The psalmist writes of a glorious secret to enjoying a fulfilled, joyful life: "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance" (Psalm 89:15). The Hebrew meaning of this verse suggests, "Those who have a revelation of the joyful sound will wake up every day with peace, strength and happiness. Their life will be filled with the joy of the morning sun."
One of the most important verses in all of scripture is found in Peter's first epistle. The apostle speaks of the necessity of having our faith tested: "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7).
In this same passage, Peter tells us what we can expect to face in such tests of faith: "...though now for a season....ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations" (verse 6).
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14).
In this sophisticated age, we find it hard to understand the idolatry of the Old Testament. It is incredible to read of intelligent people being so blinded as to offer worship to hand- carved images of wood, stone or precious metals.
Believe it or not, many good people who are involved in doing wonderful things will not make it to heaven. Worse yet, many who consider themselves Christians and who are convinced they are going to heaven will be shut out - even though they aren't indulging in gross sin or bad things of any kind!
I believe that justification by faith is the foundational truth of Christianity. You can't know true rest and peace until you are convinced you can never be made right in God's eyes by your own works of righteousness.
If you don't understand the perfect righteousness of Christ that is yours by faith, you'll lead a life of toil and sweat. You'll spend your days trying to please God through some kind of legalistic, hopeless attempt to establish your own righteousness. But the truth is, you'll never have any righteousness to bring to the Lord!
Go with me to the plain of Dura near Babylon, where King Nebuchadnezzar had summoned every leader - governors, princes and sheriffs - from his far-flung empire. Imagine the sight - multitudes of people dressed in their various native garb, speaking many languages. And they all had gathered for one purpose - to honor the gods of the king!
Nebuchadnezzar had erected a huge, golden image ninety feet tall. And now these leaders, having made their way to the great plain of Dura, were to bow in worship as soon as the royal orchestra began playing. It was that or death!
A young pastor called me some time ago, ready to quit the ministry. The Lord had been using this young man in a wonderful way. But now he was discouraged - feeling worthless, useless, no good to God at all.
You see, he and his wife had been having a lot of marital troubles. They'd had terrible arguments, and it kept getting worse. He said he had prayed for months that God would heal their relationship, but it had only gotten worse. He told me he'd spent more time praying about that than anything else in his life and ministry.
The 45th Psalm provides us with a beautiful picture of Christ and His bride. A great marriage is about to take place, and the writer is "boiling over" with ecstasy and excitement: "My heart is inditing [boiling over] a good matter..." (Psalm 45:1).
The psalmist can hardly contain himself. He is trying to describe something he sees in his mind's eye — an incredible ceremony, with a grand and glorious Bridegroom and a beautiful bride dressed in gold!
I believe that most people who call themselves by Gods name have learned to go to Him in their time of need. Indeed, most Christians believe in the necessity of prayer. Many seek the Lord diligently, coming to Him with tears, godly sorrow and repentance. They pour out their hearts to Him with weeping and heartrending supplications, convinced, as David was, of Gods Word: When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek (Psalm 27:8).
The BIBLE says that in the last days scoffers will appear, mocking the message that Jesus Christ is going to return to set up a new kingdom. Even today mockers are saying, "Where is He? I don't see any evidence that Jesus is coming. Everything continues as it has from the beginning. There's no sign of a new world coming, with Christ as king!"
