Oh My Soul

God is Sovereign

Oh my friends, though the earth be shaken, wars and rumors of wars are about, fighting is without and within, though one fears the future and things unseen and unknown, be encouraged as you read this beautiful passage extolling  what your Redeemer has done for you.  How great are His promises, His peace, His gifts, His reward…what glory is ours, what joy indeed!

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“O my soul, if thou couldst wear out thy fingers upon the harp, and wear thy tongue to the roots, thou couldst yet never sufficiently praise thy Redeemer.

O mine enemies!  Where is now your confidence and where is your armour wherein you trusted?  I will set Christ alone against all of your multitudes, and all the powers, malice, and policy, wherewith they are armed.  The field is already won, and the Captain of our salvation returned, with the spoils of his enemies, having made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in his cross, Col. ii.15.  And thanks be to God, who hath given us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Cor. xv.57

Of whom then should I be afraid?  Behold he is near that justifieth me; who shall plead with me?

O ye powers of hell!  You are but chained captives, and we have a sure word, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against us, Matt. xvi.18.  Though the world be in arms against us, and the devil at the head of them as their champion; yet who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?  I Sam. xvii. 45-47.  Behold, I am come out to thee, as the stripling against Goliath; not with sword, and with spear, but in the name of the Lord of hosts, in whose strength I am more than a conqueror.

O grave, where is now thy victory?  Christ is risen, and hath broken up thy prison, and rolled away the stone, so that all the prisoners have made an escape.  Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; though I fall, I shall rise again; though I lie in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me, Mic. vii.8.  Enlarge not they desires, O Tophet, but shut up thy flaming mouth; for there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.  Rom. viii.1

O deceitful world, thou art already overcome. John xvi.33, and the conquered enemy is become my servant, I Cor. iii.22, and I am fed with the honey taken out of the carcass of the slain lion.  I fear not thy threats, nor the enchantments of the syren songs, being kept by the power of God, through a victorious faith, unto salvation.  I Peter i.4, I John v 4.

O my sins; you are already buried, never to have any resurrection, and the remembrance of you shall be no more.  Heb. viii.12  I see my sins nailed to the cross, and their dominion is taken away, though their lives be prolonged yet for a little season. Awake therefore, O my glory; awake psaltery and harp, and meet the deliverer with triumph; for his right hand, and his holy arm, have gotten us the victory, Psa. xcvii. 1.2, and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

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Richard Alleine, Heaven Opened, The Riches of God’s Covenant Grace, The Believer’s Triumph, pp. 290, 292 [July 8, 1665]

For Love of the Word

Last night as I watched “The Bible” on the History Channel I determined to Tweet [@theologygirls] the Bible verses related to the drama that unfolded and I realized how many were watching as I saw #thebible hashtag trend.  What an opportunity for us as believers to share the true “Word of God” from His Word with the world in such a global environment. Not only is God glorified by His people in this but also those that have never heard, never read, never understood why we love and serve God could be shared both by the eyes and ears.  How wonderful is this my dear brethren to our hearts and minds and pleasing to our Lord God?  Oh that we could do this every day of the rest of our lives for the good of His people and the lost.  Pray that you will share and join in to this discussion over the next few weeks.  We are privileged to do so and have this opportunity.  Thanks be unto God, our Lord and Savior!  Read on and be encouraged to know your God more deeply.

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In the beginning was the Word [the "Logos"], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.  John 1:3

The Son of God is of one and the selfsame eternity or everlastingness,
and of one and the selfsame essence or nature with the Father.

“His existence in the beginning: In the beginning was the Word. This bespeaks his existence, not only before his incarnation, but before all time. The beginning of time, in which all creatures were produced and brought into being, found this eternal Word in being. The world was from the beginning, but the Word was in the beginning. Eternity is usually expressed by being before the foundation of the world. The eternity of God is so described (Psa_90:2), Before the mountains were brought forth. So Pro_8:23. The Word had a being before the world had a beginning. He that was in the beginning never began, and therefore was ever, achronos - without beginning of time. So Nonnus.

His co-existence with the Father: The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Let none say that when we invite them to Christ we would draw them from God, for Christ is with God and is God; it is repeated in Joh_1:2 : the same, the very same that we believe in and preach, was in the beginning with God, that is, he was so from eternity. In the beginning the world was from God, as it was created by him; but the Word was with God, as ever with him. The Word was with God. In respect of essence and substance; for the Word was God: a distinct person or substance, for he was with God; and yet the same in substance, for he was God, Heb_1:3.

The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father’s mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.” _M.Henry

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Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.