Luke 1:1 (KJV) Most Surely Believed

Luke 1:1 (KJV)
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

I want to focus on the phrase, “those things which are most surely believed among us”.

These things are most surely believed 
Our Christian faith is not, must not be wishy-washy, wobbly, wavering faith. Christians are confident in our faith, sure of what we believe. 

I notice the word, “us”
Though a body of people had believed, he included himself. This is no mere history. This is personal. What he wrote he wrote because it is what Christians believe. 

We believe through the testimony of Jesus 
Luke wrote both this book and the book of Acts. Both of them are historical rather than doctrinal. They tell a story rather than teach a set of doctrines. This allows the reader to draw his own conclusions. The Bible isn’t trying to force a set of beliefs down anyone’s throat. It merely presents Jesus Christ and leaves the individual to his own conscience. Other Scriptures do give more doctrinal instruction so I would not say it is wrong. I would suggest that the teacher of the Word is to teach the Word rather than to try to make others apply it in the teacher’s specific way.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

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Luke 1:1 (KJV) Most Surely Believed

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2 Samuel 7:27-29 (KJV) Praying God’s Promises

2 Samuel 7:27-29 (KJV)
For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

David said he was motivated to pray as he did because of God’s promises for his family. 

• God did not say they would be sinless
• God did not promise they would be without chastening
• God did not promise every one of his children would be so blessed

But God did promise he had a plan for the family of David and so David prayed for God’s blessings upon his family. 

I ask God daily to bless my family and I do so, First, on the promise that God hears and answers prayer. Second, on the promises the Bible gives for those who raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

May God bless and keep my family: my children and grandchildren, my parents and siblings and their children; my aunts, uncles, cousins and their children. 
May God make His face shine upon them
May God be gracious to them.
May He lift up His countenance upon them
May He give them peace with God. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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2 Samuel 7:27-29 (KJV) Praying God’s Promises

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2 Samuel 5:10 (KJV) No Greater Greatness

2 Samuel 5:10 (KJV)
And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

I note three things this passage says about David:
David went on
He continued. He walked with the Lord. He kept up what he had begun. 

David grew great 
God magnified him, made his name to be known. Greatness isn’t always in numbers, wealth or power.

The LORD God was with David
As He will with any who continue to walk with Him. What greater greatness than to have God with you?

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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2 Samuel 5:10 (KJV) No Greater Greatness

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Mark 14:72 (KJV) God’s Grace

Mark 14:72 (KJV)
And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Though the chapter ends with tears there is amazing grace throughout it. 

There is the grace that warned the twelve of the coming trial
Sometimes we like to hide our heads in the sand. Oftentimes we ignore warnings of impending danger. Nevertheless, it is always a gracious thing to be warned. 

There is grace in the opportunities to pray
Jesus took Peter and James and John a little farther and gave them three opportunities to pray previous to the trouble. What an amazing blessing that God lets us bring our cares to Him. 

There is grace in not one but three denials
God did not strike Peter down as we might have supposed He would. 

There is grace that Peter was able to think upon all of this, recall what Jesus has said and then weep
This weeping is that of conviction leading to repentance. 

Our God is so gracious. May we: 

• Accept His grace
• Think upon His Word
• Hear His warning and 
• Repent

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
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Mark 14:72 (KJV) God’s Grace

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Mark 13:29 (KJV) Are You Prepared

Mark 13:29 (KJV)
So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

I am convinced that the signs Jesus speaks of refer to Daniel’s seventieth week, the Tribulation Period, Jacob’s Trouble. There are no signs that point to the coming of Christ into the clouds to receive the Christians to heaven. That event is prior to the Tribulation. I understand that there is a great deal of discussion and debate over these things today. I think it a shame. But one thing is certain, whether the rapture of the believers or the time of Jacob’s Trouble, it is nigh, even at the doors. 

Are you prepared?

