Gospel Light Church – Pastor's Blog

2 Corinthians 4
 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
 (KJV)

Nothing gives us a better look and understanding of our trials and afflictions than the Word of God.  In this verse we find great help concerning our trials.

1.  Difficulty

The verse says “our light affliction.”  In the matter of weight they are light.  We may be surprised that Paul would pen such a statement, because of the tough times he had experienced for the faith.  He was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19); he was beaten and thrown in prison (Acts 16:23). Yet when the Spirit of God moved upon his heart he considered his afflictions “light” in view of eternity.  If Paul could count his afflictions as light how much more should we look upon our trials as “light.”

2. Duration

“For a moment.”  Paul’s life after his salvation was filled with troubles (2Corinthians 11:23-30).  He had seen many troubles but boldly declared that they are just for a “moment”, a short time. Paul viewed life in terms of eternity, not in terms of time.  He looked beyond the now, into the future.  If all we see is this life, we will not have a very encouraging view of life!

3. Dividends

“Worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  The work or benefits of afflictions for the Christian are very rewarding.  Afflictions can bring great blessings. These blessings are described as an “eternal weight of glory.”  The exact opposite of how afflictions are described.  Afflictions are “light”, but the benefits are weighty (“weight”).  Afflictions are but for a “moment” but blessing are “eternal”. 

Afflictions bring grief, but remember they are “light” and short lived in view of eternity.  We must let the glory of eternity hold far more weight in our life!

When afflictions come remember this verse, it will be an encouragement in dark times.

God Bless,

Brother Ruffin

2 Samuel 22
 4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
 (KJV)

This verse comes from a song that David sang to the Lord after he was delivered from his enemies (2Samuel 22:1).  This verse gives us three great truths.

1.  Prayer to the LORD.

David’s habit was to call on the Lord when he was in trouble.  That is a good habit and one we should follow.  Many times when trouble comes we jump on the phone or the internet and pour out our problems.  Friends can be helpful, but the Lord is All-Powerful!  He is the problem solver.  When we delay in calling on Him we also delay our deliverance.  We must commit to calling on the Lord at ALL times.

2.  Praise for the LORD.

The verse says the LORD is “worthy to be praised.”  We must include plenty of praise for Him as we seek help from Him.  David was careful to fill his prayers with praise for the LORD.  Our verse says the LORD “is worthy” of praise.  You can never go wrong praising God.  We can never praise Him enough!  The LORD alone is worthy of all our praise.

3.  Protection by the LORD.

The text says “so shall I be saved from my enemies.”  David saw that His safety was from the LORD.  We see the protection came after the prayer and praise.  We pray to the Lord, we have praise for the LORD, then we see the blessings of the LORD (protection).

The Lord help us to make these truths part of our daily walk.

God Bless,

Brother Ruffin

1 Corinthians 6
 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
 (KJV)

Many times Christians are apt to live careless lives.  This is seen in our failure to recognize our commitment to God.  We find some needed guidance in this verse.

The Bible says “ye are bought with a price.”  This speaks of the cost of our salvation.  The redeeming plan of God was not cheap.  It cost God His Son, and it cost the Son His life.  This was the greatest price ever paid.  In this we see the value of the soul is greater than all the world’s riches.  Man can never redeem himself because we do not have the riches to pay the cost.

Psalms 49
 6 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
 (KJV)

The text speaks of our purpose, “therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit.”  The redeemed are to glorify God.  The body is listed first, how we use our bodies can honor or dishonor God.  When we abuse our bodies through unholy living, we bring dishonor to God. 

Romans 12
 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
 (KJV)

Finally, we are His possession, “which are God’s.” God owns “the saved by grace.”   We belong to Him.  What a joy that should bring to our heart, knowing that we are His.  It also tells us Who is to rule in our life.  If God’s owns us, then He has authority over us and we should submit to Him.

Sometimes the saved act like they own themselves and go their own way.  We loose sight that we have been “bought with a price.”  Thank God today that we belong to Him.  Let us remember our commitment to our Redeemer!

God Bless,

Brother Ruffin

1 Kings 18
 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
 (KJV)

Elijah’s calling out the prophets of Baal revealed that Jehovah God is the only God.  This verse speaks of the fire that finished the contest between Elijah and these false prophets.  This verse tell us much about the fire from God!

