Gospel Gems for February 2011

Scriptural 'nuggets' from my 'Gospel Gems - 2011' calendar from the NKJV of God's Word.

February 2011

1. Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6)

2. O Lord, I will praise You (Isaiah 12:1)

3. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matt 5:7)

4. You, O Lord, are a shield for me (Psalm 3:3)

5. The Lord is good...to the soul who seeks Him (Lam 3:25)

6. You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety (Ps 4:8)

7. The living God...delivers and rescues (Dan 6:26, 27)

8. Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men (1 Cor 2:5)

9. Your testimonies...are...my counsellors (Ps 119:24)

10. Search the Scriptures...they...testify of Me (John 5:39)

11. Reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Romans 5:10)

12. Jesus Christ...was raised from the dead (2 Tim 2:8)

13. The Son of God...loved me, and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20)

14. Know you...God...and serve Him (1 Chron 28:9)

15. O Lord...save me, and I shall be saved (Jeremiah 17:14)

16. God...loved us, and sent His Son (1 Jn 4:10)

17. Peace, from Him who is, and...was, and...is to come (Rev 1:4)

18. We wish to see Jesus (Jn 12:21)

19. Looking for the blessed hope (Titus 2:13)

20. Behold, He is coming (Rev 1:7)

21. Watch and pray (Mk 14:38)

22. Not one---is forgotten before God (Lk 12:6)

23. You are not your own...you were bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19, 20)

24. His mercy endures forever (Ps 107:1)

25. The Lord...has redeemed my life from all distress (1 Kings 1:29)

26. The Lord is...longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9)

27. Jesus...no other name...by which we must be saved (Acts 4:10, 12)

28. Surely He has borne our griefs (Isa 53:4).

Psalm 119 - NKJV, Part 3

My goal to put Psalm 119 (all 176 verses) here continues with Part 3 containing sections 7 -9. This a great exercise for me as I am going through each verse carefully. I'm using the New King James Version. I prefer using it to the olde Authorized Version of 1611. Let us continue with Ps 119 and may you be blessed as you read it.




(7/22), vs 49 -56, ZAYIN:

49) Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope.

50) This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

51) The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

52) I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lord, and have comforted myself.

53) Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked who forsake Your law.

54) Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

55) I remember Your name in the night, O Lord, and I keep Your law.

56) This has become mine, because I kept Your precepts.

(8/22), vs 57 - 64, HETH:

57) You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.

58) I entreated Your favour with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.

59) I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.

60) I made haste, and did not delay to keep Your commandments.

61) The cords of the wicked have bound me, but I have not forgotten Your law.

62) At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.

63) I am a companion of all who fear You, and of those who keep Your precepts.

64) The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; teach me Your statutes.

(9/22), vs 65 - 72, TETH:

65) You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.

66) Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.

67) Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.

68) You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes.

69) The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.

70) Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law.

71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.

72) The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver.

Psalm 119 - NKJV, Part 2

This is part 2 of my project to publish Psalm 119 from the New King James Version of the Bible.

This 176 verse psalm / chapter consists of 22 sections each containing 8 verses. Part 2 begins with section 4 of 22. In the Hebrew, each verse starts with the same letter; in this section, it's 'daleth'.

(4/22), vs 25-32, DALETH:

25) My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word.

26 ) I have declared my ways, and You answered me; teach me Your statutes.

27) Make me understand the ways of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

28) My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word.

29) Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.

30) I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.

31) I cling to Your testimonies; O Lord, do not put me to shame!

32) I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.

(5/22), vs 33 - 40, HE:

33) Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep it to the end.

34) Give me understanding and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

35) Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.

36) Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37) Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your ways.

38) Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.

39) Turn away my reproach which I dread, for Your judgments are good.

40) Behold, I long for precepts; revive me in Your righteousness.

(6/22), vs 41 - 49, WAW:

41) Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord; Your salvation according to Your word.

42) So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.

43) And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.

44) So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever.

45) And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.

46) I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47) And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.

48) My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love. and I will meditate on Your statutes.

GOD'S WONDERFUL WORLD - FEB 2011

Verse of the month: "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands" (Isa 55:12).

Scriptures from a beautiful Bible calendar called 'God's Wonderful World 2011 Devotional'. I quote the full verse from the ESV (English Standard Version) for each date in February 2011. I hope you will be blessed as you read God's words.

FEBRUARY 2011

1, Our loving Father (1 Cor 8:6)

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

2, His majesty and greatness (1 Chron 29:11)

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

3, A personal God (Heb 1:1-3)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2) but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3) He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4, Reverence before God (Ps 111:9)

He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.

5, God does not change (Mal 3:6)

"For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

6, His wonderful love expressed (1 Jn 3:1)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

7, Believe and prosper (2 Chron 20:20)

(v 20b) ...Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established;believe his prophets, and you will succeed."

8, God's greatest gift (Jn 3:16)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

9, The spirit of wisdom (Eph 1:17, 18)

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

10, God ever present (Ex 3:14)

God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM" and he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'."

11, Jesus is God (1 Tim 3:16)

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He [God] was manifested in the flesh [Jn 1:14], vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory [Acts 1:9].

12, His blameless life (Jn 14:30)

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me."

13, He died for us (Rom 5:8)

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

14, The abundant life (Jn 10:10)

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

15, The Spirit is with us (2 Cor 13:14)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

16, The Spirit, a gift (Acts 2:38)

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".

