Psalm 87

Psalm 87

A psalm of the sons of Korah. A song.

His foundation is in the holy mountains. The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you O city of GOD! (Selah) “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those who know Me; Behold, O Philistia and Tyre, with Ethiopia: ‘This one was born there.’” And of Zion it will be said, “This one and that one were born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her.” The LORD will record when He registers the peoples: “This one was born there.” (Selah) Both the singers and the players on instruments say, “All my springs are in you.”

This was written to the Israelites but it also applies to the Church, those who are born again not by natural birth of the blood line of family; but those born of spirit and water by the blood line of Jesus into His family. This is exclusive: everyone is invited but not everyone is chosen.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from GOD; for no one can do these signs that You do unless GOD is with Him.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you, be very assured unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of GOD. …  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD.” (John 3:1-21)

Jesus said, “I saw satan fall like lightning from Heaven, listen carefully, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.” (Luke 10:17-20) He made a point that our spiritual birth, being born again, was recorded in Heaven in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Before the foundation of the earth was laid, Jesus was crucified so that every person ever born and who will be born can be saved. Jesus did everything necessary for us to be saved but we have to except the invitation and fulfill the requirements. Requirements? Yes, requirements!

Jesus was clear that being saved is not just saying a prayer and then waiting to die and go to heaven, or saying a prayer and then doing whatever we want for the rest of our life. Jesus said such controversial things as, “If anyone loves Me he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My Words; and the Word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. … Most truthfully I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. … I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6, 12, 23-24)

 “I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. … As the Father loved Me I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:1-2, 10-12)

Study Psalm 91; Isaiah 54:1-17; Matthew 7:21-23, 22:1-14, 25:31-46; Luke 10:1-24; John 1:1-34, 3:1-21, 14, 15:1-17; Revelation 1, 2, 3, 13:1-10, 20:11-15, 21:22-27

Get a red letter edition of the Bible and study what Jesus said!

Study what the Apostles wrote to the first believers in the Epistles, remember they only had the Old Testament to study and quote. But, like them we also have Holy Spirit to remind us of everything Jesus said. That is why we have the New Testament, other than the Gospels and Revelation the writers did not know they were writing for us today so that we would know how to live and do the works of Jesus’ Kingdom in the earth as it is in Heaven.