Psalm 119 -- GOD's WORD...and The WORD Is CHRIST JESUS!

JESUS said, “I AM The ROAD, also The TRUTH, also The LIFE. No one gets to The FATHER apart from Me.” (John 14:6) ...Recently GOD spoke to us directly through His SON -- CHRIST JESUS...This SON perfectly mirrors GOD, and is stamped with GOD’s Nature. (Hebrews 1:1-3) JESUS said, “You address Me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I AM....I’ve laid down a PATTERN for you. What I’ve done, you DO...IF you understand what I’m telling you, ACT like it—and LIVE a BLESSED Life. (John 17:12-17)

In the Beginning was The WORD, and The WORD was with GOD, and The WORD was GOD. (John 1:1) Whatever GOD has promised gets stamped with the Yes of JESUS. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great AMEN, GOD’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. (2 Corinthians 1:20) But of Him you are in CHRIST JESUS, who became for us WISDOM from GOD—and RIGHTEOUSNESS and SANCTIFICATION and REDEMPTION... (1 Corinthians 1:30)

JESUS said, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the BLIND SEE, the LAME WALK, the LEPERS are CLEANSED, the DEAF HEAR, the DEAD are RAISED, the POOR have the GOSPEL preached to them." (Luke 7:22) JESUS said, "I AM the BREAD of Life. He who comes to Me shall NEVER HUNGER, and he who BELIEVES in Me shall NEVER THIRST." (John 6:35)

JESUS said, “And I will pray The FATHER, and He will give you ANOTHER Helper, that He may abide with you forEVER—The SPIRIT of TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you KNOW Him, for He DWELLS with you and will be IN you." (John 14:16-17) I AM The VINE, you are the branches. He who abides IN Me, and I IN him, bears MUCH fruit; for WITHOUT ME you can DO NOthing." (John 15:5)

For IF you live according to the FLESH you will DIE; but IF BY the SPIRIT you put to DEATH the DEEDS of the BODY, you will LIVE. For as many as are LED BY The SPIRIT of GOD, these are sons of GOD. (Romans 8:13:14) But IF you are LED BY The SPIRIT, you are not under the law...the Fruit of the SPIRIT is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL... (Galatians 5:18, 22-23)

JESUS: "When you OBEY My commandments, you REMAIN IN My LOVE, just AS I obey My FATHER’s commandments and REMAIN IN His LOVE. This is My commandment: LOVE EACH OTHER in the SAME way I have loved you. You are my friends IF you DO what I command. This is My command: LOVE EACH OTHER." (John 15:10, 12, 14, 17)

JESUS: "You’re BLESSED when your commitment to GOD provokes PERSECUTION. The PERSECUTION drives you even deeper into GOD’s Kingdom.  Not only that—count yourselves BLESSED every time people put you down or throw you out or speak LIES about you to discredit Me. What it means is that The TRUTH is too close for comfort and they are UNcomfortable. You can be GLAD when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I DO! And ALL heaven applauds. And KNOW that you are in GOOD company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble." (Matthew 5:10-12)

JESUS: "You’re BLESSED when you’ve worked up a good APPETITE for GOD. He’s FOOD and DRINK in the BEST meal you’ll ever eat. (Matthew 5:6) But The COUNSELOR, The Holy SPIRIT — The FATHER will send Him in My Name — will teach you ALL things and remind you of EVERYthing I have told you. When The COUNSELOR comes, The ONE I will send to you from The FATHER — The SPIRIT of TRUTH who proceeds from The FATHER — He will testify about Me." (John 14:26, 15:26)

“Why do you call Me GOOD? ” JESUS asked him.  "No one is good but One— GOD." (Luke 18:19) EVERY GOOD Gift and EVERY PERFECT Gift is from Above, and comes down from the FATHER of Lights, with whom there is NO variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17) And we know that ALL things work together for GOOD to those who LOVE GOD, to those who are The CALLED according to His Purpose. (Romans 8:28)

