Author: evangelist_breland

Psalm 10:15-18 NKJV

Oh, what a privilege it is to have the right to call on the Lord! Here, the psalmist continued his appeal to God to punish the wicked and help the righteous. He prayed: “Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none” (v.15). Consider that a broken arm will result in one having great pain and the inability to move it. So, the psalmist wanted God to take away the power of the wicked and the evil man that they would not continue to inflict pain and suffering in the lives of the righteous. He pleaded for God to diligently search out all the wickedness of those who were rebellious against God and hold them accountable for their injustice.  

In v.16 the psalmist acknowledged, “The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land.” This gives children of God the assurance that nothing they go through is too hard for God. He is the ultimate, all-powerful God and ruler. Believers can be confident that because they trust the Lord, He will never leave them nor forsake them. The psalmist declared that the Lord has heard the desires of the humble; He will prepare their heart; He will cause their ear to hear (v.17), To vindicate those that are fatherless and those that are oppressed, that the man of the earth may terrify no more (v.18). Today, will you trust God to comfort you in the midst of trouble even when it seems as if the devil has the upper hand? Remember, He is your deliverer.

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Psalm 10:12-14 NKJV

At the beginning of this prayer, the psalmist made a strong request for God to punish the wicked. He emphatically asked, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble” (v.1 NIV)? Here the psalmist began the second part of his prayer, making an appeal to God to not only punish the wicked but to help the righteous in his oppressions. He began v.12 with a sense of urgency for the Lord to position Himself for immediate action, saying, “Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.” He trusted God and believed that He had the power to step in and do something to bring relief to those who are poor and suffering. He is a God of mercy and loves and cares for His creation. Believers are called to be compassionate and just to the oppressed because it reflects who God’s children are. 

In v.13 the psalmist questioned the reason the wicked renounced God. He believed that the wicked has decided in his heart that they will not be held accountable for their evil doings. He continued in prayer, reminding God in v.14: “You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,To repay it by Your hand.” The psalmist was saying that God was fully knowledgeable of the trouble and grief of the afflicted that the wicked caused. He also trusted that God would act on behalf of the helpless, and that they committed themselves to Him because He is the helper of the fatherless.

Lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”

Ephesians 5:14-17

Since light makes everything visible, Paul commanded the Ephesian believers, saying, “you who are sleeping, wake up and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (v.14). Sometimes believers fall into a spiritual sleep and may feel as if they have lost connection with the Lord; a re- connection requires a wake-up call to get them up out of the unfruitful state of darkness and return to the promise that Christ will give them light. 

Paul said, “See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (v.15), “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (v.16). Children of light are encouraged to live purposefully in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. Don’t live recklessly as fools; “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside” (Col. 4:5) the household of faith. Use the time God gave you today, making the most of every opportunity to stand firm against the challenges of spiritual battles and evil forces.

Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (v.17). He wills that His children walk in wisdom, knowing that “the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (v.9). The enduring hymn “Amazing Grace,” has a line that says, “I once was blind, but now I see.” Metaphorically, you wander around spiritually blind outside God’s ark of safety unable to see your way. But when you come to your senses as children of light, you should live wisely according to the will of God. 

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!”

  Ephesians 5:7-13 NKJV

Being in a relationship with God demands believers to imitate Him and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave His life for our sins. Our conduct and manner of speech should always reflect who we are and whose we are.  “Therefore, do not be partakers with children of them” (v.7) who are the children of disobedience and rebellion against God. Believers are not to “team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness” (2 Cor. 6:14 NLT)?

In v.8 Paul declared two things metaphorically about the identity of children of God. You “were once darkness,” but now “you are light.” Who they once were and who they have become is the result of being “in the Lord.” When you were darkness, you were and conformed to the world. Now that you are light, you are transformed by the renewing of your mind and commanded to “walk as children of light.” Since you are no longer alienated from God, your life should reflect all goodness, righteousness, and truth, which is the effect of the fruit of the Light(v.9). Now by experience you should be “finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (v.10). 

The apostle continued his instruction, commanding believers to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove, or expose, them by their godly character (v.11). Yet, Paul declared that it is shameful for those of the Light to focus their conversation on things that ungodly people do in secret (v.12). “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible” (v.13 ESV). 

Lift your voice and shout “Glory!” 

Ephesians 5:3-7 NKJV

Here Paul continue addressing the saints of God in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. It is no secret that children are imitators of their earthly parents. In the same manner there is no secret that believers are imitators of their heavenly parent – God the Father. Believers are urged to live righteously. As His dear children, they are called to imitate Him and walk continually in love. He demonstrated His love for the world by sending His Son Jesus in the flesh to die for our sins. Therefore, Believers’ character and conduct should reflect their relationship with Him. 

Paul continued his instruction, informing them of six common sins that are condemned. He told the saints of God that these sins should not even be mentioned among themselves: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness (v.3), and disrespectful language that takes followers of Christ out of character: filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting (v.4). “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs” (Eph.4:29). There is no grace or thanksgiving to God in Believers’ unholy behaviors and foul language.

He then told them that there are five classes that are lost. “For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (v.5). The apostle warned them in v.6 of deceivers and the consequence of disobedience. “Therefore, do not be partakers with them” (v.7).

Lift your voice and give God glory!