Prayer prompted the fire.  We should not miss this lesson.  The fire came after an earnest prayer from Elijah.  We lack the fire of God in our church and our own lives because we lack earnest prayer.  We are not to promote prayer, if we want the fire of God we must diligently practise prayer.

This was a powerful fire.  The Bible says it “consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”  This was no ordinary fire.  It was God’s fire and it consumed everything.  The power of God can do mighty wonders.  If we are going to do anything for God out of the ordinary we must have His power.

This fire gave proof that God is the true God.  The contest was to see whose God would answer by fire.  Baal had no answer, God did!  Elijah’s faith was not grounded in superstition or traditions, neither is ours.  We have the power of God that works in our life to answer the unbelieving worlds question of “Where is God?”

In the fire from God we find pity.  All that was on the altar was consumed but no people were consumed.  God could have and would have been justified in consuming the crowd that was there.  In this moment we can see the grace of God.  He spared the people and consumed the entire sacrifice.  The Gospel tells us that Jesus Christ took the punishment for our sins!

We can see the importance of the Fire From God.

God Bless,

Brother Ruffin Hill

Genesis 2
 7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
 (KJV)

The Bible account of man’s beginning makes perfect sense.  Evolution is a theory, has no evidence and is filled with lies! The Bible says “Let God be true.”  Genesis 2:7 gives the right explanation of man’s origin. 

It tell us of a the Maker – “The LORD God.”  Evolution leaves God out and that appeals to many because they do not want God in their life.  The Bible starts with God and when you start with God you always start right.  Without God in our life it is empty and miserable!  Evolution holds no hope for eternity but The Maker does!

It tell of the making – “The LORD God formed man.”  The forming of man includes design and purpose.  God had a reason for making man.  God has a reason he made you.  In order to fulfill His purpose we must submit to His plan.  The plan of God for all mankind is to be saved!  (2Peter 3:9) When we obey the will of God and the commands of God then our life becomes meaningful.  Life without God is a waste.  The one that is made must submit the Maker.

It tells of the material – “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.”  It should bring joy to our soul what God has made from dirt.  We may be nothing but dust in the eyes of some, but in the hands of God, He can make us into something special. 

Do not be discouraged at your situations.  We must yield our life to God and He will make something of great value out of us!

God Bless,

Brother Ruffin

PSALM 146

The bottom line of our relationship with God is having confidence; confidence in God.  Not confidence in man.  For us to have confidence in God we must believe that God is and that God is able.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.   (KJV)

Look in these verses at the power of the Lord.

Psalm 146 says:

The Lord made – Vs. 6  The Lord keeps – Vs. 6  The Lord executeth – Vs. 7  The Lord giveth – Vs. 7  The Lord looseth – Vs. 7  The Lord openeth – Vs. 8  The Lord raiseth – Vs. 8  The Lord loveth – Vs. 8  The Lord preserveth – Vs. 9  The Lord relieveth – Vs. 9  The Lord turneth – Vs. 9  The Lord reigns – Vs. 10

Let me say, “We can have confidence in God!”

We can be confident that He is able:

Ephesians 3: 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (KJV)

Because we know that we have confidence in Him, we should praise Him.

We are to praise Him because of:  His character = the things that set Him apart. God is other than!  His consistency = The same yesterday, today, and forever.  His compassion = God took on flesh!

Our praise can be based on confidence that He will never change:  His person = God is not changing with the times!  His precepts = His guidelines.  His principles = His standards.

This Psalm speaks of faith, hope and charity.  A believer can have confidence in His faith, hope, and charity.

Look at what we are to do: Vs. 1, 2, 5:

Praise the Lord – Vs. 1  Praise the Lord – Vs. 2  Sing praises unto God – Vs. 2

Who do we sing praises to at church? Not one another.  Who is the special music for? Not for the people – but for God.

Have hope in the Lord – Vs. 5 Hope = expectation. Man looks at this as being optional.

Look at what we are not to do: Vs. 3 – 4.

We are not to put our trust in princes = Kings – presidents – governors, senators.  We are not to put our trust in man. Any man, all men.

