|
|
|
|
Start here first ... if you want to know what is important to know about me and why I write and speak weekly the things that I do! Except for my siblings and other relatives who call me by my first name (withheld!), I am known by all others as either Scott Riaubia or Brother Scott. The name originates from Lithuania (makes me wonder if that’s why my last name ends in “ia”). I was born in 1955 on a day when the country puts up our stars and stripes in June. I am a red-blooded American male, father and grandfather, and have been married to my bride of 42 years. I am a military veteran of the Viet Nam era, although not a U.S Army combat veteran. After leaving military service I spent the next 27 years working for some of the largest corporations in America, generally in financial services in one way or another. PORTERVILLE, CA -- In part one we began to dissect these last three words that Jesus spoke before He died by examining the word “It” and what that word represented. What was “it” that Jesus had finished? When the Lord uttered the words “It is finished” from the cross just before His last breath and giving up the ghost, the meaning of “it” is to be understood by these examples of what He had accomplished (finished): • Jesus was born, lived and died sinless (a requirement to be the Savior) • He upheld the Word • He fulfilled the Law and the what the prophets had said about Him • He undertook and completed a work that no mere man could have done • Jesus had outsmarted and defeated the devil ... PORTERVILLE, CA -- We are going to look at three words in English and indeed the last three words uttered by Jesus before He released His physical life to death. They are three words that we have read for ourselves many times or at least heard others read them in the context of the story of the Lord’s brutal time on the cross. It is usually the case that the words are heard but generally are not given any thought or study. Every word that Jesus spoke is important and worthy of careful thought and to be added to our spiritual understanding because He said that His Words are life—life-giving and life-sustaining. In a quick review in sequence of what Jesus said about what He says we read this: PORTERVILLE, CA -- It is normal for us humans to usually take the easy way or resort to shortcuts—whether it is on a hike, in a relationship with conflict issues, a shortcut regarding repairs or the building of something, the easiest way to solve a problem involving money, or a thousand other situations that come up in our lives that demand our attention. Some time back I worked part time for a man who had a saying when something inconvenient happened that needed to be dealt with or fixed quickly; he would say with a smirk, “It may not be right but it’s right now!” The problem with that often enough was that that quick-fix was usually not revisited and fixed long-term or the repair job done in haste would not be later addressed in the best way. PORTERVILLE, CA -- I have become increasingly aware of something over the last several years, which is something needful for you as a Christian to know and do also. Too few believers today do not pray (or pray enough), and that will prove to be the undoing of their physical health, and unfortunately for some the undoing of their faith in God during the times ahead of us. Personal fellowship with God is a huge part of coming to trust what His Word promises and to have confidence in God to do what He says He will do. With that being said, the main point of what I will be sharing with you today puts an even finer point on the critical need for your prayers unto God, and that is this ... PORTERVILLE, CA -- When we lose someone close to us (as we just did here in our church family), or someone that we had known for a significant amount of time, it causes us to reflect on several things. We think about the person we lost; his or her life, contributions, hardships, and accomplishments, where they are now in the eternity that began when they died, what their absence will mean, and about those they left behind. For some people, there are the thoughts of “Did I treat that person right” or “Should I have done more for him or her,” and perhaps even deeper regrets about something between you and that person that you wish you could change. PORTERVILLE, CA -- What I share with you today is the conclusion of what has been to me over the years an impressive passage of the Scriptures. At 1 Chronicles 16, King David has written a psalm and given it to his chief praise and worship leader to be presented to the nation. As you now know, it has at least twelve expressions by God’s people instructed to be made unto the Lord our God and Savior. We are taught that as a people of God, and we as the most blessed of the three 2,000-year periods since Adam, and a people that should be the most spiritually advanced among all the peoples of God over 6,000 years, we are to: Give thanks unto the Lord, make known His deeds ... PORTERVILLE, CA -- 1 Chronicles 16:28-36 It takes three consecutive breaths for David to make the point that we are to “give unto the Lord”. In similar terms, you can think of giving to the Lord like this: “Hand over to God those things which He wants from us and the things He deserves from us”. The Hebrew word that is used by the psalmist simply means “give” or to “put before” Him. A more definitive definition for our 21st century understanding today would include “to freely transfer the possession of something to someone [else]; to hand over to. To provide or supply with. To present without expecting compensation. To make a gift of.” PORTERVILLE, CA -- This term “glory ye” is the Hebrew word halal, and is translated into English throughout the Old Testament as: Praise, to glory in, boast, shine, commend, and celebrate our God and Redeemer. How many of you have ever thought within your heart or said or sung out loud “Hallelujah”? That single English word in its original language is “Halal, Oh Jah!”; it means “Praise ye, Jah”, which [Jah] is an abbreviated version of Jehovah. Its Greek counterpart “alleluia” is used 4 times in the New Testament with all four found in Revelation 19. PORTERVILLE, CA -- I surmise that we have alive in America today two generations of men and women of all ages that profess to be followers of Jesus that have not been taught much at all about living each day as one redeemed from sin and its bondage; that would be Christians alive today that have been born in the last eighty years or so. Why do I believe that? Because many believers have no fear of God (no alarm bells ringing at how they still live yet will face His judgment seat or reverence of Him as the all mighty and eternal God) ... PORTERVILLE, CA -- The life of the shepherd boy who became Israel’s greatest earthy king has been to me a blessing, and should be to all Christians. He came to know the God of Israel early in his life and devoted his life to Him, learned the value of often praise and worship of God, was not shy in testifying to others about Him, and boldly defended Him against the armies that defiled Israel’s Divine King. And although David would make mistakes, he also knew well of the need for humility and repentance before his God. |
|
|