Too many times we Christians fail to realize the gravity (weightiness, importance) of every Chapter of Scripture, of the Bible. Including Genesis Chapters 1 and 2.

The Bible Account of Creation, of God making the heaven and the earth.

Ungodly evolutionists have tried to frighten us away from the Bible Description of God literally (over a six day period) creating, building all we see and all we do not see! Yes, He made the “invisible things” also.

To me, if the Bible is wrong (or even inaccurate) about how we got here (Adam and Eve etc.) … it might be wrong about where we are going (if anywhere)!

But let this be granted: the Bible is NOT WRONG about anything. It is a perfect, inerrant Book, God penned!

But what I am saying … so much of the Christian life “hinges” on God as our Creator!

including worship!

The Psalmist got it right when he wrote: “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.” (Psalm 96:5)

Notice the “press” God as Creator gets in the Book of Job, for example! The Book of Revelation as well! Psalms too!

In fact, in the Old Testament God as Creator sets Him apart from any other so-called gods or goddesses.

Read today’s Text again … “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.”

Maybe we should give more time to the study of Genesis, those first chapters included.

To acknowledging and adoring God as the Creator of all!

God did something no one else could ever do … He “created” the earth, with the verb “bara” used here meaning “to make something out of nothing!”

The Creator (if you are saved) has now become your Redeemer also! Double praise now!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Notice I did not say “Singing about the Lord!”

But rather, singing UNTO the Lord!

Which, in my estimation anyway, makes singing a definite act of Worship. Just between you and HIM!

But where does one get that idea? Of singing “unto” the Lord?

Here’s where I found it late last night. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD.” Psalm 95:1

The first verb in the Verse is an imperative, a stark command, “come!” It literally means “to walk,” and is here a call to congregate and praise the Lord!

The second verb “to sing” is NOT a command! As if to say once we have “come and gathered and assembled” in the Lord’s Name … WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY, INSTINCTIVELY, HABITUALLY sing unto Him!

This verb (to sing) is a PIEL stem imperfect mood action word. The PIEL indicating the use of great emotion and fervor, all one’s strength! And the imperfect mood revealing ongoing action, not a one time event! Habitual singing!

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD.”

Not singing to the congregation (not here anyway, in this context) … but singing unto HIM!

Wow!

I have an idea … sing to HIM some today!

Then think of some of the songs in our hymnals at Church that do that, address Him in adoration and exaltation!

Here’s an example: “HOW GREAT THOU ART!”

There are others.

Paul, likely learning from this Psalm and others like it, got the principle down pretty firmly!

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart TO the Lord …” Quoting Ephesians 5:20.

Colossians 3:16 agrees: “Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO the Lord.”

Today is a travel day, lots of miles to drive. I think I shall invest part of that time (though I am not talented in any musical way) singing UNTO the Lord! He has asked that much of me for sure.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Psalm 94 says a lot about wicked men. It’s a veritable course in hamartiology, the study of sin!

And its 7th verse gives the rationale for much of the shameless actions of the ungodly man or woman.

“They say, The LORD shall not see.”

The sinful human being has convinced himself or herself that God is NOT watching, is completely BLIND to their activities.

Again … “They say, The LORD shall not see.

They are sure that they can lie or fornicate or steal or otherwise disobey God’s Law, God’s Word … and HE will never know. He does not see their behavior!

That’s what America is doing today, convincing herself that God is removed, aloof, disinterested, blind to her national sins! Perversions!

But, truth be told, God does see!

According to Proverbs 15:3 anyway … “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

Or Proverbs 5:21 … “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings.”

Oh, how we need to be rminded … “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicales 16:9

Jeremiah 16:17 … the Lord speaking … “For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.”

Jeremiah 32:19 … “Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:”

Hebrews 4:13 … speaking of Jesus … “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

Remember, HE IS WATCHING!

That Fact alone should stabilize our Christian living!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Forgive the long title this morning. Actually it should be little bit longer! Paul might have been drawing from several Old Testament Texts in building his great martial (Christian soldier) Word Picture!

To be “girded” in Bible parlance means “to be wrapped around” with something, clothing. Like a belt, for example.

Paul thus asks us to be “encircled” with Truth as we fight the devil and his forces of evil. But in Psalm 93:1 we find God Himself “girded!”

“The LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself.” Psalm 93:1 (Paul began his Ephesians 6 Paragraph discussing “power,” the very Power of God! “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Three different Greek word stems for “power!” They are “dunamis, kratos” and then “ischus!”)

So what Paul simply teaches us, the Psalmist here turns into Poetry! God wearing His Power!

Here’s another “Idea” …

Paul (still in Ephesians 6) talks about the warrior’s boots, his combat boots! “Having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Listen to Isaiah now … “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace.” These two Preachers sound a lot alike, right?

Then “This” too …

Our dear Lord, a “Man of War” according to Exodus 15:3 … “Put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” Quoting now Isaiah 59:17.

Wow!

Sounds much like Paul’s familiar “breastplate” and “helmet” and other battle gear! Do remember, Paul was an Old Testament scholar.

All I am saying this morning is that (even though Ephesians is a “Prison Epistle” and the Apostle was chained to a Roman soldier who was doubling as a guard) Paul well may have drawn his Inspiration for the “Whole Armour of God” scenario from (not his heathen surroundings) his Old Testament Scrolls!

I am thrilled!

God is our Model, the Prototypical Soldier, the mighty Warrior!

Incidentally, the New Testament is INDEED largely build upon (and then an exposition of) the Jewish Bible, the Old Testament! (The Law, the Psalms and the Prophets!)

The Bible is NOT two Books, but One!

And it can be encapsulated with four Words … “Thus saith the Lord!”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Though Psalm 92 does not specifically say so, David’s personality permeates its 15 verses! At least that’s my opinion.

David, with his “hunger” for the things of God! David, of whom the Lord Himself calls “a man after Mine Own Heart!” (Acts 13:22)

But David or not, Psalm 92:10 makes a thrilling Statement. Claiming (or praying) something for which all us Christian should aspire.

“I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”

Wow!

Normally in Scripture “oil” (when used as a symbol or type) is a picture of God the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Who (like the olive “oil” of long ago) enlightens a room when nightfall comes!

And warms a home when winter comes!

And prepares our food when hunger comes!

And makes our faces to shine during our hard times. (Psalm 104:15)

And reduces friction (brings peace) when rivalry begins!

The Holy Spirit Who can do all these thins above … can also come upon (“anoint”) us repeatedly!

For example, in Acts 2:4 (Day of Pentecost) the Believers in that upper room were all “filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:4) Then again only a few days later Peter was again “filled with the Holy Ghost!” (Acts 4:8) Repeated fillings!

And this constant filling of the Spirit, His Presence and Power and Fruit … is what the Psalmist has in mind in our Text today, in Psalm 92:10.

“FRESH OIL!”

O to have such a grand condition as a life goal, a moment-by-moment reality! To enjoy that “fresh Oil!”

That’s what I want (and need) in my life!

FRESH OIL!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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