Trust for what? For security, for provision, for protection. etc.  God provides that man doesn’t.  They all will die and go back to dust ! Vs. 4.

Look at why we are to praise God: Vs. 5-10.

He is the creator. Vs. 6 The beauty of creation.  He is the keeper of truth. Vs. 6 The government does not keep the truth, denominations do not keep the truth, GOD DOES!  He is judgment. Vs. 7 – It is divine – It is honest – It is fair. No unfair judgments.  He gives food. Vs. 7 – To the hungry – food for the spirit. The Bible doesn’t mean much to those who are not hungry for His Word. Hunger and thirst after righteousness.  He looses the prisoners. Vs. 7

Some of you may be bound today. Past, People, Situations.

He opens the eyes of the blind. Vs. 8 – Who are the blind?

Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.  (KJV)

The lost are blind.

He heals the oppressed. Vs. 8  He loves the righteous. Vs. 8  He reigns for ever. Vs. 10

America will go down – Wall Street will crash – Social Security will go broke, the US Treasurery will be empty.

THE LORD GOD JEHOVAH REIGNS FOREVER AND FOREVER.

He is the Alpha and the Omega:

Psalm 146:6 – Alpha

Psalms 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:  (KJV)

Psalm 146:10 – Omega

Psalms 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.  (KJV)

When all else is gone the Lord God Almighty will still be reigning.

This Psalm helps us to see that we are to praise God because:  God is not man that He cannot help. Vs. 3.  God is not man that shall cease to be. Vs. 4.  God is not man that His purpose will come to an end. Vs. 4

Man is responsible in his conduct toward God.  Man’s happiness depends upon his relationship with the God of Jacob:

Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:  (KJV)

This man, from the heart of happiness, gives praises unto God – really when a man is at peace with God, then can true happiness sound forth praises.

I. THE WORD “LORD” IS FOUND ELEVEN TIMES IN THIS PSALM

A. The Word “Lord” Is Jah. Vs. 1 & 10.

(Yah) 2 times. Vs. 1 & Vs. 10.

The first one and the last one!  Jah or Yah speaks of God as the Independent One.  He ever lives, the eternal One, and the self-existing One.  “I am that I am”. “I am everything – I am all – Besides me there is none other.”

B. The Word “Lord” Is Yahweh.

Vs. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 (3 times), 9, 10.

Yahweh speaks of God as Jehovah our ruler.  We are to praise Him for His greatness, as well as being The Sovereign One, the Almighty, Lord, the Shiloh, the Lord God of Israel, The Lord Almighty, the Eternal God.

II. THE WORD “LORD” IS GIVEN AS BEING WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE FOUR TIMES

It is connected with the word “praise” four times.

“Praise ye the Lord:” Vs. 1

“Praise the Lord, O my soul:” Vs. 1

“While I live will I praise the Lord” Vs. 2

“Praise ye the Lord” Vs. 10

Man is to praise God all by Himself, nothing needs to be added to God for us to Praise Him.  We are to praise Him for His greatness, as well as being our Sovereign One, the Almighty One, Lord.

Psalm 107:8,15,21,31, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”

III. THE WORD “GOD” IS FOUND FOUR TIMES IN THIS PSALMS

Psalms 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (KJV)

The time to Praise him is NOW! I am not saying that we will not praise Him in heaven, we will.  I am saying that in this body, and with your present breath you should praise Him.

Psalms 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:  (KJV)

With God on our side we can’t lose.

Psalms 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.  (KJV)

The Eternal God.

A. Elohim – Full Of Mightiness. The Triune God.

(Vs. 2, 5, 10)

This is the name that is used in the foundation of all Bible truths.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.  (KJV)

B. El – The Mighty One. Vs. 5 – The first one.

We are to praise God because of His greatness, mighty in power and authority, but yet full of grace and mercy.  He clothes the sparrow.  He makes the snowflake.  He makes the sun rays.  He makes the cool breeze.  He also makes the thunder.  He makes the lightening.  He makes the wind.  He is mighty in power and authority, yet He is full of grace and mercy.

It is easy to see how our confidence is building in the Lord God.

IV. THE WORD “LORD” IS FOUND FIVE TIMES WHEN DEALING WITH GOD’S GRACE IN Vs. 7 – 9

Five is the number of Grace.

