His Mercies

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51:1,11 (NKJV)

It is so glaring when man loses the Holy Spirit connection. He acts insanely and with reckless abandon and ultimately self-destruct. All of a sudden the 'programmed' now thinks he's more all-knowing, all-able more than the 'Programmer'. Only time will separate the two, but the wise knows that safe the grace of the Almighty God, man is nothing; but with a steady connection to the Creator, he is more than able to rise above self and his numerous life challenges. King David knew the secret of this and sought the mercies of God continually and longed to be in His presence at all times. Moses requested a halt to the journey of the nation of Israel unless the presence of the Lord went with them.

We never want to stray away for the Lord's presence. Cast me not away from your presence lest I misbehave and self-destruct. Your Holy Spirit is my GPS, Teacher, Mentor, Comforter, Friend, etc. His Leadership in our lives we need and in His presence we must always be.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi

Forgetting is hazardous

Friends,

The past week has been full of reminders to be thankful for the blessings we enjoy. This is good thing for anyone to do. Yet, we must be mindful of the danger that comes with focusing on the blessings. We can too easily fall into the trap of neglecting to focus on the One who blesses.

Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation,
And have not been mindful of the Rock of your stronghold,
Therefore you will plant pleasant plants
And set out foreign seedlings;
In the day you will make your plant to grow,
And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish;
But the harvest will be a heap of ruins
In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.
Isaiah 17:10-11 [NKJV]

God is warning you and I that all of our hard work is a vanity when we cease being mindful of our Lord and Master. Consider this truth, brothers and sisters.

Be encouraged, Jose

More from the Gospel of Mark

Friends,

The latest Bible study sessions have been published. Please be sure to visit Bible Study Audio to listen to the most recent teaching from the Gospel of Mark.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bible studies posted

Friends,

A new study has been posted from the Gospel of Mark. In this session, we examine the latter parts of chapter 11 and the beginning verses in chapter 12. The religious elite take turns challenging Jesus' authority and claims in their attempts to ensnare Him in an act for which they can legitimately execute Him. Visit Bible Study Audio to learn the important lessons for you and I - in our present day - from this passage.

Be encouraged, Jose

Know that He is God

Friends,

Men and women plan and scheme. We worry over what might or might not happen in this circumstance or another. We devise contingency plans and work out elaborate measures to attempt to control events in our world.

That is certainly one way to live.

Here is another ...

I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him.
That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past.
Ecclesiastes 3:14-15, NKJV

Today, why don't we take a breath and rest, knowing that Almighty God, who is truly sovereign and completely good, has set every detail in place for a specific purpose. We cannot change the plan of God. We can only have reverential fear of Him who is all-powerful and all-good. We can only turn away from our controlling impulses and turn towards the only One worthy of trust. We can strive to finally and fully depend and rely on the LORD.

A study of Haggai

Friends,

As you know, most of the content on Bible Study Audio is in the form of Bible studies that you can listen to. In order to make the content a bit more accessible, a written study has been added: the book of Haggai. This prophetic message to God's people is one of admonishment and great hope. In it, the Lord reminds you and I to resist the evil of this world, to beware of rationalizing worldly actions, and to look forward with genuine anticipation to the return of our Lord.

Remember that there is no physical building that can possibly compare to the splendor and majesty of the true temple of God ... the living, breathing body of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

Give Thanks

...in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

The founders of this great country, sought freedom, fought and struggled for it even in the face of fierce resistance and deadly opposition. The journey has not always been easy, but they thought it reasonable and appropriate to set a day apart to be thankful and appreciative. The tradition and activity has endured and celebrated more till this day.

Kings (King Solomon, David, etc), Noah, Abraham, and numerous others in the bible together with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave underscored 'thanksgiving' in their time. They gave thanks for their situations at different turns in their lives.

As the scripture directs, In our daily lives and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi