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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Psalm 37: Trust in the Lord


Edward F. Lundwall Jr.


Theme Verse:
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of your heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.
(Ps. 37:35)


I come before you, LORD, with all my troubles and frailty. So often, I am tempted and pressured to sin in ways that would dishonor your Name. Forgive me, LORD. Why should I trade enjoyment that is passing for the joys that are eternal? Why should I lust for prosperity with guilt, when you provide my daily bread securely from your hand? Why should I not meditate upon all that is eternally good…You…other than that which is but a passing, selfish pleasure? Yet, LORD, I am a sinner in lean times.

Merciful Father, help me to honor you by faith during the lean times! Help me to delight, to meditate upon the infinite value of your person and the certainty of provision and blessing. By faith I accept your words testimony that your reward for the faithful is greater than humans have seen or heard or that has entered into the heart and imagination of unenlightened man! By faith, I dedicate myself to joy in your Word and your ways because they are inherently good coming from the Holy God of Heaven. Even though I may not understand all that you bring to pass in my life, I know this one thing, You love me and seek only my best. Father, grant that I may be privileged to bear fruit in this life by abiding in Jesus, fruit that shall give you honor (John 15:1– 8) both now and for all eternity. Grant that I may be one of your edifying instruments to the other members of Christ's body that they too may bear glorifying fruit to you for Jesus sake. Amen


Related reading:
Praying Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous
Praying Psalm 2: Kiss the Son
Praying Psalm 3: God is My Shield
Praying Psalm 4: Let Me be Approved of Thee, O God
Praying Psalm 5: Renew a Right Spirit Within Me
Praying Psalm 6: When Weeping Leads to Victory
Praying Psalm 7: The Basis of Boldness
Praying Psalm 8: Worship in Admiration and Humility
Praying Psalm 9: Hope for the Oppressed
Praying Psalm 10: Deliverance from the Wicked
Praying Psalm 11: The Foundation of Life
Praying Psalm 12: Lamenting the Lack of Godliness
Praying Psalm 13: Faith's Triumph
Praying Psalm 14: Remembering We Are Sinners
Praying Psalm 15: Fellowship With God
Praying Psalm 16: God-Pleasing Godliness
Praying Psalm 17: Progression Sanctification
Praying Psalm 18: God's Power to Deliver
Praying Psalm 19: Witness for Worship
Praying Psalm 20: Personal and National Revival
Praying Psalm 21: Worship and Thanksgiving
Praying Psalm 22: The Hope of Christ - The Prophetic Vision
Praying Psalm 23: Daily Living with the Good Shepherd
Praying Psalm 24: Inspired by Creation, we worship the Creator
Praying Psalm 25: Lifting up one’s soul while waiting upon God
Praying Psalm 26: God's affirmation of the Accused
Praying Psalm 27: Waiting on the Lord
Praying Psalm 28: Desperately Seeking the Lord
Praying Psalm 29: God's Glory and Power Seen in Nature
Praying Psalm 30: A Disciple's Heart Desire
Praying Psalm 31: Humbly Waiting on God
Praying Psalm 32: The Beatitude of the Redeemed
Praying Psalm 33: A National Prayer for Revival
Praying Psalm 34: God Redeems
Praying Psalm 35: Friends and Foes

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Psalm 36: Finding Holiness in God's Presence


Edward F. Lundwall Jr.

Psalm 36: Finding Holiness in God’s Presence

Theme Verses: An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: there is no fear of God before his eyes. How precious is your loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:1, 7 (NKJ)

O Father, how easy it is to meditate upon the transgressions of the wicked for the world is full of sinners. Every person is born with a sinful nature, that disease that bends them away from you. We all sin one way or another sometime in our lives and often compete with each in our transgressions. However, after we come to know you, the manifestation of your righteousness lifts us beyond the pettiness of our sinfulness. We can no longer simply see the evil that others perpetuate on us, nor feel justified to seek revenge with evil or self-righteous acts of our own.

Your holiness and judgment against wicked transgression is absolute. Therefore, when I would ponder others’ sin against me, I see both my sins and ability to sin are also condemned. Oh, I am blessed to wait upon you, for beyond your just condemnation of sin, I find your mercy, faithfulness, and righteousness give me hope and peace. For as I continue to know You, I find that your judgment, which we all fully deserve, have already fallen upon Jesus at Calvary. As I trust in this vision, I understand why you can have longsuffering and loving kindness towards sinners, both before and after the beginning of our faith t in you.