Verse 6 says that God is Alpha, the beginning, and verse 10 says that God is Omega, the ending.

Verses 7, 8 & 9 says that God is a God of mercy and grace toward fallen man. (Oh! how He loves you and me.)

In verses 7 -9, the word “Lord” is understood, making seven times that the Lord is referred to as being the Lord of Divine Grace.

A. He Looseth The Prisoners.

The prison speaks of guilt and bondage.  Christ came to preach deliverance to the Captives (Luke 4:18; Is. 61:12). Whom the Son makes free are free indeed. Praise should come because of our freedom from bondage.

“I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found. I Once Was Blind, But Now I See.”

We are free from:  The power of sin.  The penalty of sin.  Someday soon you and I will be free from the presence of sin.

B. He Openeth The Eyes Of The Blind.

This is talking about moral and spiritual darkness. The “recovering of sight to the blind,” was another part of Christ’s work(Luke 4:18: Isaiah 61:1-2). Believe and thou shalt see.  (This is a miracle that was performed by Jesus that was not found in the O.T.)

C. He Raiseth The Bowed-Down.

How many times the burden of guilt has loaded us down. We couldn’t even raise our head – but praise His name He raises the bowed head.  Praise Him because He has removed the grief and burden of guilt.

D. He Loveth The Righteous.

Those who are right with Him, and for Him, will be loved by Him.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  (KJV)

E. He Preserveth The Stranger.

He deals with the stranger.

“Ye are no more strangers” (Eph. 2:19)

F. He Upholdeth The Fatherless And Widows.

The helpless.  Our helplessness does not hinder His power.

G. He Turneth The Way Of The Wicked Upside Down.

Job 5:12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.  (KJV)

The ungodly and their ways will be turned upside down – a complete change!

V. THE PSALMS DECLARES GOD AS THE SOVEREIGN ONE OVER ALL, AND TO ALL GENERATIONS

Psalms 146:10 The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.  (KJV)

A. The Lord.

The Lord Himself shall reign, none will do it for Him. No one will come in His place.  No substitutes.

B. The Power – Shall Reign.

Reigning speaks of authority, as well as a King.  Jesus is the King with Divine authority.

C. The Perpetual – For ever.

To His kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  (KJV)

D. The Place – O Zion.

From Jerusalem, the throne of David shall He reign.

E. The People – All Generations.

People from all walks of life, every nation, every tongue, every race. shall be the subjects of His kingdom all that have been saved by the Grace of God.

THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER IS:

That we, God’s people, are to praise God, praise God for God is worthy to be praised.

This praise is to be from the depth of the soul – Vs. 1.

This praise is to be now while you have the ability to praise God – Vs. 2.

This praise is to be with song, songs that are spiritual – Vs. 2.

This praise is to be unto God for:

What God has done.  What God is doing.  What God will do.  What has God done in your life!  Hallelujah!

God Bless, Brother Ruffin Hill

I was given the opportunity recently to speak at a memorial service.  The service was given at a local funeral home and the guest were all families the funeral home had served this past year.  The service was simple, two fitting hymns were sung and I preached a short message on “What Remembering Should Do In Our Life!”  The service was closed by the funeral home calling out each name of the person who had passed away.  Each family would come forward and a gift was given in honor of their loved one.  The service was well done and all the folks who attended were very appreciative!

As I heard the names of the people who had passed called out, I was struck with several thoughts. 

Who were these people? 

How had their life ended? 

Who had mourned over their passing? 

What legacy had they left behind? 

How were they remembered by others?

These along with many others questions came across my mind, but the greatest was this:

Where are they now?  Was their name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life?

As I pondered in my mind as verse instantly came to my heart:

Luke 10
 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
 (KJV)

As I sat there quietly, rejoicing came to my soul.  One day my name will be called, not by a funeral home but the roll call of Glory!  I know because Jesus is my Saviour that my name is written there.  Thank God that is one question that is answered NOW! 

After the verse came to my heart, quickly a song came to my lips:

The chorus goes:

When the roll is called up yonder!

When the roll is called up yonder!

When the roll is called up yonder!

When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there!

I pray today that you have the assurance that Heaven is your Home!

God Bless,  Brother Ruffin Hill