JESUS said to His disciples again, “PEACE to you! As The FATHER has sent Me, I ALSO send you."  And when He had said this, He BREATHED on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy SPIRIT." (John 20:21-22) The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST that GOD gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place. He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John. The one who reads this is BLESSED, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and KEEP what is written in it are BLESSED, because the time is near! (Revelation 1:1,3, HCSB)

JESUS said, “COME to Me, ALL of you who are WEARY and carry HEAVY burdens, and I will give you REST. TAKE My yoke upon you. LET Me teach you, because I AM Humble and Gentle at HEART, and you will find REST for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

For the Law was GIVEN through Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH CAME through JESUS CHRIST. (John 1:17) But EVERYone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does NOT do them, will be like a FOOLish man who built his house on the sand...(Matthew 7:26) You’re BLESSED when you get your INside world—your MIND and HEART—put RIGHT. Then you can SEE GOD in the OUTside world. (Matthew 5:8)

Here’s how we can be sure that we know GOD in the right way: KEEP His commandments. If someone claims, “I KNOW Him well!” but does NOT keep His commandments, he’s obviously a LIAR. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who KEEPs GOD’s word is the person in whom we see GOD’s mature LOVE. This is the ONLY way to be sure we’re IN GOD. Anyone who claims to be intimate with GOD ought to LIVE the SAME kind of life JESUS lived. (1 John 2:2-3)

We also have the message of the prophets, which has been confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to this Message, as to a LAMP shining in a DARK place, until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your HEARTS. (2 Peter 1:19) For the Commandment is a LAMP and the Teaching is LIGHT; and REPROOFS for DISCIPLINE are the Way of LIFE. (Proverbs 6:23)

DRAW NEAR to GOD, and He will draw near to you. CLEANSE your hands, you sinners, and PURIFY your HEARTs, you double-minded. (James 4:8) 

You are my Shelter and my Shield; I put my Hope in Your WORD. SUSTAIN me as You promised, and I will LIVE; do not let me be ashamed of my Hope. SUSTAIN me so that I can be SAFE and always be concerned about Your statutes. You REJECT all who stray from Your statutes, for their DECEIT is a LIE. I tremble in AWE of You; I FEAR Your judgments.  (Psalm 119:114,116-118,120)

They are MORE desirable than gold, yes, than MUCH fine gold; SWEETER also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:10) And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I LOVE; and I will MEDITATE on Your statutes. The Law of Your mouth is BETTER to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. I shall DELIGHT in Your commandments, which I LOVE. (Psalm 119:47-48,72) HAPPY is the man that finds Wisdom, and the man that gets Understanding. (Proverbs 3:13)

OPEN my eyes, that I may behold WONDERFUL things from Your law. Take away reproach and contempt from me, for I observe Your testimonies. My SOUL KEEPS Your testimonies, and I LOVE them EXCEEDINGLY. (Psalm 119:18,22,167) SUCH knowledge is TOO WONDERFUL for me; It is TOO high, I cannot attain to it. (Psalm 139:6) 

O, the DEPTH of the RICHES of the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE of GOD! How UNsearchable His Judgments, and UNtraceable His Ways! (Romans 11:33)

The Fear of the LORD is CLEAN, enduring forEVER; the Judgments of the LORD are TRUE; they are RIGHTEOUS altogether. (Psalm 19:9) SPLENDID and MAJESTIC is His work, and His RIGHTEOUSNESS endures forEVER. (Psalm 111:3) You are near, O LORD, and ALL Your commandments are TRUTH. The sum of Your word is TRUTH, and EVERY one of Your RIGHTEOUS ordinances is EVERlasting. (Psalm 119:151,160)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will NEVER pass away. (Luke 21:33) ForEVER, O LORD, Your WORD is settled in Heaven. (Psalm 119:89) I know that ALL GOD does will LAST forEVER; there is NO adding to it or taking from it. GOD works so that people will be in AWE of Him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

