Worship for Today: The majestic splendor of God's glory!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Psalm 68:32-35,

“Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!”

In this psalm of David the majestic splendor of God’s mighty power is put on vivid display! When just the back side of God’s glory passed in front of Moses we are told it transformed him. In Exodus 34 we read that his face was so radiant that Aaron and all the leaders fled from him – Moses had to call to them. When Moses first received the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai we read, “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.’” Exodus 20:18-19.

The glory of God is something I can only imagine. David must have seen something of it and the day is coming when we will all see it. I am certain it will only be in my transformed resurrected body that I would ever be able to survive even a glimpse of the majestic splendor of the manifestation of God’s glory! What a thought to behold…!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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Worship for Today: God has provided us a remedy for his judgment in Jesus Christ!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 28:3-6,

“Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.”

The islanders of Malta first thought Paul must have been a murderer when they saw an apparently poisonous snake hanging from his hand. They saw Paul was a prisoner and assumed “Justice”, the personification of some god, was taking his vengeance since Paul escaped the sea. Next they thought he might be a god when he didn’t drop dead from the viper’s bite.

If anything, this account portrays the proclivity of man to look for the divine in life. With a clear posture of moral/ethical sensitivity these folks first looked for a divine judicial explanation for something that appears to us as simple happenstance: a snake bite. Knowing the snakes of the area, they next looked for an explanation of what seemed to be supernatural: no ill effects from a deadly viper’s bite. Paul must have been a god.

If we take an honest look at the historical record as contained in Scripture (as well as the body of non-scriptural literature) and the culture around us in the world today, we find people looking for answers. In spite of the atheist/humanist outlook of a few, the vast bulk of mankind has always had a sense that God exists and that we stand morally responsible before him. Mankind has turned his collective back on God and yet burned into his psyche is the distant memory of what his experience was in the Garden of Eden: God exists and we are morally accountable to him.

How thankful I am this morning that our righteous and holy Creator God has provided us a remedy to his pending judgment for our sin: Jesus Christ! And, how wonderful it is for us that he has made him known!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: Jesus makes our particpation in the resurrection possible!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 26:6-7,

“It is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me.”

The Jews of Paul’s day were “earnestly” serving God day and night in order to receive the promise of the resurrection of life. As Paul says, this was their hope they were looking for. But for the Jews, this would be a futile hope. Their earnest serving of God was based on the notion that the hope of the Jews was obtainable by works, not faith.

Paul says in Romans 9:30-33, “What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the ‘stumbling stone.’ As it is written: ‘See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Our participation in the resurrection of life is available only through faith. It is the faith modeled by Abraham in the book of Genesis that brings a righteous standing with God. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6.

How wonderful my participation in the resurrection of life is not dependant on my performance or I wouldn’t make it! It is my faith in the performance of Jesus Christ that brings the hope of that promise to fulfillment!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God provides!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 27:42-44,

“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.”

The centurion that was responsible for escorting Paul to Rome was from a military unit called the “Imperial Regiment”. His name was Julius and had demonstrated kindness to Paul from the beginning of the trip. When they boarded the first ship and got to Sidon we are told, “Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.” Not that Julius was “in Paul’s pocket” so to speak, as we read that he listened to the advice of the ship’s pilot and owner instead of Paul when Paul warned them against continuing on their trip when they arrived at Fair Havens.

Yet, Julius wanted to spare Paul’s life when the ship was wrecked and prevented the soldiers from killing the prisoners, which included Paul. Was it just fortunate for Paul that he happened to have had a guard that was concerned for his safety? It certainly was fortunate, but it wasn’t mere fortune from the standpoint of luck that Julius was concerned for Paul. During the storm, as the ship was being blown across the Mediterranean an angel of the Lord appeared to Paul who told him, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” God provided Paul a guard that would insure Paul arrived in Rome for the Lord’s own purposes.

The Lord has his own agenda and carries out what he desires. As a part of the Lord’s agenda, Paul had an assignment from the Lord and as such the Lord would provide all Paul needed in order to accomplish that assignment. As I read the book of Acts I see over and over how the Lord not only includes people in the things he does, but also provides what is needed. I have to say I don’t see the Lord providing Paul with a nice house, a fancy car, that special job promotion at work, a wonderful marriage or even relief from the sniffles. I see Paul on mission from God and it is just fascinating to see how the Lord provides what is needed to carry out that assignment!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: God provides us truth in Scripture!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 26:27:

“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

Paul appeals to King Agrippa’s familiarity with the Scriptures as he presents the gospel message to him, Bernice and Festus. It is Paul’s intention to couch his presentation of the gospel from the Scriptures as it is there that truthfulness, authority and reality lay.