17, The Spirit, a tender presence (Jn 3:8)

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit".

18, The Spirit spreads love (Rom 5:5)

and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

19, The Spirit, a comforter and teacher (Jn 14:26)

"But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you".

20, The indwelling Spirit (1 Jn 3:24)

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

21, Sin grieves the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

22, God is love (1 Jn 4:8)

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

23, No respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, 35)

So Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35) but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him".

24, God can be trusted (Nahum 1:7)

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;

25, God is with us (Ps 139:7, 8)

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8) If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

26, God cares (1 Pet 5:7)

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

27, His purpose for all (Rom 8:28)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

28, He loves us all (Eph 3:14, 15)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,

Some Favourite Bible Passages, 1 - ESV

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world*, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life".
(Or, "For this is how God loved the world,.....)

Lamentations 3:21-25: But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22) The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23) they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24) "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25) The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

Isaiah 58:13-14: "If you will turn your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; 14) then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Habakkuk 3:17-19: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18) YET I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19) God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.

Luke 1:46-55: And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47) and my spirit rejoices in God my SAVIOUR, 48) for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49) for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50) And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51) He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52) he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53) he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54) He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55) as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

Philippians 1:6: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16,17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17) that the man of God many be competent, equipped for every good work.

1 Peter 3:15: but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Revelation 22:20-21: He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21) The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

A New Project - Psalm 119 (NKJV) - Part 1

Psalms 119 is a wonderful poetic piece of spiritual literature. It is divided into 22 sections, each containing 8 verses. [Every verse in each section starts with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet eg. vs 1-8 all start with the first letter, Aleph and each of vs 9-16 start with Beth etc. All this is the original Hebrew manuscript, of course.] Israel's King David wrote this long devotional to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). He loved God's Laws and Statutes. He expresses his love for God and all His ways in this long chapter of the Bible.
If only all those who claim to be Christians would have David's love for God's laws, there would be a LOT less spiritual confusion and division.
It is my new ambition to share all 176 verses of this psalm from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible in 22 parts. Below are sections 1-3.
May you receive a blessing as you read them slowly and think about them carefully.


PSALM 119


(1/22), vs 1-8, ALEPH:

1) Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!

2) Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

3) They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.

4) You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.

5) Oh, that my ways were directed to keep your statutes!

6) Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments.

7) I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I learn your righteous judgments.

8) I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!



(2/22), vs 9-16, BETH:

9) How can a young {person} cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

10) With my whole heart I have sought you; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

11) Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

12)Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.

13) With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.

14) I have rejoiced in the ways of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15) I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.

16) I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.



(3/22), vs 17-24, GIMEL:

17) Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word.

18) Open my eyes, that I may see wonderous things from Your law.

19) I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.

20) My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times.

21) You rebuke the proud - the cursed, who stray from Your commandments.

22) Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies.

23) Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

24) Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

GOD'S WONDERFUL WORLD

For those of you who love the Scriptures, here's some more nuggets from a beautiful publication called 'God's Wonderful World - 2011 devotional'.

Along with a verse (or 2) for every day of each month, there is a beautiful photograph of a scene from nature.

Following the condensed verse (as printed in this calendar) is the verse written in full from the ESV [English Standard Version].

May you develop a lasting love for the inspired Scriptures of the Bible for they are spirit and Truth and a lamp to light up your spiritual path.

'Make Your face shine upon Your servant' (Ps 119:135a). May God bless you and yours as you seek His will and His ways and apply His Word to your lives.


JANUARY 2011:


1, A light for my path (Psalm 119:105)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.


2, My defence in temptation (Ps 119:11)

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.


3, His promises are certain (2 Cor 1:20)

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.


4, A book for all time (2 Peter 1:21)

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


5, Treasure from heaven (2 Cor 4:7)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.


6, A book with a purpose (2 Timothy 3:16)

All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness


7, Words of purity and power (Psalm 12:6)

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.


8, Mysteries we cannot fathom (Romans 11:33)

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!


9, The book that endures (Matthew 24:35)

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.


10, The evidence of experience (Psalm 34:8)

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.


11, Christ the living Word (John 1:14)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.


12, The secret of power (Psalm 119:9)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.


13, Born of the Word (1 Pet 1:23)

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God


14, Food for my soul (Luke 4:4)

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"


15, Life in God's Word (John 6:63)

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.


16, Strength from Jesus (John 6:54, 55)

Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.


17, Precious promises (2 Peter 1:4)

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.


18, Words of power (Hebrews 11:3)

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.


19, Nature speaks of God (Luke 12:27)

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.


20, The heavens are telling (Isaiah 40:26)

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.


21, From the hand of God (Psalm 33:6)

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.


22, Upheld by God (Colossians 1:17)

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.


23, In the image of God (Genesis 1:27)

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.


24, Priorities! (Luke 12:23)

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.


25, Rest from the rat race (Genesis 2:2,3)

And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.


26, Wonderful works (Psalm 111:4)

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful.


27, A special sign (Ezekiel 20:12)

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.


28, Power through prayer (James 5:16)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.


29, The privilege of worship (Psalm 122:1)

I was glad when they said to me,"Let us go up to the house of the Lord!"


30, The source of wisdom (2 Timothy 3:14, 15)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.


31, Build altars of thanksgiving (Genesis 12:7, 8)

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.