The Law of the LORD is PERFECT, restoring the soul; the Testimony of the LORD is SURE, making WISE the simple. (Psalm 19:7)

From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY.  Therefore I esteem right ALL Your precepts concerning EVERYthing, I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY. (Psalm 119:104,128) A RIGHTeous man HATES FALSEhood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully. (Proverbs 13:5)

Your testimonies are righteous forever; Give me understanding that I may live.  O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. (Psalm 119:144,169)

My son, IF you accept my words and store up my commands withIN you, listening closely to Wisdom and directing your HEART to Understanding; furthermore, IF you call out to Insight and lift your voice to Understanding, if you SEEK it like silver and SEARCH for it like hidden Treasure, then you will understand the Fear of the LORD and discover the Knowledge of GOD. For the LORD gives Wisdom; from His mouth come Knowledge and Understanding. He stores up SUCCESS for the UPright; He is a Shield for those who live with INTEGRITY so that He may GUARD the paths of JUSTICE and PROTECT the way of His LOYAL followers.

Then you will understand Righteousness, Justice, and Integrity — EVERY GOOD PATH. For Wisdom will enter your MIND, and Knowledge will DELIGHT your HEART. DISCRETION will watch over you, and Understanding will guard you, rescuing you from the way of EVIL —from the one who says PERVERSE things, from those who ABANDON the right paths to WALK in ways of DARKNESS, from those who ENJOY DOING EVIL and CELEBRATE PERVERSION, whose paths are CROOKED, and whose ways are DEVIOUS.

So FOLLOW the way of GOOD people, and KEEP to the paths of the RIGHTEOUS. For the UPright will inhabit the land,  and those of INTEGRITY will remain in it; BUT the WICKED will be cut off from the land, and the TREACHEROUS uprooted from it. (Psalm 1:1-15,20-22)

The PERFECT Husband -- The Ultimate BELOVED

Is there such a man as the perfect husband? One who loves his wife as his own body... nourishing and cherishing her, forsaking all others -- father, mother, (yes, children, too)... even his own self -- holding fast to his wife as his most precious gift from GOD above?

The perfect husband will not beat his wife (or children, nor kick the dog) when his Superbowl team doesn't win the championship game nor will he blame his wife that he lost the considerable amount of money he wagered. Rather, the perfect husband will be full of compassion and is gentle--he will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope.

Who is this husband who is completely secure in his identity as a man created in the image of GOD -- Almighty Creator of all things seen and unseen -- that he need not be jealous or boastful or proud or rude. He does not demand his own way. He is not irritable, and he keeps no record of when he has been wronged. He is not puffed up with worldly pleasures, sporty cars, a mansion-of-a-house abode or a top-rung-of-the-ladder-of-success job.

Rather he recognizes his need for GOD, he mourns over his sins, he is gentle and lowly, he hungers and thirsts for justice, he is merciful, pure in heart and a peacemaker.

Who is the perfect husband but he who is godly -- who loves GOD and His Word, and seeks to do His will in all things? He takes seriously the GOD-given responsibility of being head of his house, providing not just material comfort, but spiritual leadership so that his wife and children may grow into the knowledge of the LORD.

The perfect husband is non-existent on earth, for all mankind is fallible -- weak in their various imperfections. All of mankind has turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.

But there are imperfect husbands being perfected -- being made whole and complete, progressively being regenerated to live the Beatitude attitudes. These husbands are the saints of GOD -- those He has separated from the influence of the world and freed from the prince of the power of the air. They are servants of GOD -- serving others before themselves. These imperfect husbands who are being made perfect serve their families as they rule over them with utmost tenderheartedness and agape love.

These husbands are the most zealous of men for they are passionately after GOD's own heart, the tallest of men because they spend much time on their knees in prayerful supplications, the meekest of men because they have surrendered their rights to their rights to the lordship of CHRIST JESUS. These being-perfected imperfect husbands are the ones fully committed to being conformed into the image of CHRIST, their Lord of lords and King of kings.