May we repent of our wickedness so that we can have the wetness of reconciliation and peace with You and may we trust you to keep us from the walking in pride and acting in evil! I need your protection because the wicked in reality focus their sinful rebellion against you, LORD, and the people who walk in faith. Help me to have compassion as I also see the devastation of their ways as they persist in resisting your grace and mercy through Jesus Christ.

I need this protection, because the wicked in reality focus their sinful rebellion against you, LORD. And as I stand with You the reproaches You receive also fall upon me. As I seek your protection from the transgressions of the wicked, help me to have compassion as I also see the devastation of their ways when they persist in resisting your mercies.

O let me be a shepherd,
Seeking your lost ones around,
Not only seeking the sheep,
Your care has never known,
But the wandering ones,
Who have wandered from your mercy’s well 
And know not your way back to pastures green,
To feel healing from the roaring lion’s claw,
In the arms of Him Who died,
And lives again to give them love.


Related reading:
Praying Psalm 1: The Way of the Righteous
Praying Psalm 2: Kiss the Son
Praying Psalm 3: God is My Shield
Praying Psalm 4: Let Me be Approved of Thee, O God
Praying Psalm 5: Renew a Right Spirit Within Me
Praying Psalm 6: When Weeping Leads to Victory
Praying Psalm 7: The Basis of Boldness
Praying Psalm 8: Worship in Admiration and Humility
Praying Psalm 9: Hope for the Oppressed
Praying Psalm 10: Deliverance from the Wicked
Praying Psalm 11: The Foundation of Life
Praying Psalm 12: Lamenting the Lack of Godliness
Praying Psalm 13: Faith's Triumph
Praying Psalm 14: Remembering We Are Sinners
Praying Psalm 15: Fellowship With God
Praying Psalm 16: God-Pleasing Godliness
Praying Psalm 17: Progression Sanctification
Praying Psalm 18: God's Power to Deliver
Praying Psalm 19: Witness for Worship
Praying Psalm 20: Personal and National Revival
Praying Psalm 21: Worship and Thanksgiving
Praying Psalm 22: The Hope of Christ - The Prophetic Vision
Praying Psalm 23: Daily Living with the Good Shepherd
Praying Psalm 24: Inspired by Creation, we worship the Creator
Praying Psalm 25: Lifting up one’s soul while waiting upon God
Praying Psalm 26: God's affirmation of the Accused
Praying Psalm 27: Waiting on the Lord
Praying Psalm 28: Desperately Seeking the Lord
Praying Psalm 29: God's Glory and Power Seen in Nature
Praying Psalm 30: A Disciple's Heart Desire
Praying Psalm 31: Humbly Waiting on God
Praying Psalm 32: The Beatitude of the Redeemed
Praying Psalm 33: A National Prayer for Revival
Praying Psalm 34: God Redeems
Praying Psalm 35: Friends and Foes

Thursday, September 18, 2014

How Faith Overcomes - Part IX


Edward F. Lundwall Jr.

How Faith Overcomes – Part IX


God give universal and personal witness to stimulate the faith of mankind. Paul wrote,

“…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:19-21). In the beginning, during the time man was in the condition of innocence, God manifested His presence: “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8).

However, after sin entered the world, few have really taken full advantage of God’s persuasive revelation of himself. In Genesis 5:24, we read: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Enoch has not yet experienced death, but may experience it from being one of God's two witnesses in the Great Tribulation (Revelation 11:3) along with Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). These men fully believed God and His inward witness together with the witness of the Scriptures they had. God's universal personal witness is further manifested in John 1:9 in the pre-incarnate Jesus, described as “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.”

From the perverted expressions in world religions, it is evident for humanity is innately religious, even though the sinful nature perverts them. A clear illustration was found on Mar's Hill in Athens and pointed to by the Apostle Paul as:

“. . an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD . .” (Acts 17:23).

This basic revelation of God and His holiness is also manifested in the fact that man has a consciousness of morality built in them (Romans 2:14, 15). Even in their perverted life styles man will talk, even demand justice even though according to their standards.


3. Natural Revelation Psalm 19:1-4

“The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.”


