by HARVEYOPP | Dec 21, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
“Fear not” is a phrase found at least 63 times throughout the Scriptures. God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not.” The Angel of God said to Sarah’s runaway handmaiden, Hagar, “Fear not!” The Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not, neither be dismayed” (Joshua 8:1). “Fear not” was God’s command to Gideon in Judges 16:23. Eight times the Lord told Israel through the prophet Isaiah, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10). “Fear not” was David’s godly counsel to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28:20). “Fear not” was the angel Gabriel’s words to Daniel (Dan. 10:12). When announcing the birth of John the Baptizer, the angel Gabriel said to Zacharias, “Fear not!” Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock.” And the angel Gabriel comforted the virgin Mary by saying, “Fear not, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
But how can we learn to heed the words of our Lord, “Fear not”? With so much violence, sickness, disease, cancer, tribulation, death, and heartache just around the corner from each of us, how can our heart be established in peace? The key is found in the words of Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” How did the Psalmist overcome fear when he went through the valley of the shadow of death? Did you see the psalmist’s remedy against fear? Five key words: “For You are with me.” Dwell upon those words when fear grips your soul, and remember the promise of God: “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Meditate on the truth that the Lord is always with His people, “even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20) and you will sing the words of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
by HARVEYOPP | Nov 1, 2016 | Scott Henry
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
The Bible gives us a multitude of reasons to be thankful to God. In the Psalms, we learn that we give thanks to the Lord for He is good. The psalmist also declares that we ought to give thanks to God because His mercy endures forever. Moses wrote in Exodus 20:6 that God shows “mercy to thousands of generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Another reason we give thanks to God is because He is the sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth who provides for His people. The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God “gives us richly all things to enjoy.” And David wrote in Psalm 37:23-26, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed.”
The psalmist gives thanks to the Lord because He redeemed his life from the pit, and because every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights (James 1:17); “Who keeps truth forever, executes justice, shows mercy, gives food to the hungry, freedom to the prisoners, opens the eyes of the blind, raises those who are bowed down, and loves the righteous” (Psalm 146:6-8). The Bible has a myriad of things for which we ought to give thanks to the Lord, and so the Apostle Paul simply says in 1 Thess. 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Did you notice the all-inclusive words in our text? “In everything give thanks.” There are many favorable circumstances that happen in each of our lives for which giving thanks to God is altogether appropriate, and rather easy to do. But what about the times when things are not so pleasant? Are you willing to give God thanks when in His good providence pain, suffering, hurt, turmoil, or death touches your life? How then do you respond to God? Are you one who seeks the blessings or the Giver of all blessings? The Apostle Paul says in our text that we are to give thanks to Almighty God in EVERY THING!
We may not be able to understand every little detail God is doing in our life, or why He has done certain things the way He has, but we do know from Scripture that He has promised to work all things together for His glory and our eternal good (Rom. 8:28), and that He has promised to never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). This should make us thankful to God in all things, even the evil that He sends upon us in this troubled life. If we truly believe God causes all things to work together for His glory and our eternal good, then we can be thankful no matter what situation we may find ourselves.
We must look to the end result of what God is doing and the word of Scripture to us is simply that we must trust our heavenly Father even though we may not understand what He is doing. As we read in Hebrews 11:8: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” And He did so, even as Sarah regarding the birth of Isaac, because he “judged Him faithful who had promised” (Heb. 11:11). Walking by faith in the promises of God enables the child of God to be thankful to the LORD in every circumstance. Take time today to praise His holy name!
by HARVEYOPP | Aug 9, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age…” (Galatians 1:3-4).
“Grace and peace” are two of the most precious words found in the Bible. And these two words logically flow from the Gospel, which the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 1:11-12 “…is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Grace is what changes our relationship with God. Grace moves the redeemed sinner out of the spiritual sphere of darkness, death, rebellion, and curse in Adam, and into the spiritual realm of light, life, righteousness, and blessing in Jesus Christ. As we read in Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
Grace sums up everything that makes it possible to be in a saving relationship with God. And true grace and peace can only come from God since grace implies that all men are dead in trespasses and sins, and nothing can possibly make us acceptable to a holy God but His mercy, which comes only by way of grace through the cross of Jesus Christ. Grace is not a thing; it’s not a substance that can be measured or a commodity to be distributed. It is “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 13:14). In other words, grace is Jesus Himself. He is God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, goodness, righteousness, and reconciliation. Jesus Christ is “the grace of God that brings salvation which has appeared unto all men” (Titus 2:11). Christ is God’s saving grace given to save His people from their sins (Matt. 1:21).
The only reason any sinner is saved from the guilt, penalty, and consequences of their sin is Jesus Christ. Because God is gracious, loving, and merciful, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to take upon Himself the nature of man and “give himself for our sins.” Jesus was well pleased to obey His Father by laying down His life in order to redeem sinners and “deliver them from this present evil age.” And this Gospel is something fallen, unregenerate man stumbles over and considers foolishness. “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:24).
Have you received the grace of God? Has Christ translated you out of the spiritual sphere of darkness into the sphere of His marvelous light? If so, your words and works will be very different from the unbelieving world. You will think differently and consequently you will live differently since out of the heart are the issues of life. When your heart is cleansed your life will follow. Jesus said when the inside of the cup and dish is clean then the outside will become clean also (Matt. 23:26). So, I say it once again, has the grace of God transformed your soul? If so, praise God today for His wondrous grace in Christ Jesus! If not, run to Jesus, He is mighty to save all who come to Him by faith.
by HARVEYOPP | Aug 2, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” (Psalm 119:11).
Scripture admonishes every believer to store up God’s Word in their heart. Colossians 3:16: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” In Matthew 4:4, Jesus taught that we live “by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” John tells us in 1 John 2 “to let the Word of God abide in us.” And Jesus said in John 8 that His disciples are those who have “the Word of God abiding in them.” And so we read in Psalm 119:11: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!”
Our text teaches us the importance of storing God’s Word in our heart so that we will not sin against our God; and we do this by memorizing Scripture. Through memorization the Holy Spirit writes the Word of God upon our heart and in this way the Holy Spirit guides our lives by His Word. That’s why the psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” You see, without the Word of God dwelling in our heart we will never be able to live a life that pleases the Lord.
It’s not the closed Bible at home that gives you strength when the doctor gives you the news that cancer has filled your body, or when you’re told of the death of a loved one. Nor is it the unread Bible that gives you strength to avoid the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It’s the Word of God stored up in your heart that gives you strength to fight against the world, the flesh and the Devil. In the same way, only Scripture can give you comfort and joy to persevere in the midst of any adversity.
And so regarding the commandments of the Lord, Solomon wrote: “Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress” (Proverbs 6:21-24). Do you practice hiding God’s Word in your heart? If not, begin today, and if so, continue pressing on!
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 12, 2016 | Scott Henry
- Training children is one of the most difficult duties of Christian parents, and the Word of God has much instruction for us. But one of the first things we must remember when it comes to our children is Psalm 127:3: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” In other words, our children, first of all, belong to God and are a wonderful gift given by Him. Therefore, children must be loved and diligently trained for God’s glory! Proverbs 22:6 reads: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This text not only commands us to train our children, but it also comforts us with the promise that when the child is old he shall not depart from the way he was taught. Christian parents, who take their calling seriously to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, may find comfort in this text.