In his love for us and knowing our needs, our kind and merciful God has provided us truth in his word. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” We are all too capable of deceiving ourselves, given the disposition of our own sinful natures, and we have desperate need of authoritative revelation from God to know what to think, how to act and what to believe about God.

It is not coincidence that we find the cults and false religions of the world at odds with the Bible. Mankind will come up with its own perverted ways in search for God and truth. We require authoritative revelation from our God. It is here, in the pages of Scripture that again and again in Acts we find Paul reasoning and convincing his hearers of the gospel message.

Today I thank my God for providing me his authoritative truth in the Bible so that I can know him in the way he has made for us!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: The Lord always carries out his agenda!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 27:23-24,

“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’”

Chapter 27 of Acts is a nail-biting sailor’s story of an Egyptian cargo ship from Alexandria that gets caught in a “Nor’easter” as it sailed from Fair Havens on Crete to a harbor at Phoenix on the west end of Crete. Having to give way to the storm they found themselves blown from Crete for over two weeks and landing on the island Malta halfway across the Mediterranean Sea. Among those on board were Paul, Luke and other companions on the way to Rome under guard, escorted by a centurion, Julius. After “many days” of being driven by the hurricane-force storm and not eating, etc. Paul tells the crew and men on board that an angel of the Lord had visited him the night before and told the encouraging news of verse twenty four.

From what the angel told Paul, we find that the Lord had foreordained Paul would appear before Caesar in Rome and presumably preach the gospel message to him there. As such the Lord decided to spare the lives of all aboard. Was this storm some kind of supernatural opposition from the devil to keep Paul from reaching Caesar with the gospel? I don’t know if the devil has that kind of ability over the weather but I suspect that there was quite a storm within Satan’s camp as they saw Paul headed for Rome.

Although Paul had never been to Rome before, we know that the gospel had already reached Rome and that the church had taken root years earlier. Paul’s earlier letter to this church is one of the greatest pieces of literature ever written by man (and God) and an inspired writing that has guided the Lord’s people for millennia. Now was the appointed time the Lord sent his apostle to the leader of the greatest empire on planet earth.

Clearly portrayed in the book of Acts is the Lord carrying out his agenda with hand selected people accomplishing exactly what he desires. It makes for fascinating reading to watch it unfold!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately

Worship for Today: Our God has a big, big heart!

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Acts 26:28,

"Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"

Here is King Agrippa’s response to Paul when Paul presented his case before Festus, King Agrippa and Bernice, as well as the high ranking officers and the leading men of Caesarea. Paul had asked Agrippa if he believed in the prophets (the Scriptures) and following Agrippa’s response Paul replied that he hoped all who were listening to him on that day might become what he was, not as a prisoner, but as a child of God and an heir of what will be ours in our inheritance with Jesus Christ.

What catches my attention is Agrippa’s accurate observation that Paul was attempting to persuade his hearers with the gospel message with the hope of the outcome that they might make the choice to embrace Jesus Christ in faith.

This tells me something about God. It cannot be missed that the Lord had manipulated events such that Paul had a clear opportunity to proclaim the gospel message to the leaders of the day: the king and his supposed wife, the governor, the high ranking officers and the leading men of the city of Caesarea. God clearly desires all have an opportunity to hear the gospel message. Paul’s desire, which echoed God’s desire, was that all would avail themselves of the opportunity to respond to the gospel message by embracing Jesus Christ in faith. I am reminded of Paul’s comment to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, when speaking about prayer, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

Our God has a big, big heart and wants all to come to him!

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!

Trevor V. Fisk

(314) 814-8486

trevorf@gracehill.org

 

 

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This electronic transmission and any documents accompanying this electronic transmission contain confidential information belonging to the sender. This information may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. The information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. The authorized recipient of this transmission is prohibited from disclosing this information to any other party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to delete or destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or takinf of any action in reliance on or regarding the contents of this electronicallytransmitted information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-mail in error please notify the sender and delete this message immediately