“If anyone ponders over [the scriptures] with all the attention and reverence they deserve, it is certain that in the very act of reading and diligently studying them, a divine breath will touch his mind and feelings and he will recognize that the words he is reading are not utterances of a man but the language of God.” (Origen, First Principles 4.1.6).

Just want to say a heartfelt thank you for such an incredible three weeks diving into the Debate between Rome and Geneva These teachings has truly been so enriching and eye-opening. Each session stretched my understanding, deepened my love for God’s Word, and helped me see the beauty of these theological truths more clearly. I’m so grateful for the time, effort, and teaching that went into this, it really made a lasting impact. Thank you for pouring into us so faithfully. Looking forward to what’s next!!!

This morning, a precious memory came to mind of a hymn by Horatio Spafford called, "It is Well with my Soul." In the 1990's when I was a little kid, my grandmother used to play the organ in a Congregational Church. The choir would every so often sing this classic, it was a favorite. The hymn was triggered by one of the verses in Psalm 23 that I preached from on Sunday; Verse 2: "He leads me beside still waters." One of the lines in the hymn reads as follows: "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul." PEACE is what the LORD gives us! He gives us two kinds of PEACE, an objective and subjective peace: OBJECTIVE PEACE: This is a peace that ends our war against God. When we were sinners were ignorantly, in our fallen nature, were enemies of God. Romans 5:10 teaches: "For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life." Earlier in Chapter 5 Paul made clear mention of how this peace is brought about, verse 1 "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." We receive this Peace with God, only through what Christ accomplished for us on His glorious Cross and Resurrection, and we respond in repentance. Scriptures also teaches us about a SUBJECTIVE PEACE. This is the peace of God. Philippians 4:6-7 states: "Do not be anxious about anything... And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The peace of God that He puts in our hearts gives us confidence and calm in the face of our trials and adversity. This peace you discover when your mind is fixed on the Lord and His promises. Isaiah 26:3: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." It's a peace that the Holy Spirit produces in our hearts according to Galatians 5:22.

The storyline of the Bible is a story of divine Providence. Every page, behind every prophecy and in every promise is the sovereign and often hidden hand of God! The Westminster's Confession (Chapter 5) defines God's Providence as: "God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy." A preacher once stated that "there is not one rogue molecule in the universe". Nothing escapes God's providence! This is a comforting truth! God is no dead beat dad! He supports and maintains what He has created! He knows all things perfectly, is all-powerful, is infinitely wise and everything is aimed at His glory! If its for His glory then its for our good. SO HERE'S THE REMINDER: All things are working out for Your good! Stay calm and rest in His promises!

You can find a Psalm for every season in your life! This is one of the reasons why Psalms is so loved. . No book of the Bible peers more deeply into the human soul and experience than Psalms. You will find a deep and wide range of emotions that people have poured out before God in its poetry. In this season of my personal journey, no Psalm has been more dear to my heart than Psalm 23. Immediately when we reflect on the Lord being my Shepherd a tender image of the Lord comes to mind. We serve a God who nurtures, nourishes and protests us like a Shepherd does his sheep. It's also impossible to miss the stunning depiction of our Lord Jesus who declared Himself to be the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. He's the Shepherd who leaves the 99 safe, to go after the 1. One of the most fascinating truths about Psalm 23 though, is not in the metaphor that David draws on but on identity of the One who is called Shepherd in Verse 1. If we move too quickly past Verse 1 and the detail of who David identified as his Shepherd, we miss the beauty of what it means for God to be our Shepherd. To put it this way, there are only four Hebrew words in the first verse: YAHWEH RO'I LO ECHSAR. The most astonishing truth about this Psalm is that David called God by His personal name "YAHWEH". “Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall not lack.” This is God’s covenant name; the name God gave to Moses during the dramatic encounter with him at the burning bush in Exodus 3. This personal, covenant name of God points to Him being: UNCHANGING, CONSTANT, SELF-EXISTENCE AND UTTERLY INDEPENDANT. His existence is from Himself and for Himself and there is nothing about Him that is derived in any way from anything outside of Himself. This means that He all that He needs is within Himself and that He is never in need. Here's the truth friends, ONLY A GOD WHO NEEDS NOTHING CAN SUPPLY OUR NEED! This is why David was bold and confident enough to say: "Yahweh is my Shepherd, I shall not lack". Next time you get into your prayer closet, the next time to speak to your heavenly Father, have this in your heart, that the God you call upon is never in need and can supply all your need according to the riches of His glory!