- The chief principle in the training of our children is that of discipline. The word “train” in the Hebrew means “to narrow” not to broaden or let loose, but to discipline. It’s in the fallen nature of every child to walk the broad way of sin, because, like every parent, sin resides in the heart. The ungodly philosophy of the world says let the children go their own way so they can explore the different avenues in this world and decide for themselves what they like or dislike. But Scripture teaches us that our children, just like parents, must be governed by God’s Word so they do not walk the broad road of destruction. God has given us children in order that we might raise godly offspring for the glory and praise of our God. Malachi 2:15: “He seeks godly offspring.” And so fathers are exhorted in Ephesians 6:4: “Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
- The 5th Commandment teaches parents that we must love our children, even as it exhorts children to honor their father and mother. Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 104 reads: “What does God require in the Fifth Commandment? That I show all honor, love and faithfulness to my father and mother, and to all in authority over me, submit myself with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction, and also bear patiently with their infirmities, since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.” According to the 5th Commandment, Christian parents are responsible before God to raise their children with “good instruction and correction.” The Lord primarily uses the means of good instruction and correction from Christian parents to teach covenant children the ways of God from infancy to adulthood. And it’s normally these children that the Lord is pleased to save and therefore they do not depart from the faith. The word “child” in Proverbs 22:6 is used in a broad sense and it refers to a child from infancy to adolescence. And so the text is a call for Christian parents to love their children of all ages by exercising loving discipline, leading them in the narrow way, and applying good instruction and correction in teaching them to walk in the ways of the Lord. This is exactly what we vowed when our children were baptized. Notice the baptismal vow:
- First: Do you acknowledge that, although our children are conceived and born in sin and therefore subject to condemnation, they are holy in Christ and, as members of His Church, ought to be baptized? Answer: I do. Second: Do you promise to instruct your child in the principles of our Christian faith as revealed in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and as summarized in the Heidelberg Catechism; and do you promise to pray with and for your child, to set an example of piety and godliness before him (her) and to endeavor by all the means of God’s appointment to bring him (her) up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord? Answer: I do. (Directory of Worship)
- Parents, are you faithful to your Christian vows before God? Which way are you training your children? Are you training them in the way of Jesus Christ, the narrow way of life everlasting? Do you teach them their need for a Savior because of their inborn and actual sin? Do you teach them that they must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation? “For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:39). Do you teach them that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone? Do you teach them to take delight in living according to the commandments of God in all good works out of a heart of gratitude for such a wondrous salvation? Do you teach them to forsake unrighteousness and follow God’s commandments? Do you teach them the Scriptures, the Confessions, Worship, and Prayer? Do you pray with and for them, and set a godly example of piety and godliness by obeying God’s commands?
- We must teach our children that in all things, whether we eat or drink, we do all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). We should not have a home where our children learn that it’s only in church on Sunday that we do things for the glory of God, but that every moment of every day in all of life we must do all things in the service of Christ from a grateful heart. Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
by HARVEYOPP | Jul 12, 2016 | Scott Henry
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
“Fear not” is a phrase found at least 63 times throughout the Scriptures. God said to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, “Fear not.” The Angel of God said to Sarah’s runaway handmaiden, Hagar, “Fear not!” The Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not, neither be dismayed” (Joshua 8:1). “Fear not” was God’s command to Gideon in Judges 16:23. “Fear not” was David’s godly counsel to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28:20). “Fear not” was the angel Gabriel’s words to Daniel (Dan. 10:12). When announcing the birth of John the Baptizer, the angel Gabriel said to Zacharias, “Fear not!” And Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:32, “Fear not little flock.”
But how can we learn to heed the words of our Lord to “Fear not”? How can our heart be established in peace? The key is found in the words of Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” How did the psalmist overcome fear when he went through the valley of the shadow of death? Did you see the psalmist’s remedy against fear? Five key words: “For You are with me.” Dwell upon these words when fear grips your soul, and remember the promise of God: “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6).
Meditate on the truth that the Lord is always with His people, and in the midst of your troubling situation you will sing the words of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” After all, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Simply stated, keep your mind focused on the Lord, the Redeemer of your soul, and you will learn with the psalmist not to fear as you walk through the dark valleys in this life because you will have the confident assurance that the Lord of the universe dwells with you and has promised to never leave you.
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