And yet -- there is a perfect Husband for all humankind. He was first Husband to Israel, and now He is Husband to all who believe and trust in His Name. He is infinitely mighty to save the lost from sure destruction. He is abounding in mercy and forgiveness, patient and kind, slow to anger, faithful and in all ways always true, for He is the embodiment of Truth. He does not lie for He cannot lie -- He always keeps all His promises. He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." His bride will never ever be abandoned.

This perfect Husband is mine to call my very own -- and yet paradoxically, He is also the perfect Husband to all who are His very own... those hopelessly lost, hungry and thirsty, sick and tired, desperate and needy, stained and muddied, humbled and broken -- those who have come to the end of their ropes, their self-sufficiency, their useless faith in their good works as satisfactory appeasement for their sins against a thrice holy GOD.

My Husband has justified me, fully and thoroughly. It is finished! In His righteous robe, i can stand unflinching before the Judge. He empowers me towards holiness by His gift of the Comforter -- the indwelling Holy SPIRIT of the Triune GOD. He Himself will perfectly make me perfect when i meet Him face to face. (Or rather, face to feet -- for i will fall on my face and kiss His beloved feet with utmost reverence and blessed joy!)

The perfect Husband is my LORD JESUS, my Savior, my GOD. In CHRIST, i submit all. i surrender all that i have, all that i am -- to Him, for Him -- all are His to will for His pleasure and good purpose.

How could this wife not submit her all to such a perfect Husband?

For you see... i've broken the laws of GOD. i deserve GOD's punishment, for He hates sin. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD. He hates everyone who loves violence. He will not allow one single sin to go unpunished -- He is a just and righteous, and most holy GOD.

Just as in any court of law, a murderer, rapist, or even one who has but exceeded the speed limit must be judged and made to pay the penalty for having broken the law. i must pay the fine for my sins... the fine of death and eternal condemnation.

But my Husband, Who loves me even more than His own life, stood in my stead and received all the penalties i deserved for all my transgressions. He paid in full all my debts -- even my death sentence. He died for me so that i may truly live!

So now, one day at a time, alive indeed by grace through His death on the cross, and walking daily in the Reality of the surety of Heaven with the perfect Husband -- i live for JESUS... yet not i, but CHRIST Who lives in me.

May all repentant sinners be espoused to the perfect Husband -- CHRIST JESUS!

The POOR In SPIRIT And The 7 Deadly SINS

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

WRATH

Murderers, adulterers, thieves, whoremongers, prostitutes, liars, cheaters...all who have ever committed any of the seven deadly sins -- wrath, avarice, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony -- are all sinners. We are all sinners.

AVARICE

But all sinners who have come to the realization of their sinfulness, their utter worthlessness -- and have truly repented, have asked for forgiveness, and have received and trusted JESUS as their CHRIST and Savior -- are freely forgiven and set free from GOD's condemnation and wrath for their sins. They are assured peace with GOD -- and their rightful place in the Kingdom of Heaven.

This amazing grace from GOD anger those who protest, "What about the good and moral people who have not believed in JESUS CHRIST? How about Mahatma Gandhi...an icon of non-violence and goodness? Or the Dalai Lama of Tibet -- His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso? Will they go to Hell because they did not put their faith in JESUS -- did not believe that CHRIST is the Son of GOD, sent by Him to die for sinners?"
Gandhi, the Dalai Lama...and all those who seem righteous in the eyes of men (or in their own eyes) and believe that their righteousness is truly righteous in GOD's sight, do not realize that their righteousness are but filthy rags compared to GOD's blinding holiness. But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

SLOTH

Pride blinds a man to his true condition -- the condition of his heart -- that no matter the many good works he has done or the great accomplishments he has contributed to the "advancement" of mankind -- his good (or even great) works will not get him into Heaven. For who will judge man's good works to be good enough in GOD's sight? What is the standard for good works "good enough" to get into Heaven? Faith in GOD is the standard by which we will be judged by the giver of faith Himself -- GOD, Creator of Heaven and Earth...and Hell.

