Author: evangelist_breland

Psalm 33:1-3, NKJV

The Lord is worthy to be praised. The psalm writer’s targeted audience: O you righteous were immediately given the command to rejoice in the Lord. As the righteous, we owe Him the honor of our praise. The psalmist knew how beautiful praise from the upright was (v.1). He had been delivered from the hands of his enemies many times; therefore, he declared in Psalm 34:1 that continual praise will be in his mouth for the Lord. Yes, it is sweet for every believer to celebrate God and praise Him for His saving grace and whatever else He has done that we don’t deserve. No matter how many trials and tribulations we have, it is naturally fitting that we praise Him for bringing us through. 

The writer commanded the righteous to praise the Lord with the harp; make melody, literally, sing to Him with an instrument of ten strings (v.2). He went on to urge the righteous to sing a new song of praise to the Lord, play skillfully on the harp, and shout for joy (v.3). You may not sing like an angel or even carry a tune that’s pleasant to man’s ears; you may not play a musical instrument, but you can praise Him. Raise your voice and shout loudly for joy. Clap your hands and give Him glory for He is your Creator. 

What about you? Will you honor the Lord with your praise today?

2 Peter 3:11-13, NKJV

Peter previously declared in v.10 that the day of the Lord will come like a thief. When He comes, the heavens and the earth will disappear, or change; everything done in it will be laid bare by fire with a rushing sound.

Here in v.11, he continued the prophecy (vv. 7,10), saying that since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of person ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, What is the apostle telling believers? He’s telling you that since you know all these things will be dissolved, you ought to spend your time daily living holy and persevering in godliness. While waiting for the Lord’s return, behave in a manner that shows you are set apart and “walking worthy of the calling with which you were called.” (Ephesians 4:1b).

This verse (12) completes the question the apostle asked starting in v.11. As you walk daily in holiness and godliness, earnestly looking for and awaiting the coming of the day of God, Apostle Peter again reminds believers that on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements [the atmospheric heavens, which include the air that we breathe as well as the space that immediately surrounds the earth] will melt with intense heat! Just the same, after the renovation by fire, according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, God’s new creation, in which righteousness will dwell permanently (v.13). 

I don’t know when He is coming, but He said He is, and with me that settles it. Give Him glory!

2 Peter 3:10, NKJV

June 21, 2024

In v.10 Peter prophesied, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” The thief in John 10:10 comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; Jesus comes so that believers may have life and may have it more abundantly. Here in 2 Peter 3:10 “the day of the Lord” is described as a thief coming in the night. What does Peter mean? Just as we have no inkling of when a thief is going to break into our homes, so is Christ’s coming.Matthew 24:43 told us that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Peter continued with a dire description of the day of the Lord. He may come quietly as a thief, but He will pour out His wrath with fury. The heavens will “vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up” (AMP Bible). Today, will you accept the false teachers’ doubt as to rather Jesus is coming or God’s truth that He is coming? 

Lift up your voice and shout, “Glory!”

2 Peter 3:8-9

Here Peter addressed his brothers and sisters as “Beloved,” a title of endearment. He admonished them to not forget [don’t be ignorant of, KJV] this one thing – with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (v.8). Peter called them to remember the words of prophecy and the commandment of them, the apostles of the Lord and Savior of the coming of Christ. He told them that there are scoffers, false teachers, who will come in the last days, who will willingly deny the coming of Christ. They will ask: “Where is the promise of His coming” (v.4a)? 

Of a certainty “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (v.9). It is foolish to refuse to accept God’s word. He loves us so and is patiently waiting for sinner men to come to Him that He may be gracious to them. He is not a man that He should lie. If He said it, He is well able to fulfill it. What some count as slackness is God’s longsuffering toward us. For the Lord is a God of justice, and all those who wait for Him areblessed (Isaiah 30:18). Ezekiel 33:11 declares that the Lord God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Get ready because Jesus is coming. His longsuffering is not judgment denied.

Give God praise! Happy Father’s Day, Dear Brothers!

2 Kings 22:18-20

In order that children of God have a relationship with God, they must know His will. Our best source for knowing Him, His will, and the purposes He has for us is His Word. In v.18 Huldah gave Josiah’s servants a word from the Lord God of Israel. 

The word she sent to the king was “because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord” (v.19). Isn’t it wonderful to have a tender heart and humble yourself before the Lord? When Josiah heard of the impending judgment against his people, his immediate response was to repent and confirm with Huldah the prophetess about God’s intention. 

She spoke a prophetic blessing for the king who sent them to inquire of the Lord concerning the words which He has heard. “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” So, they brought back word to the king (v.20). According to Scripture, “God is not a man that He should lie…” His word was fulfilled in 2 Chronicles 35:23-24. Matthew 24:35 declares “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Shot, “Glory” for the word of God!