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
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Mark 13:29 (KJV) Are You Prepared

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Mark 12:32-34 (KJV) Not Far, But Not There

Mark 12:32-34 (KJV)
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Because Jesus said this scribe answered Him discreetly, that is “wisely and prudently,” and said he wasn’t far from the kingdom of God, it’s pretty easy to view his answer to Jesus positively. I never read this passage without seeing some arrogance in it. I think the scribe is trying to lord over Jesus. His response seems to me to possess a condescending tone. He presumes to be the teacher over Jesus. 

In this light, the word, discreet, is a more appropriate term than wise or prudent. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says that it means literally, “separate, reserved, wary, hence discerning.” To be discreet can be dishonest. It hides something. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary goes on to give the following sentence as an example of its use, “It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society.” The scribe answered discreetly in the sense that he cautiously crafted his Words so that he did not disagree with the obvious truth Jesus gave, but made himself to be the master of it. 

And so Jesus answered with equal discretion. Truly the scribe was not far from the Kingdom of God. Not far, but not there.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
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Mark 12:32-34 (KJV) Not Far, But Not There

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2 Samuel 1:10-11 (KJV) Respect for Life

2 Samuel 1:10-11 (KJV)
So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

At least one lesson we learn from this account is that even mercy killing is a reprehensible act in the sight of the Lord.

David acts under the authority of the government 
I see that he does not execute judgment hastily. Though there was an immediate reaction to the news that this man had slain Saul, there was a moment of separation, questions, and deliberation previous to his execution. God has given the government the power to bear the sword. This power should be exercised with discretion and, I think, even humility. But to ignore or refuse to exercise it is a mistake.

More importantly, David acted as the forefather and a type of Jesus
This type is clear in so many passages of Scripture I hardly think it necessary right now to demonstrate it. As a type of Jesus,[1] David’s response shows respect for authority[2] and respect for life. The man said that he slew Saul as an act of mercy. Saul asked him to do it and he was certain Saul could not live due to his injuries.

It seems to me that, as time goes on, we demonstrate less and less value for human life. Violence is escalating. Terroristic acts are rampant and growing even in places like the United States. Abortion, the murder of the unborn child, is considered the right of women. The medical field seems to place more emphasis on profit than the person. And euthanasia is more and more acceptable.

In such a day it is appropriate to be reminded that the Word of God gives us, at least in principle, an indication of God’s repulsion of such acts.

---

[1] Albeit an imperfect one – how could there be a perfect type of the perfect God?

[2] This man killed the Lord’s anointed.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
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2 Samuel 1:10-11 (KJV) Respect for Life

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1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) The Enemy’s Fatal Mistakes

1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV)
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

I read recently that, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Nimitz was given command of the Pacific Fleet. After surveying the destruction at Pearl Harbor, Nimitz was said to have summarized the trip by saying, “Either our enemy made a huge blunder at Pearl Harbor, or God truly protected us in the attack.” He went on to cite what he considered to be three fatal mistakes the Japanese made. 

I see in this passage something very similar. It was a sad situation and David and his men had reason to be distressed. But David could also see a reason to encourage himself in the Lord:

The enemy had left all the people alive
This gave David’s men hope and motivation to pursue and attack them. Had the enemy slain everyone, David’s distressed men may not have had the will to overtake their enemy. 

The enemy left the Egyptian slave alive
They left him by the way because he was sick and because they didn’t want to be slowed down by him. How could they have known that he would recover, that David would find him and that he would lead David to his enemy?

The enemy did not anticipate David would track him down
So once David and his men caught up with them, they found them vulnerable and unprepared to defend against David. 

When distressing circumstances come our way, be encouraged in the Lord. The enemy of our soul has made fatal mistakes. Look for them and exploit them. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4700 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/author/marvinmckenzie

1 Samuel 30:6 (KJV) The Enemy’s Fatal Mistakes

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Please consider helping our church’s teen department by signing up for cash back shopping at http://www.dubli.com/M04VB. This program has three levels of participation, the first being completely free.