Ray Ruppert's Blog, page 16

Does God Laugh?

Hi, guys, today, I'm going to let you know that the Lord does indeed laugh. But you might be surprised at what he laughs at. Yesterday, in my post, I explained that the nations and people rage against the Lord. They want to get out from under his authority. That's when the Lord laughs. Psalm 2 verses 4 through 6 tells us the Lord's reaction to those who think they can separate them from the Lord's accountability. The Psalm says,

"He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Then again, Psalm 37 verse 13 says, "But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming."


Just one more instance comes in Proverbs 1 verses 25 through 27 which says, "Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you."

Where are you going to be when the Lord laughs? Are you going to be one the Lord laughs at because you have ignored him all your life. Or are you going to be one who will only hear joyful laughter from the Lord who delights in you.


Zephaniah 3 verse 17, says, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

 

 

If you don't want the Lord to laugh at you in your wickedness and sin but want him to delight in you, then watchmy video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation and he will delight in you.

May God Bless you!

Psalm 2 and other verses tell us that the Lord laughs at the wicked and the calamity that comes on them. Wouldn't you rather have him delight in you? #bibledevotion #wickedness #godlaughs #godsdelight #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

The Nations Rage

I'm wondering if you ever think about why we have constant wars and conflicts in the world? I think that Psalm 2 has the root cause of all these problems. It says in the first three verses, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.'”

The answer is really simple. They don't want to be governed by the Lord. Even though the Lord has made it clear in the Bible that all nations serve him and he uses them according to his sovereign plan, they don't like it and will do anything they can to get out from under the Lord's authority for them. Sometimes these issues fester like an untreated sore for years before the country goes to war to get what it wants instead of doing what the Lord wants.

But look back at the first verse and you will see that it isn't just the nations that rage. It is the peoples. That means every person who hasn't submitted themselves to the Lordship of the Lord Jesus. All their plotting is in vain. It doesn't matter if they are rebelling by worshiping other gods or they are denying the existence of God. Their thoughts and ideas about who God is may sound compelling to others who don't want to be accountable to the Lord. But that doesn't change the fact that the Lord is sovereign and will bring history to the conclusion that he has determined. And that includes his plan for each of us.

We have a choice. Submit to the Lord Jesus or rebel. I promise you that if you continue to rebel in sinfulness, the end will not be pleasant for you. But submission will bring eternal life and joy. If you are tired of rebelling, then watchmy video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation and surrender to him while there is still time.

May God Bless you!

Psalm 2 points out that the nations and people are raging against God because they don't want to be accountable to him. Where do you stand? #bibledevotion #rebellion #godsovereign #wars #rage #nations #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussavesCopyright by Ray Ruppert

Give Thanks

 

Thecommand to give thanks occurs 59 times in ESV Bible. The first occurrence is inFirst Chronicles 16 verse 8, "Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon hisname; make known his deeds among the peoples!" We can give thanks to theLord because he is always available for us to when we call. We don't need tomake a reservation, though it is a good idea to make sure we reserve the timefor ourselves to pray to the Lord each day. Because we can call on the Lord atany time, we should be obedient in making his name and his deeds known in allthe earth.

 

Anotherverse about giving thanks reinforces the previous one. First Chronicles 16verse 35 says, "“Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliverus from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and gloryin your praise." Our salvation is the greatest thing we can praise andgive thanks to the Lord about. We should wake up every morning and give thanksto the Lord for sending Jesus to take our sins from us and give us the HolySpirit to live in us and give us the ability to live godly lives.

 

Colossians1 verse 3, Paul says, "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord JesusChrist, when we pray for you." We should always be giving thanks to theLord for the people in our lives. I know some of them can be difficult andothers are a true blessings. But the Lord has put them in our lives for areason and we should give thanks for all of them.

 

Paulalso says in First Thessalonians 5 verse 18, "Give thanks in allcircumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Whoa!Did you catch that? He says to give thanks in all circumstances. The didn't sayto thank the Lord for bad things, but when good or bad happens to us, we thankhim during these times. We don't forget to thank him because of who he is andhe is in sovereign control of all things. Make no mistake, giving thanks isGod's will for all who are in Christ Jesus. Sometimes, giving thanks is asacrifice as Hebrews 13 verse 15 says.

 

Ifyou don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, giving thanks is actuallyimpossible because you don't know the one to whom you must give thanks. If youwant to give thanks to the Lord properly, watchmy video on Youtube, "TheGospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation andthen you will have much to give thanks for.

 

MayGod Bless

you!

 

Givingthanks to God is a big theme in the Bible. But only people in Christ Jesus cantruly give thanks to God. #bibledevotion #givethanks #thanksgiving #godswill#inchrist #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

How to be Blessed Psalm 1

The greatest blessing is to be in the presence of the Lord.

Psalm 1 tells what a blessed person looks like then it contrasts blessed people with those who are not concerned with being in the presence of the Lord. They are described as evil and wicked people.

Here is Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (ESV)

Do you want to be blessed? Do you want to live continuously in the presences of the Lord? Then you have to know Jesus as your Lord or you will not. If you do know Jesus, then praise the Lord and do as the Psalm says by constantly studying and memorizing passages from the Bible. Why not start with Psalm 1?

If you don't know Jesus, then watch my video on Youtube,, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation and then you will be blessed according to the Bible.

May God Bless you!

Psalm 1 describes the difference between being blessed and being evil or wicked and the results of each. #bibledevotion #Psalm1 #blessed #fruitful #judgment #sinners #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Resurrection of the Dead

 

Whothought up the idea that dead people will be resurrected? Was it just whimsicalwishful thinking invented by fearful people? Or was it something that the Lordhas instilled over a long period of time?

I'mtold that the book of Job may have been written before the other books of theBible. If so, then it is the first recorded mention of the resurrection as wellas our need for a redeemer. Job 19 verses 25 through 27 records Job'sconfidence in a redeemer so that he will be resurrected from the dead. Here iswhat he says, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he willstand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in myflesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold,and not another. My heart faints within me!"

 

KingDavid made mention of the resurrection and they joy it would bring in Psalm 16verse 11, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence thereis fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

 

Butthere is also a grave (pun intended) warning about the resurrection found inDaniel 12 verse 2. It says, "And many of those who sleep in the dust ofthe earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame andeverlasting contempt." The Lord is telling us that even evil people willbe resurrected. This isn't just something for Christians. Jesus also told us inMatthew 25 verses 31 through 45 that everyone will be gathered together forjudgment. Then he says in

Verse46, " And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteousinto eternal life."

 

Whenyou think about your resurrection from the dead and then being able to see theLord with your own eyes, what emotions does that stir up within you? Does yourheart faint within you as Job said? Or maybe you don't know the Lord and itstirs up emotions of fear, dread, or even hate because the last thing you wouldwant to do is be face to face with Jesus in the afterlife?

 

Ifthe latter is the way you are reacting you really need to Watch my video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tellyou how to know Jesus for salvation and then not to have anything but joy tosee the Lord face to face.

 

MayGod blessyou!

 

Thepromise of our resurrection after death is as old as the Bible. It is a promisefor everyone who dies, good or bad. But will it be a joy for you or utter fear?#bibledevotion #resurrection #eternaljoy #eternalsuffering #salvation#gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

The Answer to All Why Questions

Do you ever ask the Lord a bunch of "why" questions? Job constantly asked the Lord to explain why he was suffering. He alternately accused the Lord of treating him badly, which borders on blasphemy, and expressing his faith in the Lord's goodness. This went on for 35 chapters as his so-called friends accused him of worse and worse sins.

Then in Job 38 verses 1 through 3 we read, "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'" For the next four chapters, the Lord questioned Job about his creation. From everything from the stars to the time it takes for a deer to birth a fawn. He asked Job, "Where were you when I made or did all this?"

After Job challenged the Lord to explain his suffering, the Lord didn't give the reasons for his why questions. Instead, the Lord revealed himself to Job. The Lord revealed his sovereignty, his wisdom, and his power through creation. The Lord was telling Job and us that he is the answer to all our why questions. We don't need to know the answers, we need to know the Lord.

When we have "why" questions about whatever is happening in our lives or in the world around us, we should always remember the Lord. Everything in the universe points to the Lord and Psalm 54 verse 4 says, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." Remember the Lord sustains us.