Faith must be based upon some evidence of strong persuasion. When seriously considered, the presence of the Universe will be a foundation for believing in the existence of God. For everything in the universe as a cause that produces any effect that exists. The import of this demands that there is a first cause. The term first cause is a weak expression of the composition of the universe. First cause does not give the idea of personality. Personality must be involved because personality is a basic function of observable complex life forms. The thing created cannot be greater than that which created it. Therefore, since the more complex has a correspondingly greater personality, it follows that the cause must have something greater. Therefore, the word God and its synonyms, are more adequate than just “first cause!”

When an individual comes to faith because of influence of objective evidence, this faith is the basic premise, concept, for overcoming the rebellious demands of what the Scripture calls: “The World!”

The existence, growth, and vitality of spiritual life rests upon how vital the fact of God is integral to it. The present weakness of present day Christianity comes from substituting some factor for letting the fact of God be watered down by something else than practicing the presence of God in decision making!

Natural revelation functions to inform human beings of the obvious fact that there is a Creator and something of His power and intelligence. Scientists, and especially astronomers, are more and more coming to the conclusion that the study of complexity and meaningful relationships in nature's design demands that it has intelligent design. Its vastness demands that that intelligence must be personal, greater that any first cause. Atheists are right that intelligent design recognition is only a step away from calling it God.

However, natural revelation comes short in revealing how human beings can relate to Him. This is why the later half of Psalm 9, verses 7-14 speak of the utility and glory of “the Law (special revelation) of the LORD!” The Psalmist rejoices that the Creator wants human beings to be in a functional relationship with Him as their Redeemer (vs 14c). By definition revelation speaks of revealing what is hidden in a progressive way. The reason that revelation is progressive is that God ordains that man must come to know/experience Him: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3).

The complexity of Creation reflects the logical understanding for one to really know/experience God requires: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13). In his discourse to the Athenian philosophers, the Apostle Paul tells them that a consideration of natural revelation should let them know that man made idols cannot represent what God is. He also stated that a basic relationship is radially available if they would seek the Creator (Acts 17:21-29).

Like a responsible person finding a mate, one must take the time to investigate, to come to know who that person is so as to not be surprised by finding a monster behind a mask. For this reason, natural revelation is insufficient. The seeker must not only utilize all of God's revelation, but to take the trouble to understand its message. This is not to say that the various ways a person learns about God other than sound Bible exposition are useless but to have the fullest experience of knowing God, each has its place and contribution.

Anything less will not fully overcome the world's culture. God's grace continues as long as seeking continues (James 1:2-8). This saves a person from becoming overately wicked as Psalm 10:4 describes: “The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, ' There is no God.'" these people become possessed by Satan and become children of wrath, dead in sin and filled with the ways of the world's culture (Eph 2:1-3).

Therefore, a careful consideration of natural revelation will overcome much of the confusion of non-biblical religious confusion.



4. Overcoming Precept Tools from Special Revelation

Special revelation is knowledge and understanding that only God can give.

The only reliable source is the Bible in its original manuscripts. The earthly battleground in overcoming world culture is the mind controlled by the Scripture which governs the content of faith:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” (2 Cor 10:3-5).

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,

for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16, 17).

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word[1] of Christ.”

(Rom 10:17).

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11).

“. . examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;” (1 Thess 5:21, 22).

“Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” (1 Cor 1:20, 21).



[1]“Word” in Greek is verbal exposition.  “Of Christ” from the earlier and best manuscripts.  This is the better understanding, because the OT historical books are a part of the Word of God, but have no basis of stimulating faith in Christ for salvation.

Monday, September 15, 2014

How Faith Overcomes - Part VIII


Edward F. Lundwall Jr.


How Faith Overcomes– Part VIII


Overcoming faith has great influence in family life. For example, Abel demonstrated overcoming faith when he gave his gift of an animal sacrifice to God recognizing his need and God’s sufficiency. However, Cain’s gift was rejected because it was given in duty, not dedication. As a result of this, he eventually murdered his brother Abel. Imagine how their parents felt about this. In spite of the pain and fear of consequences for Cain and the grief of losing Abel, they continued in faith and obedience to God? So many parents would not have reacted as they did. What was the stimulation to create such faith and desired obedience?

Adam and Eve knew they too had sinned and in the garden. However, God had made them comfortable in his presence through his mercy, and forgiveness represented by his sacrifice of an animal to give them clothing of skins. It was that same kind of faith, knowing he was a sinner and coming humbly before a holy God that “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). Cain did not come with humility and faith to offer his gift; he came with pride, which when hurt, caused him to sin.

Obedience rooted in humble faith overcomes all sin and circumstances. Romans 1:5 states, “…through whom (the Lord Jesus) we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake.” (See also Romans 16:25, 26).

The things that God gives to stimulate obedience of faith are more often than not disregarded. Cain had the example of his parents longer than Abel. Genesis 4 tells us that he was born before Abel, but did not respond to persuasion of his parents’ testimony. God made special additional effort to stimulate Cain, first, through the example of Abel being accepted by God through animal sacrifice. Then God actually communicated to Cain when he was downcast because his sacrifice of his vegetable offering was not accepted. God gently reminded him that if he followed Abel’s example of humble faith, his offering would also be accepted. Cain refused and resisting the idea that he was a sinner in need of forgiveness, ended up killing his faith-filled brother.

God is a communicator. When we listen and respond in faith leading to obedience to his commands, we continue in fellowship with Him. Our faith overcomes.

Related reading:
How Faith Overcomes - Part I
How Faith Overcomes - Part II
How Faith overcomes - Part III
How Faith Overcomes - Part IV
How Faith Overcomes - Part V
How Faith Overcomes - Part VI

Friday, September 5, 2014

Faith Overcomes Antichrists


Edward F. Lundwall Jr.

Faith Overcomes - Part VII

Teachers of the God’s Word are responsible to be instruments of persuasion to those they serve. Their purpose and goal is to lead them to certain faith, and challenge them to continually be learning and applying what it means to be a follower of Christ. “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:31-32 NASU).

Professions of faith are just professions of faith, not necessarily the reality of spiritual rebirth (Matthew 7:21). While a number have spiritual reality at the time of profession, far too many have not progressed that far. This is made plain in many places in the Bible, but many who are idealistic assume that the well know conversions of people like Billy Graham and the Apostle Paul happen to all who pray the sinner's prayer.

Spiritual rebirth involves the Word of God existing as a ruling element in one's mind and heart as the prophet Jeremiah prophesied: “… this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33 NKJV) And, Peter wrote: “…you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23-24 NASU)

Faith that saves is a result of being persuaded: “…faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NASU) Faith that saves brings one into a personal relationship with Christ Jesus said: “"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27, 28 NASU) Persuasion is the result of the presentation of information by which a person commits oneself to treat what is presented as fact. Therefore, the Apostle Paul wrote of the certainty of His believing the Gospel: “…I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12 NASU)

The Apostle John’s great concern was that people would be persuaded to be Christ-followers, and be faithful to that persuasion. However, persuasion is a means not a virtue in itself. Persuasion was the means of deceiving Eve, who pressured Adam to eat the fruit to get the ability to trust her own ability to discern good and evil and reject God and His Word. They did not discern who was trying to persuade them. As Satan used the body of a lowly snake, he uses many other means to persuade professed believers to believe lies. The Lord Jesus warned us that false teachers and even false Christ's would oppose His Word, especially in the last days before He returns. John uses the term antichrist(s). However, even the time of the Apostolic Church was considered to be the “last days.”

Therefore, John describes some of the deceitful things that “antichrists” will try to corrupt believer's faith. An antichrist will try to deceive because he may claim to be even Christ – in the latter days. Like the proverbial snake, he will come in even as a prophet, or a preacher of righteousness, or like a snake in the grass just to be near unobserved until he strikes.

John writes that discernment of whether a person is a spiritually gifted man or an antichrist is discerned from what he teaches in three areas: Christ, law, and grace.

His message is the same as Jesus: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Mathew 7:15 KJV) He agreed with Paul who wrote, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the circumcision, for we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. “ (Philippians 3:2 KJV) John urges believers in his first Epistle, Chapter 4 to try, meaning to test the spirits, meaning the motives, teaching, and character of those that come forward claiming to have a message from God. Specifically, the test consists of this primary truth: “”Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist. (I John 4:2-3) This is in agreement with Paul who wrote, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2:8 KJV)

Related reading: