BECAUSE OF THE LORD GOD WE LIVE MOVE AND EXIST

Proclamation:

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’”  Acts 17:28 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that Paul and Silas had to leave Thessalonica because after they preached that Jesus was the Messiah, the non-believing Jews had formed a mob there and were looking for them. (Acts 17:1-10)  They went to Berea but the non-believing Jews from Thessalonica heard that they were preaching there and came to Berea and stirred up the crowd against them. (Acts 17:10-15)  Paul then went to Athens and noticed that the city was full of idols and was disturbed. (Acts 17:16-18)  While there he found an altar with the inscription, “To The Unknown God”, and he preached to them about Him. (Acts 17:22-23)  While he was speaking to them he said that it was because of The Lord God that we live, move, and have our very being.

Application:

There are a lot of intelligent and well educated people who believe in scientific things but do not believe in Jesus, The Christ, or His death, burial, and resurrection.  They do not believe that God created the earth and all things therein. (Revelation 10:6)  They do not believe that man was made from the dust of the earth and God breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)  It is because of The Lord God that we live, move, and have our being.  When we die, our soul will return to The Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) and our bodies will return to the dust from which it came. (Genesis 3:19, Psalm 104:29, and Ecclesiastes 12:7)  Our souls will not die but will spend eternity somewhere. (Matthew 25:46)  Where will you spend eternity?

WHO IS ABLE TO LIVE WITH THE LORD

Proclamation:

“Lord, who may dwell in Your sacred tent?  Who may live on Your holy mountain?  The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart;”  Psalm 15:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David.  In contrast to psalm 14 in which David describes the characteristics of the godless man, in this psalm he describes the characteristics of the godly man.  This man walk blamelessly, does what is righteous, speaks the truth, and does not slander or do wrong to his neighbor.  He honors those who obey The Lord and he keeps his word.  His financial dealings are fair and he does not take bribes.  He is steadfast in the ways of The Lord.

Application:

If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we do not possess all of these characteristics.  These are the traits which we should yearn to have and strive for.  While we know that we are not perfect, most of us think of ourselves as being good people.  “What kind of world would this be, if everybody in it were just like me?” (Author unknown)  We think that the world would be a better place if everyone behaved as we do.  While it is true that a lot of crimes probably would not occur, but it is also true that a lot of good that is currently being done by others would go undone.  We don’t help the homeless, or give to the poor, or donate to all of the charitable causes.  We do not always do that which is righteous or always obey The Word of God.  We do not always tell the truth, and we think slanderous thoughts.  As believers we will be in heaven because of the grace of God for it is by grace that we will be saved, not because of our works or deeds. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Let us not think too highly of ourselves. (Romans 12:3)  None of us deserves to go to heaven on our own accord, nor have we earned the right to live with The Lord in His holy place. (Matthew 19:17)  We are to walk in His way, not to earn our way to heaven but to show Him that we love Him. (John 14:15)  We will reside with Him in eternity because Jesus, The Christ, died for our sins and we believed in Him. (John 3:16)  We should thank God for this every day.

THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Proclamation:

"Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away … Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:10 and 12

Explanation:

The human author of this psalm is believed to be Moses.  It was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God as the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.  Moses addresses the frailty of man and the short life span.   Here the mortality and misery of man is compared to the aforementioned eternalness of God. (Psalm 90:2)  This prayer of Moses asks God to help us consider and appreciate the shortness of life that we may devote ourselves to Him and following His Holy Word. 

Application

The life span of man is seventy years.  We can do things which lengthen or shorten our lives. (Exodus 20:12)  Regardless of how long we live, seventy, eighty, or even ninety years is but a short time when compared to eternity.  The few days that we spend on earth are full of trouble and sorrow. (Job 14:1)  We need to pray as Moses prayed and ask God to help us appreciate the time that we have.  Every day that we live is a blessing.  We should be thankful and rejoice in The Lord every day of our life for we do not know how many days we have left.  Some people who saw yesterday will not see tomorrow.  Praise The Lord for each day and do something to please Him each day.