Job answered the Lord in Job 42 verses 2 through 6. Here is part of what he said, “I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” When we are bitter or angry about what is happening to us or around us, we need to do the same thing as Job. We must repent. Of course, if you don't know Jesus, the first thing to do is turn to him for salvation. Watch my video on Youtube,, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation and then … you will know the Lord.

May God Bless you.

We all have why question about our lives and the word around us. The Lord is the answer to them all. #bibledevotion #whysuffering #comfort #whyme #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Comforting Suffering People

Have you ever been with someone who is suffering? It may be the loss of loved ones. It may be the loss of possessions. It may be the loss of health.

What do you do? The book of Job has a very brief description of how to comfort. But it also has a very long description of how not to comfort.

Here is the best comfort you can give. Job 2 verses 11 and 13 says, "Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him … And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great."

When all else fails just be there. Wait for you friend to speak and listen. But this is as far as Job's three friends went. When Job expressed his bitterness and anguished they started to speak.

In a nutshell, for 35 chapters they harangued Job with the same theme. You sinned and this evil is a result of your sins. Repent and you will be healed and fortunes restored. Job was driven to despair by his suffering and by their attacks on his integrity.

Paul tells how to comfort others in 2 Corinthians 1 verses 3 through 5 he says, "The Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

If you have suffered then you can point them to the Father who has comforted you. If you haven't suffered you must admit it but you can assure them the Lord does comfort. If you know Jesus and his suffering, you can help if you don't assume to know all the answers.

If you don't know Jesus you really don't have answers to suffering. If you want to know Jesus and have the wisdom to help people who suffer, watch my pinned message on my profile page, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus for salvation.

May God Bless you.

There are good ways and bad ways to comfort people in their suffering. The Bible gives examples. #bibledevotion #suffering #comfort #salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Satan's Power

 

IsSatan the second most powerful being in all creation? Whatdoes his power entail? Wecan learn a lot from Job as he is tormented by him in Job chapters 1 and 2. First,we find out that Satan had to approach the Lord to do anything according toJob 1, verse 6. Satanis free at this time to wander the earth and he knows us.

 

TheLord asks him if he has considered Job. Healso knows that the Lord has been blessing Job. Notonly does Satan know who Job is but he even thinks he knows Job's motives. Hissuper power is accusing Job before the Lord.

 

TheLord then authorizes Satan to destroy everything Job has. Hereis where we see his other powers. Heworks in the hearts of evil people to steal his animals and kill Job'sservants. Healso caused fire to come down from heaven to burn up sheep and servants. Healso caused a wind to collapse Job's kid's home and kill them all.

 

Finally,the Lord let Satan afflict his health. Job2 verse 7 says, "So Satan went out from the presence of theLord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crownof his head."

 

Ifyou think these things only happened in the past you need to get the JesusProject newsletters. Theyoften relate how Satan does much of the same thing among tribes. Thegreat thing is that the message of Jesus and the power of the Lord is greater.

 

Hereis what you don't want to assume from Job. Satanis the one who orchestrates disasters in our lives. Sometimesthat is true but it is rare in our culture. Ifyou think that you need to rebuke Satan to be healed or get out of trouble. Rememberit he is truly the one causing the problem, it is only because the Lord hasgiven him permission.

 

Buttemptations are a different story. Heis our tempter and we can and should resist him according to James 4 verse 7. Butremember most of our temptations are from our own sinful desire according toJames 1 verses 14 and 15.

 

CanSatan or a demon possess a Christian? Noway, a Christian is possessed by the Holy Spirit. Weare slaves to the Lord and belong to him.  Spoileralert. Satan is not the second most powerful being in creation.

InRevelation 20 verse 1 an unnamed angel chains him puts him in a bottomless pit.

 

Ifyou are not a Christian, then Satan probably will not bother you because youalready belong to him. Ifyou would like to get out of Satan's bondage,

Watch my video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" Itwill tell you how to know Jesus for salvation and the Holy Spirit will live inyou.

 

MayGod Bless you.

 

Satanis very powerful as the Book of Job describes in the first two chapters. Beaware and resist him. #bibledevotion #satan #satanspower #holyspirit #repent#salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

You Can't Thwart God's Plans

 

Canyou change the future? Doyou think that you have control over what happens tomorrow?

 

Psalm115 verses 2 and 3 says,

Whyshould the nations say,

“Whereis their God?”

OurGod is in the heavens;

hedoes all that he pleases.

 

Now, read what happens in Esther 5 verse 9 through 6 verse 11.

Hamanhas planned to kill all the Jews in the Persian empire.

Thedate is set and the king has approved.

ButHaman hates one particular Jew more than all the others.

Sohe has a gallows built and plans to hang Mordecai the next day.

 

Thatnight the king can't sleep so he has the royal archives read to him.

Thatshould be enough to put anyone to sleep.

Buthe hears that Mordecai had save his life perhaps a year or so earlier.

Noone had rewarded Mordecai so the king decides to do so in the morning.

 

Theking goes to his royal chamber and asks who is waiting outside.

Yup,it is Haman waiting to ask the king to hang Mordecai.

Butthe king asks Haman what should be done to honor a person the king wants tohonor.

Haman'sbig ego thinks the king is talking about him.

 

SoHaman answers in Esther 6 verses 7 through 9

“Forthe man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be brought, which theking has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head aroyal crown is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one ofthe king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delightsto honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city,proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the kingdelights to honor.’”

 

Thenthe king tells Haman to do this for Mordecai.

Haman'splans fall apart because they are not the Lord's plans.

Notonly does his plans fall apart but he is soon executed.

 

What'sthe moral of the story?

Getin tune with the Lord's plans.

Hisplan is to save people who turn to Jesus for salvation.

Ifyou haven't done that, you will end up like Haman.

W
atch my video on Youtube,, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" Itwill tell you how to know Jesus for salvation.

 

MayGod Bless you.

 

Noone can thwart God's plans. His plan is to save many people and you can findout how to be saved. #bibledevotion #Haman #Mordecai #godsplans #repent#salvation #gospelin3minutes #jesussaves

Copyright by Ray Ruppert

Satan's Fall

Let's take a look at the Bible to see what happened with Satan's fall. Remember that Revelation 20:2 equates the serpent, dragon, Satan, and Devil. So we need to see him in all these roles.

Satan has more than one fall. Understanding that may clear up the problems. The first is his fall from grace into sin. Ezek 28:11 says he was in the Garden of Eden in perfection. Then, Ezek 28:15 says, " You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In verses 16 and 17 the Lord says he removed him from the mountain of God. And he cast him to the ground. This whole passage is very symbolic as it is a description of the king of Tyre. That was his first fall. It was a fall into sin.

In Genesis 3:1 we find him as a serpent in the Garden of Eden so it is after his first fall. Otherwise he would not have tempted Eve.

Then In Job 1:6-8 We find him coming before the Lord and reporting to him that he has been “going to and fro on the earth, and … walking up and down on it.” So Satan has access to both heaven and earth at this point in history.

Read 2 Chron 18:16-22 and you will that evil spirits are also present in heaven during the reign of the kings of Israel. In fact, one of the evil spirits is authorized by the Lord to become a lying spirit in the false prophets to accomplish the Lord's will. They and Satan can't do anything without permission from the Lord.

Then Jesus says he saw Satan fall from heaven in Luke 10:19. This was after he sent 72 disciple out to preach, heal, and cast out demons. This is his second fall when he loses some of his power.

Where is Satan now? Ephesians 2:2 indicates he is the ruler of the kingdom of the air. He has power in this world. Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us that he is actively fighting against us. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." But we must resist him as Peter says in verse 9 and James says in James 4:7.

There is no doubt that at this time in history Satan is alive and well on planet Earth. He also has access to heaven because Revelation 12:10 tell us that he accuses us day and night before the Lord. Revelation 12:7-10 he loses his access to heaven in a battle with Michael and loyal angels. This is his third fall.

But that isn't his end. In Revelation 20:1-3 Satan is bound and thrown into a pit, not hell, and he is kept there for 1,000 years. That is his fourth fall. But, at the end of the 1,000 years, he will be release to deceive the nations.

Finally, in Revelation 20:10 the devil, that is Satan, is thrown into the lake of fire, that is hell And it says he will be there forever. That is his fifth and final fall.

Anyone who isn't a Christian, that is anyone who doesn't have the Holy Spirit living in them, is by nature following Satan according to Ephesians 2:2. watch my video on Youtube, "The Gospel in 3 Minutes" It will tell you how to know Jesus and be freed from Satan.

May God Bless you.

Copyright by Ray Ruppert