Jesus told them, "This is what GOD wants you to do: Believe in the One He has sent." (John 6:29) Without faith in Him, it is impossible to please GOD. (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is the substance, and it is a reality. GOD wants to bring us to the fact of it. He wants us to know that we have something greater than we can see or handle, because everything we can see and handle is going to pass away. (Smith Wigglesworth, Faith, p. 19)

Faith is believing in Love so great, so unfathomable, and so incomprehensible that a person who has committed the most heinous crime can be forgiven by GOD. Faith is standing firm on GOD's Word that the most religious, most upstanding person will not be forgiven for wilfully rejecting the Son whom GOD sent to die for all mankind -- whether a Mother Teresa or a man on death row, whether Jew or Gentile, man or woman, heterosexual or homosexual.

PRIDE

Moses killed a man, Rahab was a harlot, David committed adultery, Paul murdered many CHRISTians, Mary Magdalene had seven demons, the Treasurer of Ethiopia was a eunuch -- all divested themselves of pride and self-righteousness...all came to repentance...all were forgiven their sins. The Father, and all the angels in Heaven, are overjoyed for each repentant sinner, for each prodigal son (or daughter) who returns to GOD.

Peace with GOD does not come from faith in one's own goodness: "GOD will accept me for i've done many good works in His name. i have not committed adultery -- or killed or cheated or stole. i am a good provider for my family, i go to church, i tithe, i serve my community -- all my good works will get me into Heaven. i am good...i am righteous." (Matthew 18:10-14)

No one but GOD is good. No one but GOD is holy. No one but GOD is righteous.

When a person righteous in his own eyes stand before GOD in His blinding holiness, and the person's righteousness is put to the exceedingly piercing light of GOD's scrutiny -- will he outshine GOD's purity and holiness? Never.

LUST

In man's inner heart are sins not seen on the outside. But GOD who sees clearly to the innermost core of a man's soul sees all -- to the farthest nook and cranny of a man's heart -- his lusts, motives, self-aggrandisement, and pride.

Only by the shed blood of JESUS is one made righteous in GOD's sight. Covered by His blood, pure and holy -- GOD sees the righteousness of JESUS in the believer -- for CHRIST, by the indwelling Holy SPIRIT, is on the inside. He is the One GOD sees, the personal Advocate who will stand in front of the Judge on the Day of Judgment. He will say, "This person goes free. I have already paid his debt in full."
By faith, believers receive JESUS as their Savior and Advocate. By faith they stand boldly in front of Almighty GOD who sees all their dirtiest deeds -- past, present and future. And He judges the believers righteous because JESUS has imparted to them His righteousness... for our form of righteousness is but filthy rags and will not stand up to GOD's standard of holy righteousness, no matter the good works we've done.

i know i have no good thing in me. i know that whatever good that comes out of me is not my own doing, but of the SPIRIT who does the work of the Father through me. i know i am nothing but filthy rags without CHRIST.

ENVY

Pride in man is when he believes (despite all the evidence before his very eyes) that GOD does not have the power or intelligence to create man. Pride in man makes him believe that he is good enough to stand and be counted righteous in front of the most righteous and holy GOD. Pride in man is one who continues in his sin, knowing GOD hates sin.

GOD loves the sinner -- you and me. He sent JESUS to die for all sinners. (John 3:16)

GLUTTONY

But GOD hates sin...in every shape and form.

GOD hates pride...the pride that puts oneself above the Creator...pride that puts the student above the Teacher...pride that puts the servant above the Master.

GOD blesses those who recognize their bankruptcy of spirit. GOD blesses those who acknowledge that apart from the True Vine, they are nothing and can do nothing. GOD blesses those who come to Him broken and repentant, devoid of self-righteousness and pride.

Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that GOD accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from GOD's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed GOD, so GOD declared him to be righteous." (Romans 4:1-3)