So I’m supposed to be getting my Sunday Message ready, and I just want to go ahead and clear my head, again, for the nth time – I mean, with so much that’s going on, either from my own doing or just in general, all around me, I really, REALLY need to do this more often.
And, as usual, I’m going to go ahead and start by saying:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
The mercies of the Lord never come to an end.
These mercies are new with every morning. Yes, I would agree with the composer of the song, that it must be repeated – they ARE new every morning.
And with that being said, and with all that in mind, of course, we would respond – or, at least I’m inclined to say, express and proclaim:
The faithfulness of the Lord is GREAT. His faithfulness is great.
His faithfulness stands, no matter how much I bring myself to ruin. No matter how I sabotage myself, no matter how I give in to whatever’s been holding me back ever since the day I was born – It’s HIS faithfulness that stays, it’s His faithfulness that stands.
I think it’s really important for me to keep pointing out His faithfulness, because it’s from this that I draw confidence in saying that my God, my FATHER is always for me, and never against me.
I’m the one who keeps asking Him for money. I’m the one who keeps leaving the ranch. I’m the one who keeps squandering all of it, and I’m the one who keeps running back, with all sorts of religious undertones and highfalutin words to impress Him, with the intent of addressing Him as my Lord, never mind calling Him my Father.
HE’S the One who keeps keeping an eye out for me. HE’S the One who combs the horizon, and at first sight of me, HE’S the One who comes running to me, and FAITHFULLY restoring me, each and every freaking time.
I’m the one who keeps mocking others for constantly ‘backsliding’. I’m the one who’s quite consistent in only thinking about my own interests, and I’m the one who keeps thinking about what I deserve based on all I’ve done. I’m the one who keeps refusing to celebrate with others when they succeed or even when they so much as return.
Again, just as He ran to me after seeing me from a distance, HE’S the One who runs out of the party to reason with me. HE’S the One who hears me out no matter how toxic I sound. HE’S the One who reminds me of my restoration, my salvation; HE’S the One who reminds me, who keeps telling me – ‘all that I have is yours.’
What a GREAT and GLORIOUS love I have in God – Indeed, an everlasting love from an everlasting Father.
And so, before anything else happens, I just have to say, as David once did:
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:12-17 ESV
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
I give thanks and praise to our God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for always keeping the line open, always being more consistent than I could ever hope to be, always restoring me…
…and I give Him thanks and praise, for He does not just stop at restoring me, but He revs me up. He motivates me. He directs me. He inspires me.
The restoration is not without revelation…
Wow. The restoration is not without revelation.
Is that what next year is going to be like? Sure, we’re seeing more and more signs of our getting closer to the events of the New Testament book of Revelation… But, are we also going to be seeing more revelations of our own?
Is it a year of Renaissance unto revelation? Or is it a year of Revelation under renaissance, or rebirth, renewal and revival?
Speaking of Renaissance, according to the folks at Britannica, Renaissance is a French word meaning “rebirth.” It refers to a period in European civilization that was marked by a revival of Classical learning and wisdom.
Are we, therefore, looking at a year of revival of Biblical (Classical) learning and wisdom? Are we seeing the consistent potency and impact of Word, even in times so new and so different?
Will we be receiving tutelage from the divine, so we learn more than the rest of the world?
Will our own eyes be opened, so we see more than the rest of the world?
Will our own minds be expanded, so we could handle the expansion?
Will we be brought to new circumstances, new experiences, new situations – to see the limitations of our current ways of thinking, and to adjust accordingly?
Or, will we be brought to new people, new relationships, new groups – to teach and share what what we know of the Gospel, that we ourselves would learn in the process?
It’s certainly looking that way.
We’ve led this year with the charge, to trust in the Lord.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.Psalms 20:7-8
As we progressed through the year, we were led to look into the Book of Romans and were reminded, and reminded again, of how good it is to believe and trust in the Lord.
as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”Romans 9:33
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”Romans 10:10-11
These point back to this portion of the book of Isaiah, and I have reason to probably go through this again:
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”Isaiah 28:16-17
We’ve also looked at other reasons and motivations behind our trusting in the Lord:
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.Proverbs 16:3
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalms 37:5
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.Psalms 55:22
I also think it’ll be nice to look at all these verses in their proper context, some time in the future:
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.Proverbs 3:1-8
Finally, it seems as if revelation is a true successor to trust:
2 “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: 3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.Jeremiah 33:2-3
I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’
6 “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.Isaiah 48:5-6
I didn’t go through ALL of this literally a while back, but I am glad to report that we came to a good conclusion – and, I’m writing it here before we go ahead and forget about it.
I admit that we copy the style of Singapore’s New Creation Church – Just like any other yearly ‘theme’ we cook up for ourselves in our church, it compounds, or it goes on top of previous themes. In other words, if this year 2024 is the Year of Trust, it’s not that we stop trusting and give way to 2025, the Year of Revelations.
In fact, we realized that the more revelations you receive, the more you find yourself trusting in the Lord. And, consequently, the more that you trust the Lord, the more you receive revelations.
It’s in line with the overall theme of the church we serve; two years ago, it was established that the themes for the years to come (starting on September, the overall church’s anniversary) would be ‘Seek, School, and Send.’ We started with seeking, and now we’re in the ‘school’ theme.
The more you seek, the more you school. The more you school, the more you seek – or, rather, the more you find. We’re going back, so pleasantly, to Jim Kwik’s line – when you teach, you learn twice.
When you give, you receive twice.
When you receive and share revelations, you find yourself trusting in the Lord twice.
Let’s keep at it, folks. I lay the groundwork today, and starting next year, or rather, starting on the first Sunday of 2025, we’ll get down to the details.
I’m as excited as I am thankful, that we’re all going through this together.
I am thankful for this year. There’s much more to talk about until the actual end of 2024, and I hope to cover all of it – but for now, I’ll end this by saying I’m thankful, and I’m excited.
Onward and upward. Forward ever, backward never. To God be all ultimate and maximum glory, now and forever. Amen.
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