will destroy the armies of the antichrist and usher in the millennial kingdom.  He came as savior next time as Lord.  I close with the final two statements you will hear when you are brought before the Lord for judgment.  You will hear depart from me worker of iniquity or well done thy good and faithful servant enter into my rest.  What you do with Jesus and these instructions will determine that.  What does it cost you to follow the Lord everything.  What did it cost Jesus to secure your salvation?  Everything.   He expects no less,  I want to remind you that the cost benefit ratio for serving the Lord far outweighs anything you will lose. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LETTERS TO DAVID

 

Letters to David

Hello David.

   I love prayer so much it gives such focus and direction for life.  What a beautiful concept to know you are one on one with the Master of the Universe.   It is just you and Him.  To be able to set time aside to be with Jehovah, the great, I Am.  I marvel how when Moses asked the Lord, "who shall I say sent me."  His reply was, "I am that I am."  I am the all sufficient one, I neeed nothing and no one.  I am complete in myself.  I have always been and always will be.  He is the beginning and the end.  The first and the last.

   What a privilege it is to know that God is concerned about the smallest details of my life.  Every problem, situation and circumstances can be covered in prayer.  But it all starts with the right heart attitude.  David, I never want my prayer time to be unfruitful.  It has to be from the heart.  I know I have had those times where it feels like duty or obligation.  It is during these times I feel unfuritful and unfulfilled.  Yet I must persevere because desire, becomes discipline and eventually becomes delight.

   I love the fact I can focus on hallowing and worshipping the Lord.  What a wonder it is to be hanging with Jesus.  I guess what I find so fascinating is that God would want to be spend time with me.  I know He loves me and has gloriously saved me but to actually to want to spend time with me is beyond my comprehension.  This is truly amazing.  I will really have to think about this more.

 

Your Friend.

 

Robert

 

 

QUOTES FOR MARCH 24, 2026

 

LESSONS FROM PS 128

 

Lessons from Psalm 128

 

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. 

 

The "fear of the Lord" in the Bible refers to having a deep respect, reverence, and awe for God’s power and authority.  It does not mean being afraid of God, but rather leads to love for Him.  It involves standing in awe of God's majesty, power, wisdom, justice, and mercy.  The fear of the Lord is also related to the theological virtue of hope3. It warns us to be mindful of God and not to trivialize His judgment or wrath.  Obedience to God is a key aspect of the Christian faith. It demonstrates our love for God and respect for His authority. When we obey Him, we honor His wisdom, goodness, and right to govern our lives. Obedience to God involves faith, trust, love, and a willingness to share in His sufferings.

You will eat the fruit of your labor, blessings and prosperity will be yours.

1.        You will eat the fruit of your labor and enjoy what you do.

2.        You will be blessed.  You are honored, consecrated to the Lord.  You have his blessings, benefits and promises.

3.        You live in spiritual, material, emotional, intellectual and completeness in the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.  Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

1.         Your spouse will be fruitful in every area of life.

2.        Your children will be saved, sanctified and holy.  You shall see household salvation.

3.        This is the blessing, promise and benefit of being a person who serves the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem, all the days of your life.

1.        The Lord will bless you from where He is to where you are.  The blessings come whenever, whenever you find yourself.

2.        May you see the prosperity of your community.  In particular the place where you dwell.

3.        This will be all the days of your lives.  This is a daily blessing.  It is the mercies of God every morning because God is faithful.

May you live to see your children’s children, peace be on Israel.

1.        The legacy and promise of this psalm is that you will see the your children and grandchildren.  Long life and family. 

2.        It will be a place of peace.  Remember this is psalm that was sang or recited by the pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem during one of feastse1

 

 

 

lessons from history

 

1 Cor 10:13 – Lessons from History

 

 

1.      In Vs 1-4, Paul reveals the following examples of history of the Hebrew people which are of note to the Corinthians and to us.

 

a.      The were under a cloud.  They had the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night guiding them  This was the visible presence of God.

b.      They passed through the Red Sea.  This was God’s care and protection. 

c.      They went through these acts and were baptised with Moses and the law.  This identified them with Moses and all he represented.

d.      They ate the same spiritual food.  This was the law and the physical food which was manna which translated means, “What is it?”

e.      They drank the same spiritual water that came from a rock which Moses struck.  This rock was a type for Christ.  He is the rock of our salvation, the boulder the builders rejected.  He is the Cornerstone and capstone.  He is the rock on which the church and our lives are built.

 

2.      In Vs 5-10, there are powerful warning for the Corinthians and us from this history.

 

a.      Even though they had all these examples it did not keep them idolatry, grumbling and rebellion.  The result was all of them perished in the desert. 

b.      There is a warning that even though God does all these things for, in and through you that does not mean our heart can be kept from evil, wrong and sinful choices.  God may sanctify us at the beginning, but sanctification, holiness and righteousness is a continual choice.  Being spiritual and anointed by God does mean you cannot fail or fall.

c.      Paul used the example of how the people asked Aaron to make them a golden calf after Moses had been away with God.  They then worshipped the idol and engage in deviant and unholy activity.  The result is they engage in intimate relationships with others than their spouses and the result was 23,000 died that day of the judgment of God.  There are always consequences to our actions.

d.      Paul uses two more examples.  He says they tested Christ.  They did it by speaking against the Lord and Moses and the judgment was poisonous snakes.  They grumbled and those that did were destroyed by an avenging angel.  Many scholars believe that the angel that led Israel in the desert was Christ himself. 

 

3.      In vs 11-12, Paul then begins to give the Corinthians and us lessons from history which should not and cannot be ignored. 

 

a.      In vs 11, Paul says three things.  First, these things he has mentioned are examples from history.  Next, they are warnings for us.  Not just the Corinthians but us today.  Thirdly, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.  This culmination is Jesus Christ.  He has come and He is now ready to come back. 

b.      In vs 12, Paul warns about the arrogance that you think you can stand firm because standing firm is a choice.  Be careful you don’t fall.  Paul is just reminding them they can fall, it doesn’t mean they will but guarding one’s heart is essential.

 

13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

 

1.      This verse is so powerful it reveals five important things for you to remember.

2.      No temptation that has overtaken you or is facing you is not one all mankind hasn’t faced.  Remember we have three main adversaries.  The devil, the world and us.  Everyone of us face this so don’t think it strange or that you are the only one going through this.

3.      God is faithful.  He will never leave or forsake you.  God is with you. 

4.      He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to endure.  You have God’s promise of divine help and rescue if necessary. 

5.      When you are tempted now noticed there is assumption that you will be tested.  Jesus was and so should you expect it.  God will provide a means of escape or a way out.  This is a promise. That you can endure it. 

6.      The reasons we are tempted are as follows.

 

A.     It is allowed for strength and helps us to develop character.

B.     It teaches us to respond godly, positively and turn any situation around for good.

C.      They are design to make us wiser, creative, resourceful, compassionate, and empathetic.

D.     It helps to destroy our own desires and selfishness.  It purifies and refines us.  It teaches us obedience. 

E.      It makes us more like Jesus because he learned obedience by the things he suffered.