Psalm 76 ~ You are radiant with Light +†+

Sermon at 38 minutes

Psalm 76

NIV
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A song.


1 God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great. 2 His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. 3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.

4 You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game. 5 The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.

6 At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.

7 It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? 8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet— 9 when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. 10 Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.

11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.



The Scriptures Agree. All of the Bible points to the Lord. When we place the Lord first, we love ourselves. When we love ourselves, we are able to love each other. Placing our Trust in the Lord - makes us willing and able to go forth beyond what we believed we were equipped to do. God enables us to do His Plan.


God is orderly when He gives us the 10 Commandments - He prioritizes. What is the Law of God? Every dot and iota of God's Word is Law. We do the best we are able to do. With God's Help. When we are unable to do all - we ask God to forgive our flaws, our mistakes and our sin. We require the blessing of God taking wrath from us. Grace daily. Mercy. Complete and utter thanksgiving for God's Mercy every day and in this blessing we build as Jesus said, "Rise."







John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

Yesterday was the 3rd weekend in a row to troubleshoot household equipment for hours. Help arrived and left without heeding instruction and without communication in an on-going manner - to end future employment. I sat in the house, in the Living Room, and thought of my blessings. Years of youth, years of plenty, years of financial worry, years with health fears of children and back issues. The mortality of my mother and of my husband. My sons in their twenties dealing with on-going illness. The elderly dog suddenly increasing in health,  giving unity and discord as a family - his vast improvement with prayer and exercise. And suddenly, very suddenly - GRACE poured in.


GRACE!!! The ability to have YEARS to have grown. Years to endured. Years to have a new outlook on FAITH. The Gratitude Poured in like Old Testament Living Waters. New Testament Living Waters. The Years make sense. Surely this is a Miracle of Jesus Christ Himself. To see the Path with all capital letters - GRATITUDE. And suddenly all made whining, backache etc etc etc - made the Journey with Jesus complete JOY. I found tears poured down my face to have this Joy of Life Given.


We are having weather this weekend - another reason for Gratitude - Rain in Texas. And Suddenly a Light beam, clouds left, the sun Radiated making the white living room furniture appear as if glowing. The Lampshade glowed. It was purely - another Joy. The room grew warmer. Joy deepened.
Life in all the annoying and grumbling and worry this that was just Gratitude. I sat and gave Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit my Thanks.

Of course, the Light moved. And I found I had to climb the stairs slightly and see the room from another viewpoint and stand on the stairs and look out the window with interest. At the end of the day - all the events of a rather dreary day - rooted in the time with Jesus.
Strength was given.
Joy in the Light of God.

When we look at the Gospels, few parts of the Bible repeat the same event, then we find the events differ. Why? Beloved John of Patmos, of Mary's given son at the Crucifixion, was asked in old age- the second century - what John's opinion was of the Gospels. John said he agreed with all the Gospels and found them to be true. How? John 21 tells us so much was happening - it was impossible to record all the events surrounding Jesus. Jesus continues this saying Jesus must be the fulfillment of our righteousness. Jesus will fill in all the dots and iotas.

Gideon had a part of God's Plan. Samuel had a part of God's Plan. All could be pointed to as flawed. God's Work goes on and His Workmen go Home. We can only say this - when we are doing our flawed best. Using God as a waiter for our lives - would be a great sadness - instead of Relationship. God is where we need to look and His Word to do our work each day. Pick up tired hands and weak knees. Looking with supreme Hope to the Author of Life.

God has arranged for us all to be different parts of the Body of Christ. The Elbow cannot say to the eyebrow - we have no need of you. We work for the Upbuilding of the Body of Christ. And with this as part of God's Word - we see something in the Transfiguration.

Thomas was sincerely doubting. He had just been another of the Disciples of Jesus Christ who had declared Jesus always (Thomas at the time Lazarus clearly lived). His self-esteem had to be beaten to the ground - Thomas Failed GOD. Thomas rationalized that he might - my theory - be exempt from the blame  - if the Glory of God didn't provide proof.

Jesus. Jesus Christ. The Mercy of God Overwhelming. The Glory of the Light of God to be grasped with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Jesus made breakfast in John 21 for these men who flatly ran out. Jesus personally cooked Breakfast. Amazing. Thomas is personally given God appearing to him. Peter and John and James didn't ask God to personally appear - the nature of God is unchanging. Jesus had already shown these 3 men the Glory of God. Peter wrote about this after promising Jesus not to tell.- feeling the Freedom of Jesus.  John 1 is telling us of this UNEXPLAINABLE God Miracle. Peter went Bold. John went unimaginably unforgettable in explaining Jesus. Peter went to the Jews. Paul went to the Gentiles. Seems like the right one to go to the right chose what the one going to the left should have picked the other way around. God's Plan is God's Plan. The Journey of the feeble men point to the Glory of God Himself. This is the Word of God and His unbelievable redemption to save the world in Jesus Christ.

We walk by Faith. And all have sinned and fallen short. What is the continuation of the journey? What Jesus told us - Joy. Love. Peace. Mercy. Believing all of the Word of God and His Promises are profoundly and completely True.








Abba, Holy Father,

When we abide in You - we may boldly and with confidence ask and receive - we ask Jesus to pray with us as He did in John Chapter 17.

Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-8
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.


Abba, we ask more Heaven on earth. More Holy Spirit, for ourselves, those we love, the people You have given us. Our cares and Your Plan. The Nation trusting in You. Our Jobs, schools, communities and Churches. The Nations trusting in You. The people around the world praying to You.

Isaiah 54:2
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.

Mark 4:24
And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us

In the Name of Jesus, we ask believing the Will of God is Good. Amen in Jesus.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †