"And they called the altar Ed"
Unusal that they should call it by name. One writer refers to them putting a title on it for the purpose at hand. Needless to say there was a purpose behind it and it should speak to us today. We know this story I pray; the chidlren of Israel had sent the two and half tribes back across the Jordan to live the life of their own. Still Israelites but seperated by physical things. So they make this altar and there was their testiomny among each other that they was one and that the Lord was God unto them. This was their witness between them of this common belief of God.
There are many things that separate the children of God today but let their be the altar of Ed before us that we are all the children of the King. Different beliefs; different ways of worship; old and young, different nations; but the one base of common belief is in Who He is to us all. I came from the immature place of, "If you don't believe and think like me, then you are wrong"; very narrow I was, but now with travels and maybe just getting older I see that God uses people of all different types and kinds to accomplish His purpose. but even though there may be these differences the foundation is laid in no one else other than Jesus Christ. We come to the altar with the same understanding of that. You may view the world as all wrong and you are the only one right. Or you may know of people like this, but know this, they have their eyes only on themselves not "looking unto Jesus"; Look unto Him and then you will see we are all the same, sinners saved by grace. WE must all come to the altar of ED and declare our witness between brothers and sisters of Christ. A Christian woman was recently killed across seas, many in the church would say, "I don't know her"; and their grief or sorrow is non existant; but that is our sister, one of our own and she laid down her life for the cause of the kingdom. O God may we come to the altar of Ed and declare Who You are and remember why we are there. it is a special verse that gives a name to an altar and I am drawn unto the same place before Him. What about you?
Friday, February 29, 2008
Joshua 22:31
"This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord"
How do we know that the Lord is among us or not? If everythings is going smooth is God among us? Things can be going well but that does not necessarily mean that the Lord is present. things can be at their worst and the Lord could be among you. The circumstances doest not lead to an understanding of God's presence with you or not among you.
Here we have a lesson to be learned, that when the children of God forsake sin and turn away from it, God is present. Among a nation of addicts and sin bound people we can say whether God is with us or not. A true soul of holiness is faced with temptation and flees from it by the power of God. It is the mark of obedience that displays the presence of the Lord. No child of God can face temptation in there own strength. they will fail under such circumstances. But a child of God that is filled with the Spirit can prevail against the sins of this world and the flesh.
As we see the church today submerged in a sense of hopelessness because sin is so rampant and holiness is so sparce. We should acknowledge the fact that the presence of the Lord is absent. Can the Lord work among a people that is vile and disobedient? He tells us of His own nature, that He cannot look on sin. He cannot hear the prayers of sinful children. Our fault lies that we expect God to bless us while we are in sin and practicing things that offend Him. God will not and cannot bless sin in the church or the Christian. Is this why the church is failing today on the part of winning souls?
This Scripture brings rejoicing, "We perceive that the Lord is among us". He is near thsoe that hate sin and despise unholiness. You are laboring for the right walk with the Lord, know that He is among you and with you. And as He draws near to us we are able to draw near unto Him. We are able to fellowship with Him. WE are able to learn of Him. Why? Becasue we have turned from sin and turned unto Him, Who is without sin. Oh, what glorious day that is filled with His Presence and Abiding Person all because we are right with Him (righteous). the moment of sin that causes Him to withdraw, we confess and repent quickly lest we be found in a world of darkness with no light.
Let us not boast if we are foudn righteous, as if the power to turn from sin and overcome sin is found within our own resolve. For unless He gave us the ability and strength we would surely fall. We are nothing without Him, but in Him we are able to do all things. It is He, that is able to keep us from falling. It is He alone that preserves our steps and imparts His righteousness unto us. Give glory, not in your own discipline, but in His marvelous mercy and grace.
If you find yourself today with Him not 'among you' run quickly to the throne of grace and you shall find mercy. Let not the moments pass, delay not but find Him Who is able to make you a vessel of honor.
How do we know that the Lord is among us or not? If everythings is going smooth is God among us? Things can be going well but that does not necessarily mean that the Lord is present. things can be at their worst and the Lord could be among you. The circumstances doest not lead to an understanding of God's presence with you or not among you.
Here we have a lesson to be learned, that when the children of God forsake sin and turn away from it, God is present. Among a nation of addicts and sin bound people we can say whether God is with us or not. A true soul of holiness is faced with temptation and flees from it by the power of God. It is the mark of obedience that displays the presence of the Lord. No child of God can face temptation in there own strength. they will fail under such circumstances. But a child of God that is filled with the Spirit can prevail against the sins of this world and the flesh.
As we see the church today submerged in a sense of hopelessness because sin is so rampant and holiness is so sparce. We should acknowledge the fact that the presence of the Lord is absent. Can the Lord work among a people that is vile and disobedient? He tells us of His own nature, that He cannot look on sin. He cannot hear the prayers of sinful children. Our fault lies that we expect God to bless us while we are in sin and practicing things that offend Him. God will not and cannot bless sin in the church or the Christian. Is this why the church is failing today on the part of winning souls?
This Scripture brings rejoicing, "We perceive that the Lord is among us". He is near thsoe that hate sin and despise unholiness. You are laboring for the right walk with the Lord, know that He is among you and with you. And as He draws near to us we are able to draw near unto Him. We are able to fellowship with Him. WE are able to learn of Him. Why? Becasue we have turned from sin and turned unto Him, Who is without sin. Oh, what glorious day that is filled with His Presence and Abiding Person all because we are right with Him (righteous). the moment of sin that causes Him to withdraw, we confess and repent quickly lest we be found in a world of darkness with no light.
Let us not boast if we are foudn righteous, as if the power to turn from sin and overcome sin is found within our own resolve. For unless He gave us the ability and strength we would surely fall. We are nothing without Him, but in Him we are able to do all things. It is He, that is able to keep us from falling. It is He alone that preserves our steps and imparts His righteousness unto us. Give glory, not in your own discipline, but in His marvelous mercy and grace.
If you find yourself today with Him not 'among you' run quickly to the throne of grace and you shall find mercy. Let not the moments pass, delay not but find Him Who is able to make you a vessel of honor.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Isaiah 59:16 - devotion
"He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor"
Having read this devotion by Andrew Murray this evening and just a few days ago I received my copy of "The Herald of His Coming" with an article in that by Dennis Kinlaw who preached on this same verse I am compelled to write on it.
How beautiful the thought of knowing that God is looking upon us as His people. How wonderful to know that intercession is what pleases God, even so much that He waits for His people to pray so that He might accompolish His work in this world for the souls of men. But how horrible and despairing that when God was looking He could not find one. The thought runs through me for today, "is there any out there that can move heaven and earth?" What do you see O heavenly Father when You behold Your children, is there any that intercedes unto you?
Some will respond right away, "Of course there is"; but when you hear the sad truth fo how many have no prayer life it will cause you to wonder. It has been my privilege to meet and know of those that cry out to God for this land and for the church. But yet when we see the world spirally downard toward evil; when we see souls perishing at an astonishing rate here in this country; and when we see the church becoming a den of worldliness, you must wonder if God is wondering why there is no intercessor that can change the course of history for us. Can one person do it? Absolutely! Let me remind you of Moses and how he interceded for Israel over and over; Let me tell you of Hudson Taylor and George Mueller; let me introduce you to Praying JOhn Hyde. The closest one to our day and age was Hyde, how he commanded the heavens over the souls of thsoe lost in India. How he labored day and night for one soul a day; then the next year he labored for two souls a day; and then the third year he labored for four souls a day. To know that God awaits for us to rise up and answer the call, we know God is able. But it is necessary that we die to self in order to live unto Him. To come boldly unto the throne of grace and obtain mercy; to ask with confidence that we are in His will and He will accomplish His heavenly will on earth. How much could we do for the souls that will cry out to Him.
Sadly, the prayer life of the church today is such general, repetitive and heartless words that they only accomplish one thing, they take up space and breath. They fill the time but they get nothing done for the souls of men. Oh, for the church to return to prayer and know that it is our life of divine breath. Waiting before God knwoing that the souls of men hang in the balance. Tozer said, "If Christians could have eternity painted on their eyelids; heaven on one and hell on the other, they would never act the same again." A thousand times, Amen! We must remember eternity is coming and men are perishing all around us. the prayer of an intercessor to stop the multitudes from going into hell is what is needed today. Will you not rise up and interceed? Will you not give time and place before the Lord for the souls of the lost? We have lost enough time already may we wake up and pray.
Having read this devotion by Andrew Murray this evening and just a few days ago I received my copy of "The Herald of His Coming" with an article in that by Dennis Kinlaw who preached on this same verse I am compelled to write on it.
How beautiful the thought of knowing that God is looking upon us as His people. How wonderful to know that intercession is what pleases God, even so much that He waits for His people to pray so that He might accompolish His work in this world for the souls of men. But how horrible and despairing that when God was looking He could not find one. The thought runs through me for today, "is there any out there that can move heaven and earth?" What do you see O heavenly Father when You behold Your children, is there any that intercedes unto you?
Some will respond right away, "Of course there is"; but when you hear the sad truth fo how many have no prayer life it will cause you to wonder. It has been my privilege to meet and know of those that cry out to God for this land and for the church. But yet when we see the world spirally downard toward evil; when we see souls perishing at an astonishing rate here in this country; and when we see the church becoming a den of worldliness, you must wonder if God is wondering why there is no intercessor that can change the course of history for us. Can one person do it? Absolutely! Let me remind you of Moses and how he interceded for Israel over and over; Let me tell you of Hudson Taylor and George Mueller; let me introduce you to Praying JOhn Hyde. The closest one to our day and age was Hyde, how he commanded the heavens over the souls of thsoe lost in India. How he labored day and night for one soul a day; then the next year he labored for two souls a day; and then the third year he labored for four souls a day. To know that God awaits for us to rise up and answer the call, we know God is able. But it is necessary that we die to self in order to live unto Him. To come boldly unto the throne of grace and obtain mercy; to ask with confidence that we are in His will and He will accomplish His heavenly will on earth. How much could we do for the souls that will cry out to Him.
Sadly, the prayer life of the church today is such general, repetitive and heartless words that they only accomplish one thing, they take up space and breath. They fill the time but they get nothing done for the souls of men. Oh, for the church to return to prayer and know that it is our life of divine breath. Waiting before God knwoing that the souls of men hang in the balance. Tozer said, "If Christians could have eternity painted on their eyelids; heaven on one and hell on the other, they would never act the same again." A thousand times, Amen! We must remember eternity is coming and men are perishing all around us. the prayer of an intercessor to stop the multitudes from going into hell is what is needed today. Will you not rise up and interceed? Will you not give time and place before the Lord for the souls of the lost? We have lost enough time already may we wake up and pray.
Joshua 22:5, 31, 34; 23:11, 14; 24:14, 15
Finished up Joshua this morning and have much to share on these verses, so I do not know if it is better to do devotion or commentary, but probably will come out as a mix;
22:5, "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law. . .to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your ehart and with all your soul."
--This is a verse that Moses had shared with the people when they approached unto God and was given this mandate from the Lord. God had declared that in our relationship with Him there is no other way to please Him than with our all. As God has given us His all and continues to impart Himself unto us to make us like Him; "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ"; "Behold, old things are passed away, and all things are made new"; "If you abide in me, then I will abide in you"; etc. There is no other way to accomplish this than by a whole-hearted effort. The great folly today in the church is they think they can do it by half-hearted attempts and efforts. May we learn from Moses, as he declared unto the children of Israel; may we learn from Joshua, as he declared unto them; may we learn it from Christ as He spoke it unto His disciples. We have the same declaration and we must examine ourselves to see how we match up to what is required of us.
First note, "take diligent heed", there is an urgency here that presses the need upon a soul. Lax efforts by Christians cost the kingdom of God is spiritual power and fruit. We have lost much because as a church and as individuals we do not take diligent heed. Is it not true that most 'church going religionist Christians' give little heed to God except from 9-12 on Sunday mornings? they are not beofre the Lord daily and can go great lengths of days and weeks without Him. with such an absence of God in their life there is no way they are following the command to 'take diligent heed'. Note as well, that this phrase is used repeatedly throughout Old andNew Testament and is not to be passed over lightly.
Second note, "to love . . .to walk. . .to keep. . .to cleave. . .to serve" Here are the things of proof in a Christians life. If a "so called" Christian does not 'take diligent heed' , how can they do these things? It is impossible. In order to do all these things listed, it is only because a person did 'take diligent heed'. Because of the first part, 'taking heed' realize that these things will come from Him. I pray quite regularly, "Lord, teach me of divine love". It is hard for man to love, but divine love is beyond this world and can only learned from Him Who is Divine. How can I love Him Who is Divine? Only if He imparts unto me. How is my walk with Him? "Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?" How do I keep Him? "If a man loves Me, he will keep My commandments"; meaning, if a person does not keep His commandments, then they cannot love Him; If they cannot love Him, then they cannot walk with Him; and if they cannot keep His laws (commands), love Him, or walk with Him, it is because they have not 'taken diligent heed'; Can you see how it all works together? Yet, the church today has members of religion that want to profess Him but not to any of these things that is expected and commanded of them. You cannot have both worlds. If you are not for Him, then you are against Him. Holy or unholy; lost or saved; light or darkness; heaven or hell but not a mix of the two.
--third note, How? "With all your hear and with all your soul"; there is nothing lacking in your existence; He has saved you from top to bottom and He will keep all of you - mind, soul, body and heart; It is the clearest of messages that we yield unto Him with our all. NOthing pulled back. If you are not there then confess to Him today that you have lost your way and have not 'take diligent heed with all your heart and soul'? You have allowed for some other interest to occupy His place in your life and you have offended Him. Repent of your waywardness and renew your life unto Him. that as He gave His all for you so you will give your all to Him.
22:5, "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law. . .to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your ehart and with all your soul."
--This is a verse that Moses had shared with the people when they approached unto God and was given this mandate from the Lord. God had declared that in our relationship with Him there is no other way to please Him than with our all. As God has given us His all and continues to impart Himself unto us to make us like Him; "Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ"; "Behold, old things are passed away, and all things are made new"; "If you abide in me, then I will abide in you"; etc. There is no other way to accomplish this than by a whole-hearted effort. The great folly today in the church is they think they can do it by half-hearted attempts and efforts. May we learn from Moses, as he declared unto the children of Israel; may we learn from Joshua, as he declared unto them; may we learn it from Christ as He spoke it unto His disciples. We have the same declaration and we must examine ourselves to see how we match up to what is required of us.
First note, "take diligent heed", there is an urgency here that presses the need upon a soul. Lax efforts by Christians cost the kingdom of God is spiritual power and fruit. We have lost much because as a church and as individuals we do not take diligent heed. Is it not true that most 'church going religionist Christians' give little heed to God except from 9-12 on Sunday mornings? they are not beofre the Lord daily and can go great lengths of days and weeks without Him. with such an absence of God in their life there is no way they are following the command to 'take diligent heed'. Note as well, that this phrase is used repeatedly throughout Old andNew Testament and is not to be passed over lightly.
Second note, "to love . . .to walk. . .to keep. . .to cleave. . .to serve" Here are the things of proof in a Christians life. If a "so called" Christian does not 'take diligent heed' , how can they do these things? It is impossible. In order to do all these things listed, it is only because a person did 'take diligent heed'. Because of the first part, 'taking heed' realize that these things will come from Him. I pray quite regularly, "Lord, teach me of divine love". It is hard for man to love, but divine love is beyond this world and can only learned from Him Who is Divine. How can I love Him Who is Divine? Only if He imparts unto me. How is my walk with Him? "Can two walk together, unless they be agreed?" How do I keep Him? "If a man loves Me, he will keep My commandments"; meaning, if a person does not keep His commandments, then they cannot love Him; If they cannot love Him, then they cannot walk with Him; and if they cannot keep His laws (commands), love Him, or walk with Him, it is because they have not 'taken diligent heed'; Can you see how it all works together? Yet, the church today has members of religion that want to profess Him but not to any of these things that is expected and commanded of them. You cannot have both worlds. If you are not for Him, then you are against Him. Holy or unholy; lost or saved; light or darkness; heaven or hell but not a mix of the two.
--third note, How? "With all your hear and with all your soul"; there is nothing lacking in your existence; He has saved you from top to bottom and He will keep all of you - mind, soul, body and heart; It is the clearest of messages that we yield unto Him with our all. NOthing pulled back. If you are not there then confess to Him today that you have lost your way and have not 'take diligent heed with all your heart and soul'? You have allowed for some other interest to occupy His place in your life and you have offended Him. Repent of your waywardness and renew your life unto Him. that as He gave His all for you so you will give your all to Him.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Joshua 15:18 devotion (rough draft)
"What wouldest thou?"
One of my studies the Lord directed me to do in my Bible readings was on marking all the questions of the Bible. How vast and vaired they are. But I gain from them, especially one like this we have before us.
Caleb had been blest by the Lord for 'wholly following Him". He had received Hebron as his possession because of his faithfulness. His daughter was getting married and she runs to her father to ask of him for more than what may have already been given. Thus, our question, "what wouldest thou?"
For me, what good does it due me to ask someone for something if I know they cannot help or provide the answer. Unless they are able to meet the question with a satisfactory answer then why ask the question. So it is not my interest when I come across this verse in my readings about Caleb and his daughter, it is my interest of my heavenly Father saying to me, "What wouldest thou?" did not Jesus ask many times to people that came to Him, "What do you want?" Someone will say that God knows everything therefore there is no need to ask. Then why does the Scripture teach us to ask, to seek and to knock. It is because our Father wants us to ask of Him. He is glorified in answering us and our faith is made strong by believing that what ask is heard and know, that unless we are asking amiss, He is able to answer and do. Now I believe that all around us there are needs and desires to be asked of God. The altar call is a place and time to meet God with petitions and as they kneel or sit or the front pews and at the altar they hear the introduction from the Father, "What wouldest thou?" Then they begin to pour themselves out. I have a prayer notebook filled with Scriptures, names, events and things God has given me to contemplate. Many know of this prayer notebook and make request for me to put them in the book and pray over them. Sometimes I see them coming and I know they have a need and I begin with, "What wouldest thou?" "Would place so and so in the book?; Would you pray for me?;" It is not enough to say, "I know I should pray more"; It is your heavenly Father that waits for you to come to Him. But search your heart today and be honest with yourself, "What wouldest thou?" What is it that presses sore upon you and you have no one else but God to pour yourself out to? Will you not go to Him and ask? Remember, He is able to do abundantly above all that we can think of.
There is also the perspective that not just of us coming to Him to ask, but us saying unto Him, "What wouldest thou have me to do?" A listening ear and heart to know what the Father would have you to do in His service. is there some soul to be witnessed to? Is there some need that He wishes for you to respond to? How will you know unless you ask Him? things in our life about our walk with Him, our service to Him and our love to Him; Follow faithful that which is required of you from Him. "Be still and know Him" and as you are still ask of Him, "What wouldest thou?"
One of my studies the Lord directed me to do in my Bible readings was on marking all the questions of the Bible. How vast and vaired they are. But I gain from them, especially one like this we have before us.
Caleb had been blest by the Lord for 'wholly following Him". He had received Hebron as his possession because of his faithfulness. His daughter was getting married and she runs to her father to ask of him for more than what may have already been given. Thus, our question, "what wouldest thou?"
For me, what good does it due me to ask someone for something if I know they cannot help or provide the answer. Unless they are able to meet the question with a satisfactory answer then why ask the question. So it is not my interest when I come across this verse in my readings about Caleb and his daughter, it is my interest of my heavenly Father saying to me, "What wouldest thou?" did not Jesus ask many times to people that came to Him, "What do you want?" Someone will say that God knows everything therefore there is no need to ask. Then why does the Scripture teach us to ask, to seek and to knock. It is because our Father wants us to ask of Him. He is glorified in answering us and our faith is made strong by believing that what ask is heard and know, that unless we are asking amiss, He is able to answer and do. Now I believe that all around us there are needs and desires to be asked of God. The altar call is a place and time to meet God with petitions and as they kneel or sit or the front pews and at the altar they hear the introduction from the Father, "What wouldest thou?" Then they begin to pour themselves out. I have a prayer notebook filled with Scriptures, names, events and things God has given me to contemplate. Many know of this prayer notebook and make request for me to put them in the book and pray over them. Sometimes I see them coming and I know they have a need and I begin with, "What wouldest thou?" "Would place so and so in the book?; Would you pray for me?;" It is not enough to say, "I know I should pray more"; It is your heavenly Father that waits for you to come to Him. But search your heart today and be honest with yourself, "What wouldest thou?" What is it that presses sore upon you and you have no one else but God to pour yourself out to? Will you not go to Him and ask? Remember, He is able to do abundantly above all that we can think of.
There is also the perspective that not just of us coming to Him to ask, but us saying unto Him, "What wouldest thou have me to do?" A listening ear and heart to know what the Father would have you to do in His service. is there some soul to be witnessed to? Is there some need that He wishes for you to respond to? How will you know unless you ask Him? things in our life about our walk with Him, our service to Him and our love to Him; Follow faithful that which is required of you from Him. "Be still and know Him" and as you are still ask of Him, "What wouldest thou?"
Joshua 10:14, devotion (rough draft)
"And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel."
Out of all the Scriptures and all the saints, here in the book of Joshua is this astounding statement. The Lord obeyed the voice of a man - Joshua. We can look back to Moses and see all of his intercessions and how God hearkeend unto him. We can look back to Abraham and see how God counted him as a friend and gave ear unto his prayers. Then there was Enoch, who walked with God. But here in the book of Joshua, he commands for the Lord to do a wondrous work. The children of Israel was in battle against the kings of the land. Joshua was running out of daylight and he asks of God to stay the sun and the moon. No other day was like this one, for God gave him what he asked. Without sounding to philosophical we must ask the question, Why? Why does this act stand apart from all the other saints before and after Joshua? Did God not do wondrous things before and after on behalf of His children? Does not continue to work wonders in ou midst?
I would always say that the one great work of God is in the saving of the soul. One of the great works of history is revival in the church and how God poured out His Spirit upon flesh. But here, the Word tells me that this day stands alone by God giving heed to man. The cause of Israel to take the promised land was at stake. God Who created all things had never done this before since Genesis where He set the sun and the moon on the fourth day. The people of the -ites in the land were possesors of the land that had been promised to Abraham and his descendants, and they had defiled it with idols and mockery to the God of that created all things. More was at stake than just winning a battle for Joshua.
What would compel him to ask such a thing? Do you think that any of the great generals of old would not say at one point or another, "If I only had more day light"? Have you ever asked for more time? More daylight? But as much as people need things of the Lord, most will not ask of Him. they will not pour out their desires unto Him, Who stands ready to do great and mighty things. But when this was not a thing of Joshua alone, for only a man can do as much as God permits and enables him. God breathes divine unctions into our souls. Things so wonderful and marvellous that all the world will know that He is God of heaven and earth. He Who commands the sun to rise and fall and the earth to spin and the universe to expand and retract can also hold everything in place. What power! God breathed into Joshua this holy amibition to ask so that
God might show He was God. He would complete all that He promised to Abraham,"I will give you this land"; for God cannot lie. "Joshua, I will be with you", God said to him, and He cannot lie, so He hearkens unto him with a request unlike any other.
Does He hearkne unto you? Is there not cause for us to ask of Him great and mighty things? Does He not breath into us divine unctions to bring Him glory? Then be bold and come into the throne room, where Christ hath made them able to come and lay thy petition before Him,Who is God. Do not be vain when things are laid on your heart and soul and say," I have thought of this". It is not your thought or action, it is the mighty God within you doing great and mighty things. Give the honor unto HIm. I thank the Lord for this verse, for it is unique. But I would also hope and ask that God would give us the same, that He would hearken unto us and the day in which He moves among us, it would be said, "There was not other day like it". May it be this day!
Out of all the Scriptures and all the saints, here in the book of Joshua is this astounding statement. The Lord obeyed the voice of a man - Joshua. We can look back to Moses and see all of his intercessions and how God hearkeend unto him. We can look back to Abraham and see how God counted him as a friend and gave ear unto his prayers. Then there was Enoch, who walked with God. But here in the book of Joshua, he commands for the Lord to do a wondrous work. The children of Israel was in battle against the kings of the land. Joshua was running out of daylight and he asks of God to stay the sun and the moon. No other day was like this one, for God gave him what he asked. Without sounding to philosophical we must ask the question, Why? Why does this act stand apart from all the other saints before and after Joshua? Did God not do wondrous things before and after on behalf of His children? Does not continue to work wonders in ou midst?
I would always say that the one great work of God is in the saving of the soul. One of the great works of history is revival in the church and how God poured out His Spirit upon flesh. But here, the Word tells me that this day stands alone by God giving heed to man. The cause of Israel to take the promised land was at stake. God Who created all things had never done this before since Genesis where He set the sun and the moon on the fourth day. The people of the -ites in the land were possesors of the land that had been promised to Abraham and his descendants, and they had defiled it with idols and mockery to the God of that created all things. More was at stake than just winning a battle for Joshua.
What would compel him to ask such a thing? Do you think that any of the great generals of old would not say at one point or another, "If I only had more day light"? Have you ever asked for more time? More daylight? But as much as people need things of the Lord, most will not ask of Him. they will not pour out their desires unto Him, Who stands ready to do great and mighty things. But when this was not a thing of Joshua alone, for only a man can do as much as God permits and enables him. God breathes divine unctions into our souls. Things so wonderful and marvellous that all the world will know that He is God of heaven and earth. He Who commands the sun to rise and fall and the earth to spin and the universe to expand and retract can also hold everything in place. What power! God breathed into Joshua this holy amibition to ask so that
God might show He was God. He would complete all that He promised to Abraham,"I will give you this land"; for God cannot lie. "Joshua, I will be with you", God said to him, and He cannot lie, so He hearkens unto him with a request unlike any other.
Does He hearkne unto you? Is there not cause for us to ask of Him great and mighty things? Does He not breath into us divine unctions to bring Him glory? Then be bold and come into the throne room, where Christ hath made them able to come and lay thy petition before Him,Who is God. Do not be vain when things are laid on your heart and soul and say," I have thought of this". It is not your thought or action, it is the mighty God within you doing great and mighty things. Give the honor unto HIm. I thank the Lord for this verse, for it is unique. But I would also hope and ask that God would give us the same, that He would hearken unto us and the day in which He moves among us, it would be said, "There was not other day like it". May it be this day!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Psalm 119:1-5 devotion (rough draft)
119:1, ". . .in the way, who walk. . .
119:3, ". . .they walk in his ways."
119:5, "O tha my ways. . ."
Ways and walking
Those that know me well, know this story, but those of you that don't let me share where my love for Psalm 119 comes from. when I was a teenager, the son of a preacher, we had to go through most of what preachers kids did with services and duties of a pastor. When dad went to the hospital,we all went and sat in the car. Weddings and funerals of people we did not know, we had to go and endure. One family in the church had a grand son that was lost and got into drugs, burnt out in his mind and was at Weston, a mental hospital here in WV. Dad went out to visit him a few times while there. He would tell the story of how that young man saw, "Two great big black things at the foot of his bed and in the doorway." His only comfort was that he would recite Psalm 119, all 176 verses. The Lord used that to teach me what was possible with a mind. Other factors played in to my memorization during my teenage years. But one of the greatest efforts I put forth was to memorize all of Psalm 119 and not just to memorize it but to keep it. It started off to do it for the accomplishment itself, but, oh, I cannot express to you what joy it has brought to me spiritually. Martin Luther called it, "The best of verses and of the Psalms"; other old saints have fell in love with it and it has been the instruction for many. I have begun several times to pattern Spurgeon in his commentary of the Psalms and I have worked on this one. so that is the background of my love for Psalm 119 and it continues to feed me, as it did this morrning as I was reciting it. I want to pass this on to you through this devotion. . .
Within the first five verses the two words, 'ways' and 'walk' are used to build. Any Christian knows the value of walking with the Lord. but these two words tie together, your ways determine what kind of walk you have with Him. Now, any Christian, wants as close a walk with the Lord as they possibly can. If they don't desire to walk with Him then they are not of Him, plain and simple. But many a Christian has begun to walk with Him only to lose the lustre of it because of their ways in life. They are not pleasing ways, they are not holy ways and 'can two walk together unless they be agreed?'
I would ask you today, how is your walk with the Lord? Could we not all rejoice for everyone to say, "I don't know that I have been any closer than where I am right now." Oh, wouldn't that be a wonderful testimony of the church. But if left to truth, we kind of know that most in the church today do not walk with Him and their ways are corrupt. The flesh is ruling and reigning. The Spirit is quenched, resisted and grieved.
How do we change this? I believe that throught the Holy Spirit God breaths Divine life into His own. My wretchedness is mine own fault; but my righteousness can only come from Him Who is righteous. No good thing dwells within me, except the Presence of God. Now this Presence of God, His Holy Spirit, draws me unto Him, feeds me and teaches me. So that He makes me look at my ways before Him. My thoughts, my words, my actions, my desires and so on. When I behold my ways I will know how my walk with Him is. If I find sin in daily ways then I know that I am not walking close to Him. The verse here reads that if we are walking in His ways then sin is not happening. Oh, that we may pray and find many brothers and sisters in Christ that are walking so close to the Lord that sin cannot get a foothold.
I see within many of the church today with open, vile sin. Unfaithfulness to the church services, prayer, witnessing is a breeding ground for iniquity. Familes and individuals come one Sunday, miss two and back and forth, and in and out of the church, until some sickness or problem then they come consistenly. Can people not see that their walk is hazardous because their ways are filled with transgressions? How many people started to read their Bibles through this year and after two months now have given up and fallen far behind because their ways had time for TV, movies, eating out, friends and so on but they did not make time for the Lord. And now they walk contrary to Him, Who loves them. Is there any thing worse to say to God, "I don't have time for you." when it is God who gave them the time. How vile and ungrateful we are. May we choose today to cleanse ourselves and confess specifically our sins. To tell our Lord to cleanse us by His precious blood for our ways are sinful and offensive to Him. Then we will see our walk with Him is perfect and wonderful. Look to Him and make sure you are walkin with Him closely because your ways are pleasing in His sight.
119:3, ". . .they walk in his ways."
119:5, "O tha my ways. . ."
Ways and walking
Those that know me well, know this story, but those of you that don't let me share where my love for Psalm 119 comes from. when I was a teenager, the son of a preacher, we had to go through most of what preachers kids did with services and duties of a pastor. When dad went to the hospital,we all went and sat in the car. Weddings and funerals of people we did not know, we had to go and endure. One family in the church had a grand son that was lost and got into drugs, burnt out in his mind and was at Weston, a mental hospital here in WV. Dad went out to visit him a few times while there. He would tell the story of how that young man saw, "Two great big black things at the foot of his bed and in the doorway." His only comfort was that he would recite Psalm 119, all 176 verses. The Lord used that to teach me what was possible with a mind. Other factors played in to my memorization during my teenage years. But one of the greatest efforts I put forth was to memorize all of Psalm 119 and not just to memorize it but to keep it. It started off to do it for the accomplishment itself, but, oh, I cannot express to you what joy it has brought to me spiritually. Martin Luther called it, "The best of verses and of the Psalms"; other old saints have fell in love with it and it has been the instruction for many. I have begun several times to pattern Spurgeon in his commentary of the Psalms and I have worked on this one. so that is the background of my love for Psalm 119 and it continues to feed me, as it did this morrning as I was reciting it. I want to pass this on to you through this devotion. . .
Within the first five verses the two words, 'ways' and 'walk' are used to build. Any Christian knows the value of walking with the Lord. but these two words tie together, your ways determine what kind of walk you have with Him. Now, any Christian, wants as close a walk with the Lord as they possibly can. If they don't desire to walk with Him then they are not of Him, plain and simple. But many a Christian has begun to walk with Him only to lose the lustre of it because of their ways in life. They are not pleasing ways, they are not holy ways and 'can two walk together unless they be agreed?'
I would ask you today, how is your walk with the Lord? Could we not all rejoice for everyone to say, "I don't know that I have been any closer than where I am right now." Oh, wouldn't that be a wonderful testimony of the church. But if left to truth, we kind of know that most in the church today do not walk with Him and their ways are corrupt. The flesh is ruling and reigning. The Spirit is quenched, resisted and grieved.
How do we change this? I believe that throught the Holy Spirit God breaths Divine life into His own. My wretchedness is mine own fault; but my righteousness can only come from Him Who is righteous. No good thing dwells within me, except the Presence of God. Now this Presence of God, His Holy Spirit, draws me unto Him, feeds me and teaches me. So that He makes me look at my ways before Him. My thoughts, my words, my actions, my desires and so on. When I behold my ways I will know how my walk with Him is. If I find sin in daily ways then I know that I am not walking close to Him. The verse here reads that if we are walking in His ways then sin is not happening. Oh, that we may pray and find many brothers and sisters in Christ that are walking so close to the Lord that sin cannot get a foothold.
I see within many of the church today with open, vile sin. Unfaithfulness to the church services, prayer, witnessing is a breeding ground for iniquity. Familes and individuals come one Sunday, miss two and back and forth, and in and out of the church, until some sickness or problem then they come consistenly. Can people not see that their walk is hazardous because their ways are filled with transgressions? How many people started to read their Bibles through this year and after two months now have given up and fallen far behind because their ways had time for TV, movies, eating out, friends and so on but they did not make time for the Lord. And now they walk contrary to Him, Who loves them. Is there any thing worse to say to God, "I don't have time for you." when it is God who gave them the time. How vile and ungrateful we are. May we choose today to cleanse ourselves and confess specifically our sins. To tell our Lord to cleanse us by His precious blood for our ways are sinful and offensive to Him. Then we will see our walk with Him is perfect and wonderful. Look to Him and make sure you are walkin with Him closely because your ways are pleasing in His sight.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Deuteronomy commentary 1:7-
1:7, "Turn you. and take your journey, and go in. . ." It is the same message for the Isralites as it is for lost people today; they was wandering around in the wilderness because God had said they would remain there for 40 years because of their unbelief and disobedience; now that the time period is over it is time to change and receive that which was intended for them; the same as to a lost soul, "you have lingered in sin and darkness long enough, now be saved and delivered"; if you are a Christian, and by that I mean a true born again believer, you remember that day like no other, the day you were saved and 10,000 angels rejoiced and you were set free; no day like that one is there?! But now what? it is time to go in a different direction and to leave familar ground for unfamilar ground, it is the walk of faith; the journey for the children of Israel had been by faith, for water, for food, for leading, it was all by the hand of God; we leave our place of the flesh to live in the Spirit and walk by faith, our journey is the life here for however short a time it may be;
deuteronomy 31:17 - devotion (rough draft)
"Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?"
The church today is largely in trouble. It is not my desire to segment by denominations or worship styles, the body of Christ is the body of Christ and the Lord knows those Who are His. But across the board we know we are losing ground rapidly. The power and the influence of the Gospel upon this land, families and indiviudals is shrinking. When you lose the power of the Spirit to influence man, families and churches it is because that God has withdrawn His Presence. This verse I came across this weekend while finishing up my Bible readings for Deuternonomy. No doubt in my commentary I will touch it again on this same theme that I am sharing with you now.
Growing up in the 1970's as a child and the 1980's as a teenager has given me an advantage of generations. Because of my fathers influence I was able to be taught by some of the old revivalist of the 1900's. I know that word - 'revivalist', is not used much any more but it is still a word that describes men off God who were faithful to preach, and evanglize the world. I consider some of the old saints, revivalists, such as: DL Moody, Charles Finney, billy sunday, Oswald J. Smith, and Leonard Ravenhill. It was Ravenhill that preached a stirring message to the church about what was coming and that we was to blame. We are now experienceing what that man foretold. It was glimpses of evangeilcals losing their walk with the Lord that stirred Tozer and Ravenhill to warn the church of what would be the result of such actions to forsake God and be drawn to entertainment and education and anything else that replaces God.
We look around and see churchs cutting corners in worship services. Less Bible teaching, preaching and learning and more fellowship time. Fellowship is needful for unity among the church but isn't it amazing that the first church was in unity by prayer and we are in unity because of Super bowl parties and food. I rejoiced when the NFL said churches could not broadcast from a church; I thought the church should serparate itself from such actions but instead they embraced the world into the house of God. Only last week the NFL reversed its decision and the church rejoiced as if they had won some great victory. We are so blind and have lost our way, is it not because God is not among us?
I am ready to declare "Ichabod" upon the doorways of the church? Absolutely not!! For Christ said, "Peter, upon you I will build the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail". Christ started the church; died for the church and is coming back for the church. It is His, and He has won the victory. but, we as His servants have not gained the victory over teh flesh becaue we will not die to self. How does God respond to an unholy church or unholy Christian? We lose His favor, His protection and His mercy. As He allowed for judgement to fall on Israel throughout the old testament so He allows for it to fall on His church so that He might purge the evil out of it and sanctify a pure, undefiled bride. Evils come upon the land, upon the church, upon families and souls and if this at all bothers us then we will ask, why? Know the answer is found within this verse, "Because God is not among us".
"Return unto Me, and I will return unto you and restore you"; may we confess, repent, and draw night unto Him for the sake of millions and billions of souls on this planet that are lost and perishing.
The church today is largely in trouble. It is not my desire to segment by denominations or worship styles, the body of Christ is the body of Christ and the Lord knows those Who are His. But across the board we know we are losing ground rapidly. The power and the influence of the Gospel upon this land, families and indiviudals is shrinking. When you lose the power of the Spirit to influence man, families and churches it is because that God has withdrawn His Presence. This verse I came across this weekend while finishing up my Bible readings for Deuternonomy. No doubt in my commentary I will touch it again on this same theme that I am sharing with you now.
Growing up in the 1970's as a child and the 1980's as a teenager has given me an advantage of generations. Because of my fathers influence I was able to be taught by some of the old revivalist of the 1900's. I know that word - 'revivalist', is not used much any more but it is still a word that describes men off God who were faithful to preach, and evanglize the world. I consider some of the old saints, revivalists, such as: DL Moody, Charles Finney, billy sunday, Oswald J. Smith, and Leonard Ravenhill. It was Ravenhill that preached a stirring message to the church about what was coming and that we was to blame. We are now experienceing what that man foretold. It was glimpses of evangeilcals losing their walk with the Lord that stirred Tozer and Ravenhill to warn the church of what would be the result of such actions to forsake God and be drawn to entertainment and education and anything else that replaces God.
We look around and see churchs cutting corners in worship services. Less Bible teaching, preaching and learning and more fellowship time. Fellowship is needful for unity among the church but isn't it amazing that the first church was in unity by prayer and we are in unity because of Super bowl parties and food. I rejoiced when the NFL said churches could not broadcast from a church; I thought the church should serparate itself from such actions but instead they embraced the world into the house of God. Only last week the NFL reversed its decision and the church rejoiced as if they had won some great victory. We are so blind and have lost our way, is it not because God is not among us?
I am ready to declare "Ichabod" upon the doorways of the church? Absolutely not!! For Christ said, "Peter, upon you I will build the church and the gates of hell shall not prevail". Christ started the church; died for the church and is coming back for the church. It is His, and He has won the victory. but, we as His servants have not gained the victory over teh flesh becaue we will not die to self. How does God respond to an unholy church or unholy Christian? We lose His favor, His protection and His mercy. As He allowed for judgement to fall on Israel throughout the old testament so He allows for it to fall on His church so that He might purge the evil out of it and sanctify a pure, undefiled bride. Evils come upon the land, upon the church, upon families and souls and if this at all bothers us then we will ask, why? Know the answer is found within this verse, "Because God is not among us".
"Return unto Me, and I will return unto you and restore you"; may we confess, repent, and draw night unto Him for the sake of millions and billions of souls on this planet that are lost and perishing.
"Broken Before the Throne II" prayer conference
Last week the green light was given to proceed with repeating the format for another exceptional prayer time as last year's prayer conference. Scheduled for October 11-18, 2008 at Westview Baptist church, Martinsburg, WV; this will run Saturcay through Saturday with 20 sessions; speakers so far confirmed are: Roy Fish, John Franklin and me; I will be doing a couple of sessions this year; others contacted and waiting to hear from are: Sammy Tippit, Al Whittinghill and Daniel Henderson;
Be in prayer and fasting for these days of preparation; as details come I will let you know;
Be in prayer and fasting for these days of preparation; as details come I will let you know;
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Habakkuk 3:2 - devotion
3:2, "O Lord, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy."
I use every opportunity to read some of my old favorites; I am not allotted a great deal time to sit and read but spurts everyday is used and this adds up. I am amazed at how many books I go through in my short time frame of reading each day. And I am not talking about reading the best sellers or fictional books that so many waste their time with, I am talking about reading the 'old' saints that practiced, lived and demonstrated God's wondrous works. Some of my favorites are Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee, George W. Truett, AW Tozer, and Charles Finney. When I was at Boyce bible School back in the early 1990's I had to read a spiritual book. I had read Charles Finney's biography and was amazed at how God used this man, who had submitted to the Lord. Last night, in the midst of our ice storm, I had a little more time to read and grabbed an old classic by Charles Finney, "Revival Lectures"; one of the all time greats on a subject that is very needful today. The very beginning of the book in the introduction he uses this verse and lays out the means of revival. I was in discussion with John Franklin earlier in the day about the same thing. Revival, and I use that term to relate to 'true revival', which is a work of God's Holy
Spirit. Nothing can explain it, and nothing was manufactured by man, all came from God's Divine appointment. Finney refers that man tries to imitate the spirit of revival by man made efforts, they try to reproduce it, this is immposible. He refers that during his day, the 1850'sthrough the 1860's, that the church was using education to foster revival. After having seen this week's headlines in the Baptist Press, I would quickly point out that the church today is still on the focus of education as the means of spiritual growth, revival and advancement, but also the greater evil among us as Christians is entertainment. The NFL had ruled that church's were not permitted to hold Super Bowl parties and show the football game on certain sized TVs. This past week they reversed this ruling to allow it. Now the argument behind this is that the church is trying to win the lost by bringing them in. Do you realize that one of the dying attributes of the church is Sunday evening services? Most churches have given up and dismissed this service in favor of family time and leasure. Is it not because most of the sporting events are on Sunday and they want that more than they want God? A former president of the SBC, was highly exalted as he gave prayer at the Daytona 500 this past week; we continue on a pattern to mix and mingle holiness with unholiness and think that this is revival;
Never has God blest the ways of man to bring revival, it has always been the ways of the Lord. He has raised up a remnant that seeks Himi through prayer, fasting and tears. He has not honored entertainment and rubbing shoulders with the world. We are so messed up in the church that you cannot tell which is which any more. There is a price for this, God's judgment; we will reap what we sow, and when we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption. A holy standard needs to be restored among the church. And that the ways of the world in the church: TV ball games, entertainment, music concerts and etc. God will not honor. Some will be quick to point out tha tthey was saved under such things. But when you consider the dozens or hundreds that are saved under such things compared to the thousands and millions by the way of the Lord, which should we look to? Intentional evangelism is the work of man for the kingdom of God; door to door knocking, tracks, talking with passer bys about their eternity is creating an opportunity and needs to be practiced daily and weekly; most churches have left the weekly visistaion programs. Teaching people about the standards of holiness through discipleship programs and what it means to daily be a Christian is now removed. I remember on Sunday evenings when churches held discipleship programs before the evening services now both are removed from the role of the church. when we see that God sent revival among His people because of the low estate of spiritual things and sin running rampant across the land. Finney refers to the seasons of God's blessing in revival. We have no hope for the church or this country apart from such an event of God's true revival. We need it so desperately to run the TV ball games out of the house of prayer and return to praying. You want ot know how sick we are? These Super Bowl parties would draw thousands if not tens of thousands into the church to eat, drink and be merry, but a prayer meeting with draw a handful of broken saints who know the ways of the Lord are not honored in frolicly with the world but humbling ourselves before the throne of God. We have left the things of God for the ways of man and we expect God to honor us and save our lost loved ones. We need a deep cleaninsing that will restore the ways of holiness. We need to condemn the things of this world be practicing in the churches. "Well, you can't win them unless you relate to them." It will be a grievous thing for the church to answer on judgment day that, "Lord, we are sorry we had to act as heathens in order to win the heathens." Do you think the Lord will pardon this? I don't. We need a revival from God by seeking for it through prayer, fasting, tears and confession of the sins of the church and our own individual lives.
I use every opportunity to read some of my old favorites; I am not allotted a great deal time to sit and read but spurts everyday is used and this adds up. I am amazed at how many books I go through in my short time frame of reading each day. And I am not talking about reading the best sellers or fictional books that so many waste their time with, I am talking about reading the 'old' saints that practiced, lived and demonstrated God's wondrous works. Some of my favorites are Andrew Murray, Watchman Nee, George W. Truett, AW Tozer, and Charles Finney. When I was at Boyce bible School back in the early 1990's I had to read a spiritual book. I had read Charles Finney's biography and was amazed at how God used this man, who had submitted to the Lord. Last night, in the midst of our ice storm, I had a little more time to read and grabbed an old classic by Charles Finney, "Revival Lectures"; one of the all time greats on a subject that is very needful today. The very beginning of the book in the introduction he uses this verse and lays out the means of revival. I was in discussion with John Franklin earlier in the day about the same thing. Revival, and I use that term to relate to 'true revival', which is a work of God's Holy
Spirit. Nothing can explain it, and nothing was manufactured by man, all came from God's Divine appointment. Finney refers that man tries to imitate the spirit of revival by man made efforts, they try to reproduce it, this is immposible. He refers that during his day, the 1850'sthrough the 1860's, that the church was using education to foster revival. After having seen this week's headlines in the Baptist Press, I would quickly point out that the church today is still on the focus of education as the means of spiritual growth, revival and advancement, but also the greater evil among us as Christians is entertainment. The NFL had ruled that church's were not permitted to hold Super Bowl parties and show the football game on certain sized TVs. This past week they reversed this ruling to allow it. Now the argument behind this is that the church is trying to win the lost by bringing them in. Do you realize that one of the dying attributes of the church is Sunday evening services? Most churches have given up and dismissed this service in favor of family time and leasure. Is it not because most of the sporting events are on Sunday and they want that more than they want God? A former president of the SBC, was highly exalted as he gave prayer at the Daytona 500 this past week; we continue on a pattern to mix and mingle holiness with unholiness and think that this is revival;
Never has God blest the ways of man to bring revival, it has always been the ways of the Lord. He has raised up a remnant that seeks Himi through prayer, fasting and tears. He has not honored entertainment and rubbing shoulders with the world. We are so messed up in the church that you cannot tell which is which any more. There is a price for this, God's judgment; we will reap what we sow, and when we sow to the flesh we will reap corruption. A holy standard needs to be restored among the church. And that the ways of the world in the church: TV ball games, entertainment, music concerts and etc. God will not honor. Some will be quick to point out tha tthey was saved under such things. But when you consider the dozens or hundreds that are saved under such things compared to the thousands and millions by the way of the Lord, which should we look to? Intentional evangelism is the work of man for the kingdom of God; door to door knocking, tracks, talking with passer bys about their eternity is creating an opportunity and needs to be practiced daily and weekly; most churches have left the weekly visistaion programs. Teaching people about the standards of holiness through discipleship programs and what it means to daily be a Christian is now removed. I remember on Sunday evenings when churches held discipleship programs before the evening services now both are removed from the role of the church. when we see that God sent revival among His people because of the low estate of spiritual things and sin running rampant across the land. Finney refers to the seasons of God's blessing in revival. We have no hope for the church or this country apart from such an event of God's true revival. We need it so desperately to run the TV ball games out of the house of prayer and return to praying. You want ot know how sick we are? These Super Bowl parties would draw thousands if not tens of thousands into the church to eat, drink and be merry, but a prayer meeting with draw a handful of broken saints who know the ways of the Lord are not honored in frolicly with the world but humbling ourselves before the throne of God. We have left the things of God for the ways of man and we expect God to honor us and save our lost loved ones. We need a deep cleaninsing that will restore the ways of holiness. We need to condemn the things of this world be practicing in the churches. "Well, you can't win them unless you relate to them." It will be a grievous thing for the church to answer on judgment day that, "Lord, we are sorry we had to act as heathens in order to win the heathens." Do you think the Lord will pardon this? I don't. We need a revival from God by seeking for it through prayer, fasting, tears and confession of the sins of the church and our own individual lives.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Exodus 35:20
"And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses." Spurgeon - from Spurgeon's Devotional Bible; He adds this comment after this verse, "They went off at once to fetch their offering; promptness is a sign of willingness."
My family and I had this devotion last night and this phrase about this verse and the children of Israel's action has stuck with. "Promptness is a sign of willingness"; how true this is! We discussed this among my children, if you are wanting to do something you get to it quickly; My children respond very quick to something they want to do; but if it is something they don't want to do then they are very slow and deliberate in it;
this is not just my chidlren it is this for all of us; it is a trait among mandkind today; they can do wbatever they really want to do but something they don't want to do they procrastinate or defer time to get it done;
Spiritually speaking it is the same; how many Christians are quick to rise and do what is entertaining and pleasureful but the things of spiritual disciplines is like work and they refuse to respond; many Christians confess to the sin of neglect and walk away from the things that would bring them closer to God because it is not what they are willing to do;
Revival - a true revival produces an authentic desire to know God and serve God; and there is no delay in serving God, no prompting or prodding, it comes from the Holy Spirit and they want to do it, it is not manufactured spiritualism;
We see across the country today a church that has a massive amount of members but very few that are active in approaching God. the reason is because of this statement, they are not willing to do it. And if they are not willing to do it, then it is true that the Spirit is not governing their life, meaning self is still ruling; The reason of no revival is because self is still ruling and reigning in the church. We must die to self in order to live unto Him; then there will be the willingness and the quick response to obey all that the Lord has said.
What about you dear reader? Are you living with a 'promptness because of your willingness'? Are you settled down into a rut and mire because you are not moved about eternity nor seeking the glory of the Lord? change it today that you have sinned against the Lord and ask for the quickening in your heart and soul; ask the Holy Spirit to dwell and lead you into His service; live for Him, Who died for you.
My family and I had this devotion last night and this phrase about this verse and the children of Israel's action has stuck with. "Promptness is a sign of willingness"; how true this is! We discussed this among my children, if you are wanting to do something you get to it quickly; My children respond very quick to something they want to do; but if it is something they don't want to do then they are very slow and deliberate in it;
this is not just my chidlren it is this for all of us; it is a trait among mandkind today; they can do wbatever they really want to do but something they don't want to do they procrastinate or defer time to get it done;
Spiritually speaking it is the same; how many Christians are quick to rise and do what is entertaining and pleasureful but the things of spiritual disciplines is like work and they refuse to respond; many Christians confess to the sin of neglect and walk away from the things that would bring them closer to God because it is not what they are willing to do;
Revival - a true revival produces an authentic desire to know God and serve God; and there is no delay in serving God, no prompting or prodding, it comes from the Holy Spirit and they want to do it, it is not manufactured spiritualism;
We see across the country today a church that has a massive amount of members but very few that are active in approaching God. the reason is because of this statement, they are not willing to do it. And if they are not willing to do it, then it is true that the Spirit is not governing their life, meaning self is still ruling; The reason of no revival is because self is still ruling and reigning in the church. We must die to self in order to live unto Him; then there will be the willingness and the quick response to obey all that the Lord has said.
What about you dear reader? Are you living with a 'promptness because of your willingness'? Are you settled down into a rut and mire because you are not moved about eternity nor seeking the glory of the Lord? change it today that you have sinned against the Lord and ask for the quickening in your heart and soul; ask the Holy Spirit to dwell and lead you into His service; live for Him, Who died for you.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Deut. commentary verse by verse
1:5, "On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab,. . ." they was on the right side of the river Jordan; Why? because they had not crossed over into the promised land; several things are significant about this: 1. Moses had to die before they could cross over; over and over throughout this book we will see where Moses pleaded with God to let him go over, but God said no; Moses must die before the chidlren of Israel would be allowed to move forward into the promised land; Why was they going into the promised land? God had told Abraham two things when He established the covenant with him, 1. your children shall be as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore; 2. I will give you this land that you see, north, south, east and west; God has made the children of Israel plentous, overr 605, 000 footmen not counting women and children and now He is getting ready to bring them into the promised land; The land of Moab - who was the Moabites? I always name the -ites; Moab came from Lot and his daughters; they got him drunk and lay with him and conceived chidlren, Moab and Benammi; Moabites and Ammonites; who were related to the Israelites but they worshiped false gods, another failure on the part of Lot, not only children of incest but idolators as well; now here are the children of Israel, the work of God to fulfill all that He promised to Abraham, and they are found in the land of those that had rejected the ways of the God of Abraham, who Lot had known; throughout the Old Testament we learn of their sinful ways and afflictions on Israel;
-"began Moses to to declare this law. .." There must be a beginning somewhere and here is Moses in his instruction unto the children of Israel; declare - to speak with affirmation and certainty unto those needed direction and instruction; law - the mandate, not of man, but of God; the law of God unto the children of men so that they might know how to go out and come in; to behave themselves in life; to live life rightly; It is the work of the church to 'declare the law of God', and before someone says, 'we are not under the law, but grace' the laws of God are still in effect and will continue until His return; we should boldly declare and live these laws for all the world to see that there is no God like our God; a life meant to impact all nations and give glory unto Him Who gave us the law (the insturction of life); a father declares unto his children; a pastor declares unto his church; a life declares unto those that watch and behold them; it is our example;
1:6"The Lord our God spake unto in Horeb. . ." When you return to the place in which God brought them out of Egypt, He led them to a place where He might communicate unto them. He spake unto them in this place. . .you might remember the past when God spoke to you; the place is unforgettable, "I was sitting in the back pew and God spoke"; "I was driving the car and god spoke"; or "I was sitting in the house"; wherever it is, it is a special place that God chose to meet you and you Him; remember the place and look back in your memories fondly of that time; But God is not just a God of the past where He "spake", for He "speaks and will continue to speak"; for the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever; He has spoke (past), but He is also speaking (present), do you hear Him? Have you obeyed Him? Are you listening for His voice?
-"Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:" Oh the day in which God spoke, " You have lived life long enough for the world and self, now be free; long enough - meaning that God is patient and longsuffering in our wayward life, He will allow for a season but He finally says, 'Enough', now come out from among them, and be ye separate; this place was necessary but it is not for you to remain, there are other places He would take us and send us; How many people do you know that have never gone outside of 200 miles radius? They have never left home, so to say; God saves us to use us in a way unlike any in which we could have ever known; Now there is the choice, 'I will not move, I will not leave, I am staying right here'; God sends them forward and they are to obey, God would not lead us astray, it is for His purpose and glory that He is sending us; Have you left the mount? haven't you dwelt long enough in the world and in the flesh? Do you not know that there is something better ahead if you will only move forward? AW Tozer declared the greatest sin for most Christians is getting into a rut, which lead to rot; a rut - dwelling too long in the place that God says, "You have dwelt long enought here, now move on";
-"began Moses to to declare this law. .." There must be a beginning somewhere and here is Moses in his instruction unto the children of Israel; declare - to speak with affirmation and certainty unto those needed direction and instruction; law - the mandate, not of man, but of God; the law of God unto the children of men so that they might know how to go out and come in; to behave themselves in life; to live life rightly; It is the work of the church to 'declare the law of God', and before someone says, 'we are not under the law, but grace' the laws of God are still in effect and will continue until His return; we should boldly declare and live these laws for all the world to see that there is no God like our God; a life meant to impact all nations and give glory unto Him Who gave us the law (the insturction of life); a father declares unto his children; a pastor declares unto his church; a life declares unto those that watch and behold them; it is our example;
1:6"The Lord our God spake unto in Horeb. . ." When you return to the place in which God brought them out of Egypt, He led them to a place where He might communicate unto them. He spake unto them in this place. . .you might remember the past when God spoke to you; the place is unforgettable, "I was sitting in the back pew and God spoke"; "I was driving the car and god spoke"; or "I was sitting in the house"; wherever it is, it is a special place that God chose to meet you and you Him; remember the place and look back in your memories fondly of that time; But God is not just a God of the past where He "spake", for He "speaks and will continue to speak"; for the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever; He has spoke (past), but He is also speaking (present), do you hear Him? Have you obeyed Him? Are you listening for His voice?
-"Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:" Oh the day in which God spoke, " You have lived life long enough for the world and self, now be free; long enough - meaning that God is patient and longsuffering in our wayward life, He will allow for a season but He finally says, 'Enough', now come out from among them, and be ye separate; this place was necessary but it is not for you to remain, there are other places He would take us and send us; How many people do you know that have never gone outside of 200 miles radius? They have never left home, so to say; God saves us to use us in a way unlike any in which we could have ever known; Now there is the choice, 'I will not move, I will not leave, I am staying right here'; God sends them forward and they are to obey, God would not lead us astray, it is for His purpose and glory that He is sending us; Have you left the mount? haven't you dwelt long enough in the world and in the flesh? Do you not know that there is something better ahead if you will only move forward? AW Tozer declared the greatest sin for most Christians is getting into a rut, which lead to rot; a rut - dwelling too long in the place that God says, "You have dwelt long enought here, now move on";
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Deueronomy commentary
When asked to pick a favorite book, I will always look to Deut. as a favorite. Maybe not the favorite because of my love for Song of Solomon and Psalms but Deut. is up there. So many truths and application verses are found here. I have taken both churches through verse by verse study of it. Although I have never laid out a typed study like this, becasue my teaching is without notes and just applying the truths as we go through the verses.
Here is some of the verses and themes of importance to me:
Note that this book is a last statement from Moses to the people of Israel. He had nourished, led, and taught them for over 40 years. He was their spiritual father and any spiritual father has an investment to those that are under them. He had no desire to see them fail or fall away. He knew of their fathers tendency to disobey and fall prey to the flesh and he knew that they had the same capacity. Not to mention that God had told him that after his death the children of Israel would fall away unto idols. How disheartening to know that after prayers, tears and yearnings for them to know the Lord, they would depart. But this is a common trait and one to pray that it not happen to those we know. Jesus had followers and He said to them, "Will you also go away?" Paul had several that he admonished and turned out because they had departed from the faith.
Moses speaks to them to "remember' the Word of the LOrd and stay faithful;
These are his last words to them. If you knew that God was just about done with you and you had one last opportunity to speak, what would you say? Life has ended for far too many with regrets. Things that should have been said, ought to have been said but was never said. Moses seizes the moment and speaks heart to heart with them that they would remember their responibility unto the Lord. You seize the moment to those that God has given you as if it was your last opportunity and use it for His glory. One old preacher said it, 'Preach as a dying man unto dying men."
1:1, "These be the words wich Moses spake. . " we will see his instruction, reproof, pleas and earnstness; What words do you speak? What will they say of you?
1:2"There are eleven days' journey. . ." only 11 days to make it through the paths from Sinai to where they were; but this 11 day journey was now going on 40 years; why? because of their sin, almost as if Moses writes this in to remind them that something that should have only taken 11 days took decades, and it wasn't God's fault it was theirs;
1:3 "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month. . ." a note in verse 2 of the actual time it would take and now in this verse the truth is exclaimed, it took you all 40 years and 11 months to make it through; but what does speak to them? "According unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them" He was and had revealed all the words of the Lord unto them and they were without excuse in not knowing what God required and expected of them; They had received from Moses all that the Lord had spoken to make them be the people He would have them to be;
1:4, "After he had slain Sihon and Og" the great victory over these kings is often referred to; it was a military conquering that God had given to them and it was still fresh in their minds; it should be a reminder to encourage them for what lay ahead of conquering the promised land with all the -ites found within; (Jebusites; Canaanites; Hitites; Hivites; Amorites, etc.)
-also a reference to 'Astaroth' we will see this come up again as the name of one of the false idols that led the children of Israel away from serving the Lord; it is interesting to note that a city that was conquered and defeated should leave a pattern of evil centuries down the road; evil will not be vanquished until the Lord set all things new;
Here is some of the verses and themes of importance to me:
Note that this book is a last statement from Moses to the people of Israel. He had nourished, led, and taught them for over 40 years. He was their spiritual father and any spiritual father has an investment to those that are under them. He had no desire to see them fail or fall away. He knew of their fathers tendency to disobey and fall prey to the flesh and he knew that they had the same capacity. Not to mention that God had told him that after his death the children of Israel would fall away unto idols. How disheartening to know that after prayers, tears and yearnings for them to know the Lord, they would depart. But this is a common trait and one to pray that it not happen to those we know. Jesus had followers and He said to them, "Will you also go away?" Paul had several that he admonished and turned out because they had departed from the faith.
Moses speaks to them to "remember' the Word of the LOrd and stay faithful;
These are his last words to them. If you knew that God was just about done with you and you had one last opportunity to speak, what would you say? Life has ended for far too many with regrets. Things that should have been said, ought to have been said but was never said. Moses seizes the moment and speaks heart to heart with them that they would remember their responibility unto the Lord. You seize the moment to those that God has given you as if it was your last opportunity and use it for His glory. One old preacher said it, 'Preach as a dying man unto dying men."
1:1, "These be the words wich Moses spake. . " we will see his instruction, reproof, pleas and earnstness; What words do you speak? What will they say of you?
1:2"There are eleven days' journey. . ." only 11 days to make it through the paths from Sinai to where they were; but this 11 day journey was now going on 40 years; why? because of their sin, almost as if Moses writes this in to remind them that something that should have only taken 11 days took decades, and it wasn't God's fault it was theirs;
1:3 "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month. . ." a note in verse 2 of the actual time it would take and now in this verse the truth is exclaimed, it took you all 40 years and 11 months to make it through; but what does speak to them? "According unto all that the Lord had given him in commandment unto them" He was and had revealed all the words of the Lord unto them and they were without excuse in not knowing what God required and expected of them; They had received from Moses all that the Lord had spoken to make them be the people He would have them to be;
1:4, "After he had slain Sihon and Og" the great victory over these kings is often referred to; it was a military conquering that God had given to them and it was still fresh in their minds; it should be a reminder to encourage them for what lay ahead of conquering the promised land with all the -ites found within; (Jebusites; Canaanites; Hitites; Hivites; Amorites, etc.)
-also a reference to 'Astaroth' we will see this come up again as the name of one of the false idols that led the children of Israel away from serving the Lord; it is interesting to note that a city that was conquered and defeated should leave a pattern of evil centuries down the road; evil will not be vanquished until the Lord set all things new;
Numbers commentary
23:10, the epitah of a saint, to die the death of the righteous;
22-24, the story of Balak and Balaam; it is one of the most intriguing stories in the Old Testament to me; here is Balak simply looking for a religious means to save his own hide and that of his people; he finds the solution inBalaam, who is a king himself, but also knows of the Lord and is able to seek and acquire God's blessings; "For I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed" v. 6; This is power with God through prayer, a lesson to be learned by all that are called His own;
-- There is so much found throughout this that I fear I will miss some of it;
"Which way are you going?" 22:22, 23, 26, 31, 32, 34; the way that Balaam went, how are about you?
When the angel comes to kill Balaam for disobeying the word of the Lord, note v. 32 and 33;
"I went out to withstand thee, becaue thy way is perverse before me:. . .unless she had turned brom me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive." He would have saved the animal alive but Balaam would have been slain because of his evil way; you and I should be ever so thankful that God is merciful unto us in such a manner; are not ways perverse before Him? Have we not lost our way? Have we not disobeyed Him? Are we not worthy of death? In all these things the answer is yea; but thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift that delivers us from death.
23:3, "I will go, peradventure the Lord will come to meet me" Can we dictate to God? It is of His own making and choosing whether He will meet with us; we know if we have sin in our life that He will not look on sin and will have no part with us; if unbelief, how offensive is this to Him Who rules the heavens and all that is; but if I don't go, He will not meet with me because I have not sought Him; So you must go and then wait to see if and when He will come; but we have this promise of Christ in Matthew, "Seek me and Ye shall find me"; Jeremiah 23:17, And ye shall find me when you search for me with all your heart";
23:21, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen pervbersenss in Israel: the Lord his god is with him, and the shout of a king is among them" May this be our case today, deat believer; isn't it noteworthy that a chapter ago, Balaam was told that he was found to be perverse, but here he prophecies about Israel that there is nothing wrong in him; but yet we know that the chapter before and after this the chidlren of Israel was destroyed for their unbelief and disobedience;
23:23, "What hath God wrought!" Sink yourself into His wonders and mighty deeds here; look at what God hath done for you and in you, does it not deserve your praise and honor?
23:27, "peradventure it will please God" he was not interested in pleasing God, he was only interested in saving himself; it is the way of the world that they only want to please God when it is for their self;
24:2, "the spirit of God came upon him"; you and I should ask and seek for the same experience daily, so that we know we are walking in a right manner and not in fleshly desires and lusts of pride; this is the moving of God and we cannot be right apart from it;
24:13, "But what the Lord saith, that will I speak" a true minister of the Gospel will expound these words in the face of a lost world, a self-righteous people and a taunting hell; O servant of the most High, determine and resolve yourself to follow these words truly and God will reward you for your faithfulness;
24:16, "which heard, . . .knew the knowledge of the most High, . . .saw" these three things are needful for a Christian to grow in grace and knowledge; listen for Him; know Him; and see Him; a life spent in full earnest to accompolish all three before we meet Him face to face;
At the close of this chapter Balaam rises up and returns home; he is rebuffed by Balak because he blessed Israel instead of cursing the people of God; when you continue reading you will come to chapter 31: 8 and see that this same Balaam was killed by Israel upon the word of God to destroy the Midianites; and it was this same Balaam that had been spared b y God on the donkey; he had prophecised for God in behal fo the children of Israel and turns right around and tries to seduce the children of Israel with the women; you read that this was Balaaams plan to corrupt Israel; he had turned around tried to save his own hide, just like Balak; he died for his false ways before the Lord; truly it can be said, ' if perverseness is found in you, you will be destroyed";
25:10-15, one of the markers in the Scriptures; "Be zealous" like Phinehas was; he sought to honor the Lord and destroy the evil thing from among the people; he rose up and took matters into his own hand and killed the man and the woman for bringing folly into the people of God; God rewarded him for being zealous; seek for this dear child of God;
There is so much more and hoepfully I will find time to sit and do verse by verse at some point;
22-24, the story of Balak and Balaam; it is one of the most intriguing stories in the Old Testament to me; here is Balak simply looking for a religious means to save his own hide and that of his people; he finds the solution inBalaam, who is a king himself, but also knows of the Lord and is able to seek and acquire God's blessings; "For I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed" v. 6; This is power with God through prayer, a lesson to be learned by all that are called His own;
-- There is so much found throughout this that I fear I will miss some of it;
"Which way are you going?" 22:22, 23, 26, 31, 32, 34; the way that Balaam went, how are about you?
When the angel comes to kill Balaam for disobeying the word of the Lord, note v. 32 and 33;
"I went out to withstand thee, becaue thy way is perverse before me:. . .unless she had turned brom me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive." He would have saved the animal alive but Balaam would have been slain because of his evil way; you and I should be ever so thankful that God is merciful unto us in such a manner; are not ways perverse before Him? Have we not lost our way? Have we not disobeyed Him? Are we not worthy of death? In all these things the answer is yea; but thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift that delivers us from death.
23:3, "I will go, peradventure the Lord will come to meet me" Can we dictate to God? It is of His own making and choosing whether He will meet with us; we know if we have sin in our life that He will not look on sin and will have no part with us; if unbelief, how offensive is this to Him Who rules the heavens and all that is; but if I don't go, He will not meet with me because I have not sought Him; So you must go and then wait to see if and when He will come; but we have this promise of Christ in Matthew, "Seek me and Ye shall find me"; Jeremiah 23:17, And ye shall find me when you search for me with all your heart";
23:21, He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen pervbersenss in Israel: the Lord his god is with him, and the shout of a king is among them" May this be our case today, deat believer; isn't it noteworthy that a chapter ago, Balaam was told that he was found to be perverse, but here he prophecies about Israel that there is nothing wrong in him; but yet we know that the chapter before and after this the chidlren of Israel was destroyed for their unbelief and disobedience;
23:23, "What hath God wrought!" Sink yourself into His wonders and mighty deeds here; look at what God hath done for you and in you, does it not deserve your praise and honor?
23:27, "peradventure it will please God" he was not interested in pleasing God, he was only interested in saving himself; it is the way of the world that they only want to please God when it is for their self;
24:2, "the spirit of God came upon him"; you and I should ask and seek for the same experience daily, so that we know we are walking in a right manner and not in fleshly desires and lusts of pride; this is the moving of God and we cannot be right apart from it;
24:13, "But what the Lord saith, that will I speak" a true minister of the Gospel will expound these words in the face of a lost world, a self-righteous people and a taunting hell; O servant of the most High, determine and resolve yourself to follow these words truly and God will reward you for your faithfulness;
24:16, "which heard, . . .knew the knowledge of the most High, . . .saw" these three things are needful for a Christian to grow in grace and knowledge; listen for Him; know Him; and see Him; a life spent in full earnest to accompolish all three before we meet Him face to face;
At the close of this chapter Balaam rises up and returns home; he is rebuffed by Balak because he blessed Israel instead of cursing the people of God; when you continue reading you will come to chapter 31: 8 and see that this same Balaam was killed by Israel upon the word of God to destroy the Midianites; and it was this same Balaam that had been spared b y God on the donkey; he had prophecised for God in behal fo the children of Israel and turns right around and tries to seduce the children of Israel with the women; you read that this was Balaaams plan to corrupt Israel; he had turned around tried to save his own hide, just like Balak; he died for his false ways before the Lord; truly it can be said, ' if perverseness is found in you, you will be destroyed";
25:10-15, one of the markers in the Scriptures; "Be zealous" like Phinehas was; he sought to honor the Lord and destroy the evil thing from among the people; he rose up and took matters into his own hand and killed the man and the woman for bringing folly into the people of God; God rewarded him for being zealous; seek for this dear child of God;
There is so much more and hoepfully I will find time to sit and do verse by verse at some point;
Monday, February 18, 2008
Numbers 24:23
"Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!"
It is with great alarm that I come across this Scripture in light of everything that has happened across our country this month. The headlines have repeated on several occasions the horrible truth, "School Shootings!". The worst was on a college campus, and as is reported, no one that knew this young man would have suspected such an evil act. But it seems no one was as alarmed at the high school shooting, the middle school shooting or the elementary shooting that took place all within the last 10 days. It is over the last several years our society as become used to it, unless the numbers are staggering or it is in our back yard. Could it be we are getting used to such tragedy? Yes, we are, sadly the truth is upon us. But everybody asks the question, 'where did this act of evil come from? Why?' When they stop asking why we will know that it is become acceptable to our society. My father taught a truth as he preached over the years, which I have adopted: "Anybody lost is capable of doing anything!" Read the demon possessions in the Scriptures and verify this truth. Including walking onto a school campus and shooting innocent people for no reason at all. This is only the beginning of our judgement.
When God puts forth His hand to judge us we will know then what our sad spiritual condition has cost us, but it will be too late then to reverse gears. God is even now withdrawing His hand of protection and we see signs festering everywhere. My fear and shock is that there is no out cry from the church, there is no response, except, "pray for us"; How would they have me pray? "O Lord, help these in need, bring comfort. . ." these tragedies should cause us to mourn for our sins and the absence of God; That is the root of where such things come from, they come from sin in man; but the only thing that will be left is some memorial set up and no change to the heart and soul of an evil nation. I am so weary with hearing from officals to pray, the prayer that should be offered is for confession and mercy, they only seek for comfort from their pain presently and are bent on returning to their folly when time begins to heal their wounds. Did Jesus not have compassion upon them? Yes, He did, but He also said, "unless you all likewise repent you shall also perish". Church. . . . how long before you see what is going on and we acknowledge our sin that we have left God, our first love! How long before we return with desperation and urgency and beg of God not to withdraw His hand of mercy and grace. I fear that when God unleashes on us that we won't see just a few die or dozens, or as in the case of 9/11, thousands but it will be such a catastrophic event that will be scores affected. What is the hope then? It is upon one thing -- revival; apart from a true revival where the Spirit of God falls on the church and spreads into the fibers of family and soceity and causes a spirit of repentance. The church has removed repentance, without repentance there will be no change nor stay of judgement. We have allowed this in our hot pursuit for numbers. Say the sinner's prayer and get baptized and all is well is our standard in the Baptist church. Other denominations are even seeking for that, they just sign them up as they do in a social club. There is no sign of repentance or confession of specific sins in this manner. A prayer should be offered up by the church of Jesus Christ too have mercy on us, cleanse us deeply and "restore unto us the joy of Thy salvation". A fast should be declared becaue we have offended a most holy God with our spiritual desertion to the disciplines that produced holiness and righteouesness and faithfulness among the church. We should 'draw nigh unto Him, so that He may draw night to us". But this takes time and effort which the church has confessed, "We don't have enought time to pray, to wait before Him or do serve Him." Could it not be, that if we confess we have no time for Him then He will say, 'I have no time for you. Go and seek your god of entertainment, money, selfish desires and find help and hope in them." We should gather into the worship services with tears and brokenness and beg God to spare our loved ones from this untold punishment that is coming. We cannot continue as is; we must return to the ways of holiness. Church - How long will you continue to let this go on? There is a way to change it - "I am the way, the truth and the life. . .Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new." Only one answer church, Jesus, Who taketh away the sins of the world. May you know my heart today and join me in intercession for our lost nation, lost family and weak, powerless church. "Alas, who shall live when God doesth this!"
It is with great alarm that I come across this Scripture in light of everything that has happened across our country this month. The headlines have repeated on several occasions the horrible truth, "School Shootings!". The worst was on a college campus, and as is reported, no one that knew this young man would have suspected such an evil act. But it seems no one was as alarmed at the high school shooting, the middle school shooting or the elementary shooting that took place all within the last 10 days. It is over the last several years our society as become used to it, unless the numbers are staggering or it is in our back yard. Could it be we are getting used to such tragedy? Yes, we are, sadly the truth is upon us. But everybody asks the question, 'where did this act of evil come from? Why?' When they stop asking why we will know that it is become acceptable to our society. My father taught a truth as he preached over the years, which I have adopted: "Anybody lost is capable of doing anything!" Read the demon possessions in the Scriptures and verify this truth. Including walking onto a school campus and shooting innocent people for no reason at all. This is only the beginning of our judgement.
When God puts forth His hand to judge us we will know then what our sad spiritual condition has cost us, but it will be too late then to reverse gears. God is even now withdrawing His hand of protection and we see signs festering everywhere. My fear and shock is that there is no out cry from the church, there is no response, except, "pray for us"; How would they have me pray? "O Lord, help these in need, bring comfort. . ." these tragedies should cause us to mourn for our sins and the absence of God; That is the root of where such things come from, they come from sin in man; but the only thing that will be left is some memorial set up and no change to the heart and soul of an evil nation. I am so weary with hearing from officals to pray, the prayer that should be offered is for confession and mercy, they only seek for comfort from their pain presently and are bent on returning to their folly when time begins to heal their wounds. Did Jesus not have compassion upon them? Yes, He did, but He also said, "unless you all likewise repent you shall also perish". Church. . . . how long before you see what is going on and we acknowledge our sin that we have left God, our first love! How long before we return with desperation and urgency and beg of God not to withdraw His hand of mercy and grace. I fear that when God unleashes on us that we won't see just a few die or dozens, or as in the case of 9/11, thousands but it will be such a catastrophic event that will be scores affected. What is the hope then? It is upon one thing -- revival; apart from a true revival where the Spirit of God falls on the church and spreads into the fibers of family and soceity and causes a spirit of repentance. The church has removed repentance, without repentance there will be no change nor stay of judgement. We have allowed this in our hot pursuit for numbers. Say the sinner's prayer and get baptized and all is well is our standard in the Baptist church. Other denominations are even seeking for that, they just sign them up as they do in a social club. There is no sign of repentance or confession of specific sins in this manner. A prayer should be offered up by the church of Jesus Christ too have mercy on us, cleanse us deeply and "restore unto us the joy of Thy salvation". A fast should be declared becaue we have offended a most holy God with our spiritual desertion to the disciplines that produced holiness and righteouesness and faithfulness among the church. We should 'draw nigh unto Him, so that He may draw night to us". But this takes time and effort which the church has confessed, "We don't have enought time to pray, to wait before Him or do serve Him." Could it not be, that if we confess we have no time for Him then He will say, 'I have no time for you. Go and seek your god of entertainment, money, selfish desires and find help and hope in them." We should gather into the worship services with tears and brokenness and beg God to spare our loved ones from this untold punishment that is coming. We cannot continue as is; we must return to the ways of holiness. Church - How long will you continue to let this go on? There is a way to change it - "I am the way, the truth and the life. . .Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new." Only one answer church, Jesus, Who taketh away the sins of the world. May you know my heart today and join me in intercession for our lost nation, lost family and weak, powerless church. "Alas, who shall live when God doesth this!"
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Numbers commentary
11:6, "If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." Clearly a prophet is called of the Lord; it is not becuase it seems like a good vocation; it is not because mommy and daddy wanted me to be a preacher; it is because the Lord called and selected you; Aaron and Miriam went too far here, even though, he was their brother, he was a servant of the Lord first; they sought an occasion against the man of God and God rebuked them;
11:13, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." the prayer of healing offered
14:2, "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness" better be careful what you ask for, you might just get it; and the children of Israel died in the wilderness because of their unbelief;
14:13-19, the prayer of Moses for the children of Israel and his intercession with God for them;
14:20-21, the edict of God that He will pardon their sin and He will fill the earth with His glory; a prayer for us to make and to bessech the Lord for;
14:28-29, the prayer they offered in verse 2 is now answered by the Lord;
15:30, "But the soul that doesth ought presumptuously" intentional sin; it would be thought,who would intentionally sin but our greatest confession is, "that he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin"; we have intentionally sinned against Thee, O Lord, and we make our prayers unto you for Your mercy and forgiveness;
16 - Korah gathers the people against Moses and Aaron and revolt is upon them; Korah comes against Moses; then after Korah is dead, the people come against Moses; both times God delivers Moses from their hands of wickedness;
17:12, "Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish" the way of man and the world; they are perishing;
11:13, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee." the prayer of healing offered
14:2, "Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness" better be careful what you ask for, you might just get it; and the children of Israel died in the wilderness because of their unbelief;
14:13-19, the prayer of Moses for the children of Israel and his intercession with God for them;
14:20-21, the edict of God that He will pardon their sin and He will fill the earth with His glory; a prayer for us to make and to bessech the Lord for;
14:28-29, the prayer they offered in verse 2 is now answered by the Lord;
15:30, "But the soul that doesth ought presumptuously" intentional sin; it would be thought,who would intentionally sin but our greatest confession is, "that he that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin"; we have intentionally sinned against Thee, O Lord, and we make our prayers unto you for Your mercy and forgiveness;
16 - Korah gathers the people against Moses and Aaron and revolt is upon them; Korah comes against Moses; then after Korah is dead, the people come against Moses; both times God delivers Moses from their hands of wickedness;
17:12, "Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish" the way of man and the world; they are perishing;
Friday, February 15, 2008
Numbers 11:20
One of the great studies in the Bible has been all the questions in the Bible, here is one that should speak to us.
"Why came we forth out of Egypt?"
Now you know that in reading through the children of Israel's 40 years in the wilderness they constantly were complaining. It is no different today or for any other season, people find it easy to complain. Some complaints are legitimate but most are a waste of time. I have heard many a teacher and preacher declare that the children of Israel endured hardships throught the wilderness and it was hard. Almost as if they was saying they had a reason to complain. But remember there was nothing left back in Egypt, it had been destroyed from top to bottom. And so because they remembered days gone by they sought to return to it. I listen to the older generation tell the stories, "I remember when. . ." But does a Christian have a right to long to return to his sin? to return to his lostness? Can you imagine a Christian saying, "oh, that I could return to my sin, because I had fun then". Why are they not having fun in their Christiantiy? Have they forgotten what they was delivered from? Did the chidlren of Israel forget they was delivered from slavery and wanted to return to it? Does a child of God forget they was delivered from hell and brought forth as a child of light? "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." Psalm 40; "Out of the belly of hell cried I, and that heardest my voice" Jonah 2;
I remember, an young man, who ackwoledged his sinful state and knew he needed to be saved in order to go to heaven and be delivered from hell. I remember the conviction upon him, the tears, the prayer, he went and shared with his girlfriend, and within 24 hours came back to me and asked, "Can I undo what I did yesterday?" Why, I asked. "My girldfriend, she isn't happy with my decision, and I am afraid of not having fun without her, so can I just undo it." Never have I known somebody that was under conviction, and "return to his own vomit". How quickly once his eyes were open and to depart with this same message, "Why came we forth out of Egypt?" Why do I have to give up this world? Why die to self? Why live a pure andholy life?
I remember, old Oliver B. Greene, preaching that once he was saved, he never doubted his salvation. But i have heard many Christians doubt and wonder if they were ever truly saved and I hear them cry out, "Why did we leave Egypt?" They long to return as the children of Israel did. Know the Scripture in Hebrews, 'they did not enter into the promised land becaue of their unbelief"; "they did not enter into rest"; and neither will these that have one eye on the past another looking to the future; Jesus said, "no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God" Is your confidence in the Lord? Is there a struggle to return to the former life? Have you at all been redeemed from the flesh? Settle today that decision and surrender for your eternity is depended on it. Are their others struggling and uncertain, seal the decision with the whole heart and reveal to them this truth of looking back and the dangers of damnation for those that do.
"Why came we forth out of Egypt?"
Now you know that in reading through the children of Israel's 40 years in the wilderness they constantly were complaining. It is no different today or for any other season, people find it easy to complain. Some complaints are legitimate but most are a waste of time. I have heard many a teacher and preacher declare that the children of Israel endured hardships throught the wilderness and it was hard. Almost as if they was saying they had a reason to complain. But remember there was nothing left back in Egypt, it had been destroyed from top to bottom. And so because they remembered days gone by they sought to return to it. I listen to the older generation tell the stories, "I remember when. . ." But does a Christian have a right to long to return to his sin? to return to his lostness? Can you imagine a Christian saying, "oh, that I could return to my sin, because I had fun then". Why are they not having fun in their Christiantiy? Have they forgotten what they was delivered from? Did the chidlren of Israel forget they was delivered from slavery and wanted to return to it? Does a child of God forget they was delivered from hell and brought forth as a child of light? "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." Psalm 40; "Out of the belly of hell cried I, and that heardest my voice" Jonah 2;
I remember, an young man, who ackwoledged his sinful state and knew he needed to be saved in order to go to heaven and be delivered from hell. I remember the conviction upon him, the tears, the prayer, he went and shared with his girlfriend, and within 24 hours came back to me and asked, "Can I undo what I did yesterday?" Why, I asked. "My girldfriend, she isn't happy with my decision, and I am afraid of not having fun without her, so can I just undo it." Never have I known somebody that was under conviction, and "return to his own vomit". How quickly once his eyes were open and to depart with this same message, "Why came we forth out of Egypt?" Why do I have to give up this world? Why die to self? Why live a pure andholy life?
I remember, old Oliver B. Greene, preaching that once he was saved, he never doubted his salvation. But i have heard many Christians doubt and wonder if they were ever truly saved and I hear them cry out, "Why did we leave Egypt?" They long to return as the children of Israel did. Know the Scripture in Hebrews, 'they did not enter into the promised land becaue of their unbelief"; "they did not enter into rest"; and neither will these that have one eye on the past another looking to the future; Jesus said, "no man having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God" Is your confidence in the Lord? Is there a struggle to return to the former life? Have you at all been redeemed from the flesh? Settle today that decision and surrender for your eternity is depended on it. Are their others struggling and uncertain, seal the decision with the whole heart and reveal to them this truth of looking back and the dangers of damnation for those that do.
Numbers commentary
6:23-27, The blessing the Lord gave to Moses to give to Aaron; Aaron and his sons would bestow it on the children of Israel; notice how many things in these few verses are generated from what the Lord will give and do;
7:9, The sons of Kohath were not given any animals or wagons, they was to bear upon their shoulders the holy things; later in Scripture when David is moving the ark they put it on a wagon where Uzza touches it to stay it here was the command that they did not follow and a man lost his life over disobedience;
9:13, "in his appointed season"; there is a set time to bring the offering and sacrifice; God established time and place for them to offer; we should have set time daily in meeting the Lord, this is our 'appointed season'; and not only the Lord calls us but everyone else knows that we are meeting the Lord; Daniel had three set appointed times and everyone knew it; it is not just Sunday morning, church services are set times three or four times a week for worship, Bible study, SS; but the daily time is needed;
10:9-10, "ye shall be remembered before the Lord. . .for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God" there is much more I would like to write on these verse for a devotion; a constant thing is for people to come up and to ask,"Do you remember me?" Here I am told that I am remembered before the Lord; what difference if all the world forgets me, so long as theLrod my God remembers me; can He forget me? can He lose His memory as we see loved ones do? No, He is not man to forget, for He has bought with the blood of His Son, I am marked on His palms and He remembers me; He knows me and loves and holds me; my lesson to be learned, is that I would not forget Him; too busy, too chaotic, too involved in earthly matters and He is forgotten, minutes, hours, days and for, too many, months and weeks at a time; How is it that you forgot Him? I know you remember me Lord may I always remember You, that You are the Lord my God;
11:4, "the mixt multitude. . .fell a lusting" I view this as referring to Egyptians mixt with Israelites, probably other nations added in; there was not the true children of Israel here; 'what business does light have with darkness?' mix yourself with the world and you will fall lusting after the things of this world;
11:23, a promise verse I memorized years ago full of weight and honor to Him; "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Could God not provide for the children of Israel? He did and does for us; how quickly we forget His mercies and blessings and look to the earthly manner instead of the heavenly matter; He is able to do all things, His will be done; our faith is weak and doubting and unbelieving, what an offence unto the Lord; Believe,no matter what the circumstance, His hand is not waxed short;
11:29, "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets" this is clear that unless the Lord places the spirit upon a man he is not a prophet for the Lord; there have many false prophets, preachers, teachers, who taught in the wisdom of man; only a man anointed by the Lord can teach and preach with the wisdom of God; you sense it, you know it, Moses here makes a cry that shoul be ours, Would all the Lord's people to be prophets; but they are not, why? because they are not anointed,why are they not anointed? mainly because the Lord knows the heart and most are not able to bear such an honor, lest they defile it; they will not die to self in order to live to Him; they love this present world more than the world to come, etc. on these things that does not mark the Lord's people to be prophets;
7:9, The sons of Kohath were not given any animals or wagons, they was to bear upon their shoulders the holy things; later in Scripture when David is moving the ark they put it on a wagon where Uzza touches it to stay it here was the command that they did not follow and a man lost his life over disobedience;
9:13, "in his appointed season"; there is a set time to bring the offering and sacrifice; God established time and place for them to offer; we should have set time daily in meeting the Lord, this is our 'appointed season'; and not only the Lord calls us but everyone else knows that we are meeting the Lord; Daniel had three set appointed times and everyone knew it; it is not just Sunday morning, church services are set times three or four times a week for worship, Bible study, SS; but the daily time is needed;
10:9-10, "ye shall be remembered before the Lord. . .for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God" there is much more I would like to write on these verse for a devotion; a constant thing is for people to come up and to ask,"Do you remember me?" Here I am told that I am remembered before the Lord; what difference if all the world forgets me, so long as theLrod my God remembers me; can He forget me? can He lose His memory as we see loved ones do? No, He is not man to forget, for He has bought with the blood of His Son, I am marked on His palms and He remembers me; He knows me and loves and holds me; my lesson to be learned, is that I would not forget Him; too busy, too chaotic, too involved in earthly matters and He is forgotten, minutes, hours, days and for, too many, months and weeks at a time; How is it that you forgot Him? I know you remember me Lord may I always remember You, that You are the Lord my God;
11:4, "the mixt multitude. . .fell a lusting" I view this as referring to Egyptians mixt with Israelites, probably other nations added in; there was not the true children of Israel here; 'what business does light have with darkness?' mix yourself with the world and you will fall lusting after the things of this world;
11:23, a promise verse I memorized years ago full of weight and honor to Him; "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" Could God not provide for the children of Israel? He did and does for us; how quickly we forget His mercies and blessings and look to the earthly manner instead of the heavenly matter; He is able to do all things, His will be done; our faith is weak and doubting and unbelieving, what an offence unto the Lord; Believe,no matter what the circumstance, His hand is not waxed short;
11:29, "Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets" this is clear that unless the Lord places the spirit upon a man he is not a prophet for the Lord; there have many false prophets, preachers, teachers, who taught in the wisdom of man; only a man anointed by the Lord can teach and preach with the wisdom of God; you sense it, you know it, Moses here makes a cry that shoul be ours, Would all the Lord's people to be prophets; but they are not, why? because they are not anointed,why are they not anointed? mainly because the Lord knows the heart and most are not able to bear such an honor, lest they defile it; they will not die to self in order to live to Him; they love this present world more than the world to come, etc. on these things that does not mark the Lord's people to be prophets;
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Numbers 5:15
Coming through Numbers now in my Bible readings;
"Memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance"
This chapter deals with a woman that may have committed adulter and her jealous husband. The wife may be innocent but if the husband is jealous and will submit her to the accusation of adultery she has to go through this. Since Genesis, we have Potiphar's wife, to David and Bathsheba and their adulterous affair, to today, were there is so many adulterous affairs every day, we find there has been this sin of adultery. It seems until the Lord comes back there will continue be this spiralling downwards of marriage and lasting committments. Most of these sins throughout the centuries have been done without anyone knowing, but God knows. "A memorial. . ." before the Lord; the Lord does not pardon that which has not been confessed nor brought forth. Unconfessed sins in our life will be brought to remembrance. God will require of us to answer for unconfessed sin before the judgement seat. Confessed sin, which is specfic sins mentioned for forgiveness will be blotted out by the blood. But no doubt, today there is way too much genearlity of praying in confession, "Lord, forgive me of all my sins" when the Lord says make mention specifically of sins before Him, lest there be the sins brought to rememberance and left unspoken of.
This was to make the sin of adultery known so that it could be dealt with. Having uncleanness upon the children of Israel brought a separation between God and them. God was teaching them a way to make sure sin could be found out. We should know this truth, "Your sin will find you out"; there is no way a Christian should hide his sin. Conviction is too great; and confession is health to the soul.
Now I need to mention a quick note here to those babes in Christ that come 77,982 times asking for forgiveness for the same sin. The devil has blinded you to the sure fact that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. But because he has you bound you ask forgiveness over and over because you cannot forgive yourself. This devotion and Scripture is not about that it is about unconfess and unconvicted souls of their sins.
Iniquity brought to rememberance is sin that lies upon the church, a nation, a family and a soul that refuses to acknowledge that they have sinned against a holy God. See the sin and know that God is recording all things in the books. All thoughts, all actions, all words, all deeds, all intentions, nothing is missed by Him. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Do you ask for the Lord to reveal your sin so that you might confess and repent of it? Far too many Christians pray in general terms over sin and never ackwodlege their woeful plight before the Lord. Most lifes are filled and churches are filled with such sin and then wonder why God refuses to bless. Vance Havner used the example," Second Baptist church just called a pastor; it won't do them any could because they haven't confessed the sin of running the last pastor off."
Deal with the sin and know that God will bring iniquity to rememberance. Nations will have to answer. The revivals of old in England and the United States, how God showed us His power and favor, only to be thrust aside for the indulgences of the flesh. Do you not think that with such grace and mercy given that there is not much to be answered for? This generation will rise up and say to the church of this genereation, "Did you not have the truth? Why did you refuse to share and live it?" Oh, there will be an accountability and sin will be remembered. Do well today, and search your heart, soul and mind and see if there be any wicked way found in you dear believer.
"Memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance"
This chapter deals with a woman that may have committed adulter and her jealous husband. The wife may be innocent but if the husband is jealous and will submit her to the accusation of adultery she has to go through this. Since Genesis, we have Potiphar's wife, to David and Bathsheba and their adulterous affair, to today, were there is so many adulterous affairs every day, we find there has been this sin of adultery. It seems until the Lord comes back there will continue be this spiralling downwards of marriage and lasting committments. Most of these sins throughout the centuries have been done without anyone knowing, but God knows. "A memorial. . ." before the Lord; the Lord does not pardon that which has not been confessed nor brought forth. Unconfessed sins in our life will be brought to remembrance. God will require of us to answer for unconfessed sin before the judgement seat. Confessed sin, which is specfic sins mentioned for forgiveness will be blotted out by the blood. But no doubt, today there is way too much genearlity of praying in confession, "Lord, forgive me of all my sins" when the Lord says make mention specifically of sins before Him, lest there be the sins brought to rememberance and left unspoken of.
This was to make the sin of adultery known so that it could be dealt with. Having uncleanness upon the children of Israel brought a separation between God and them. God was teaching them a way to make sure sin could be found out. We should know this truth, "Your sin will find you out"; there is no way a Christian should hide his sin. Conviction is too great; and confession is health to the soul.
Now I need to mention a quick note here to those babes in Christ that come 77,982 times asking for forgiveness for the same sin. The devil has blinded you to the sure fact that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. But because he has you bound you ask forgiveness over and over because you cannot forgive yourself. This devotion and Scripture is not about that it is about unconfess and unconvicted souls of their sins.
Iniquity brought to rememberance is sin that lies upon the church, a nation, a family and a soul that refuses to acknowledge that they have sinned against a holy God. See the sin and know that God is recording all things in the books. All thoughts, all actions, all words, all deeds, all intentions, nothing is missed by Him. Is there unconfessed sin in your life? Do you ask for the Lord to reveal your sin so that you might confess and repent of it? Far too many Christians pray in general terms over sin and never ackwodlege their woeful plight before the Lord. Most lifes are filled and churches are filled with such sin and then wonder why God refuses to bless. Vance Havner used the example," Second Baptist church just called a pastor; it won't do them any could because they haven't confessed the sin of running the last pastor off."
Deal with the sin and know that God will bring iniquity to rememberance. Nations will have to answer. The revivals of old in England and the United States, how God showed us His power and favor, only to be thrust aside for the indulgences of the flesh. Do you not think that with such grace and mercy given that there is not much to be answered for? This generation will rise up and say to the church of this genereation, "Did you not have the truth? Why did you refuse to share and live it?" Oh, there will be an accountability and sin will be remembered. Do well today, and search your heart, soul and mind and see if there be any wicked way found in you dear believer.
Numbers 4:15, 20;
"After that, the sons of Kohath shall come to nbear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. . .(v. 20) But they shall not go in to see when they holy things are covered, let they die."
The sons of Kohath were appointed the work inside the tabernacle to carry forth the holy things. now we know that Aaron and his sons were the only ones allowed to go into the holy places and deal with these things. God instructs Moses here in Numbers 4 about this, becasue if the sons of Kohath just went in and gathered the holy things up they would have died. We know when David was moving the ark of the covenant and it was on a wagon and the ark rocked Uzza put forth his hand to stay it and God smote him. Holy things are not to be triled with. There is a punishment for not obeying God in this. So much so that God insturcts the sons of Kohath here that they are not to touch it nor look upon it.
As we enter into the New Testament, the same command is issued to the church, "Touch not; taste not and see not"; Do not give the physical body an open door for lust after the things of this world. Clear instruction on being separate and keeping holy those things that God has designed as holy. Because if they be defiled then punishment must be set forth upon those that made them unholy. Holy things that should be kept from being tarnished: 1.the church; 2. the Bible; 3. our body
The church - "Come ye out from among them and be ye separate" is the teaching of the Holy Scripture; Jesus breathed upon the apostles and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit"; "Old things are passed awaybut behold, all things become new". The church is breathed, birthed and filled with holiness. But today the body of believers, I must say, is more like the world than holy beings. They act, talk, go, behave and live like sinful man and when confronted on this they give no heed to even trying to live holy. The church is marred because it has contaminated itself with sin. Know that when the holy becomes unholy there is a price to pay. The church should be separate fromt he world instead of embracing the doctrine of worldly ways. In Pilgrim's Progress, good Christian fleed from the city of Destruction but today Christians thinks the church needs to start a new church work there and adopt their ways to win them. You might win them to somethng but I would dare say it is not to way of holiness. Church, touch not and look not upon the things of this world. You would wonder why they were not to touch not or look not on the holy things, and I can only surmise that these holy things would be made common and lose their holiness if handled and viewed constantly by the flesh. We are so weak in this that we lose reverence and respect as it becomes common.
Secondly, the Bible is holy; how many Christians view this book as holy? It is still the argument and the dilmena upon the church today to maintain the Word of God as holy. For many I fear that it is common and can be handled by anyone. Doctrines, denominations and churches handled this holy things lightly and have inflicted heresy upon the holy body. they should have heeded the warning, "add not nor take away from this book lest the curse be upon you". Holy Words inspired by the Holy Spirit and speaks today to the soul that will remember that it is holy.
Lastly, the body is holy; "Do you not know that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost"; Have we remembered this? Do Christians today keep themselves pure and undefiled? The cancer of sin has ravaged our minds, hearts and wills. We are no better than our fathers and have allowed for each generationto sink to the place of unholiness. Keep your eyes, keep your tongues, keep your bodies from being defiled with the things of this world and live pure and holy lifes.
There is a clear distinction between holy and unholy; between those that were to touch and look upon and those that weren't. Mind these things church and be the people, the holy people, that God would have you to be. Confess and repent quickly before the Lord for defiling the things of holiness, lest ye perish. A true revival will make us regard and remember that which is right and holy. A true revival will restore the separation between the world and the church. Oh, that we would call out today for revival among the church and the nations and that He would be glorified throughout all the earth.
The sons of Kohath were appointed the work inside the tabernacle to carry forth the holy things. now we know that Aaron and his sons were the only ones allowed to go into the holy places and deal with these things. God instructs Moses here in Numbers 4 about this, becasue if the sons of Kohath just went in and gathered the holy things up they would have died. We know when David was moving the ark of the covenant and it was on a wagon and the ark rocked Uzza put forth his hand to stay it and God smote him. Holy things are not to be triled with. There is a punishment for not obeying God in this. So much so that God insturcts the sons of Kohath here that they are not to touch it nor look upon it.
As we enter into the New Testament, the same command is issued to the church, "Touch not; taste not and see not"; Do not give the physical body an open door for lust after the things of this world. Clear instruction on being separate and keeping holy those things that God has designed as holy. Because if they be defiled then punishment must be set forth upon those that made them unholy. Holy things that should be kept from being tarnished: 1.the church; 2. the Bible; 3. our body
The church - "Come ye out from among them and be ye separate" is the teaching of the Holy Scripture; Jesus breathed upon the apostles and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit"; "Old things are passed awaybut behold, all things become new". The church is breathed, birthed and filled with holiness. But today the body of believers, I must say, is more like the world than holy beings. They act, talk, go, behave and live like sinful man and when confronted on this they give no heed to even trying to live holy. The church is marred because it has contaminated itself with sin. Know that when the holy becomes unholy there is a price to pay. The church should be separate fromt he world instead of embracing the doctrine of worldly ways. In Pilgrim's Progress, good Christian fleed from the city of Destruction but today Christians thinks the church needs to start a new church work there and adopt their ways to win them. You might win them to somethng but I would dare say it is not to way of holiness. Church, touch not and look not upon the things of this world. You would wonder why they were not to touch not or look not on the holy things, and I can only surmise that these holy things would be made common and lose their holiness if handled and viewed constantly by the flesh. We are so weak in this that we lose reverence and respect as it becomes common.
Secondly, the Bible is holy; how many Christians view this book as holy? It is still the argument and the dilmena upon the church today to maintain the Word of God as holy. For many I fear that it is common and can be handled by anyone. Doctrines, denominations and churches handled this holy things lightly and have inflicted heresy upon the holy body. they should have heeded the warning, "add not nor take away from this book lest the curse be upon you". Holy Words inspired by the Holy Spirit and speaks today to the soul that will remember that it is holy.
Lastly, the body is holy; "Do you not know that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost"; Have we remembered this? Do Christians today keep themselves pure and undefiled? The cancer of sin has ravaged our minds, hearts and wills. We are no better than our fathers and have allowed for each generationto sink to the place of unholiness. Keep your eyes, keep your tongues, keep your bodies from being defiled with the things of this world and live pure and holy lifes.
There is a clear distinction between holy and unholy; between those that were to touch and look upon and those that weren't. Mind these things church and be the people, the holy people, that God would have you to be. Confess and repent quickly before the Lord for defiling the things of holiness, lest ye perish. A true revival will make us regard and remember that which is right and holy. A true revival will restore the separation between the world and the church. Oh, that we would call out today for revival among the church and the nations and that He would be glorified throughout all the earth.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Jeremiah 9:23-24
"Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord."
The things that the Lord delights in -- "that he understands and knows the Lord"; The three examples in verse 23 demonstrate the self life, where man puts confidence and hope in the things he controls and lives for. These things are wisdom (education, philosophy on life), might (strength) and riches (wealth). If a braggart then he boasts on these things of his own doing. But things of the Lord can only be praised as coming from Him, Who bestows it on those that He delights in. Does He delight in you? Are you seeking after Him to know Him and follow Him? Has He imparted His most precious favor upon you?
The church today, fumbling around in its own ways; ways that give honor unto man instead of the Lord. The Lord has no delights in His blessed church taking credit for growth, for money brought in or influence upon the world when it comes fromtheir own devices. The true church has set a witness over the centuries where 'supernatual ' events occurr because of one reason only, The Lord delighted in it. We should seek again for this not so we can glory in the 'supernatural' but so that God could receive the glory due to His Name.
When you read people's resumes and they list everything done under the sun; when you veiw their references and notable names are placed for high esteem it is all for the glory of man. The Lord has no delight in such things because they have sought the apporval of man and not His approval. They have not launched out into the deep and dropped their nets because the Master said so. But they hold fast that they have toiled and labored in their own strength all night and have not prevailed. They look to self and rarely think of casting their eyes to heaven and wondering, "Do you take delight in me, O Lord?" Most would know the answer, He does not. They have not sought Him, they do not know Him. These are the ones on judgment day that will say, "Lord, have we not preache, and taught and ministered in Your Name?" And He will answer, "I know you not". They act shocked here on earth that that is suggested but they will not be shocked there because they know the truth of the matter.
Oh, for our resolve to be ones submitted and surrendered to Him that He would teach us of His ways and His glory. Yield the life to hear His voice as He teaches and instructs us. Leanr of His ways that are holy and past finding out in this world. Sit at His feet and say, "Speak Lord for thy servant heareth"; Send me, O God for I have sought to know Thy ways in a perfect way that you might be glorified and honored.
Let me not fall to the ways fo the flesh and the world. I know that these things dishonor and are contrary to Thee. Strive for the things that the Lord delight in and 'He will grant you the things your hearts desires'.
The things that the Lord delights in -- "that he understands and knows the Lord"; The three examples in verse 23 demonstrate the self life, where man puts confidence and hope in the things he controls and lives for. These things are wisdom (education, philosophy on life), might (strength) and riches (wealth). If a braggart then he boasts on these things of his own doing. But things of the Lord can only be praised as coming from Him, Who bestows it on those that He delights in. Does He delight in you? Are you seeking after Him to know Him and follow Him? Has He imparted His most precious favor upon you?
The church today, fumbling around in its own ways; ways that give honor unto man instead of the Lord. The Lord has no delights in His blessed church taking credit for growth, for money brought in or influence upon the world when it comes fromtheir own devices. The true church has set a witness over the centuries where 'supernatual ' events occurr because of one reason only, The Lord delighted in it. We should seek again for this not so we can glory in the 'supernatural' but so that God could receive the glory due to His Name.
When you read people's resumes and they list everything done under the sun; when you veiw their references and notable names are placed for high esteem it is all for the glory of man. The Lord has no delight in such things because they have sought the apporval of man and not His approval. They have not launched out into the deep and dropped their nets because the Master said so. But they hold fast that they have toiled and labored in their own strength all night and have not prevailed. They look to self and rarely think of casting their eyes to heaven and wondering, "Do you take delight in me, O Lord?" Most would know the answer, He does not. They have not sought Him, they do not know Him. These are the ones on judgment day that will say, "Lord, have we not preache, and taught and ministered in Your Name?" And He will answer, "I know you not". They act shocked here on earth that that is suggested but they will not be shocked there because they know the truth of the matter.
Oh, for our resolve to be ones submitted and surrendered to Him that He would teach us of His ways and His glory. Yield the life to hear His voice as He teaches and instructs us. Leanr of His ways that are holy and past finding out in this world. Sit at His feet and say, "Speak Lord for thy servant heareth"; Send me, O God for I have sought to know Thy ways in a perfect way that you might be glorified and honored.
Let me not fall to the ways fo the flesh and the world. I know that these things dishonor and are contrary to Thee. Strive for the things that the Lord delight in and 'He will grant you the things your hearts desires'.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Leviticus commentary
I began daily Bible reading through Leviticus on Sunday; as I read 10 pages a day, it will only take 4 days to read through it; as most people do not like to read Leviticus and find it plain and withou personl meaning to them it contains many things that are important for us as Christians; here are a few of those things;
1. the beginning of the book starts with the sacrifices that Moses is to communicate to Aaron and the priests; the sin offering, the peace offering, the trespass offering etc.
1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5, 16; 4:31; - "Sweet savor"; 17 times listed and used in the this book; all in reference to the sacrifices offered unto the Lord; it should be applied for us that whatever offering we present should be the same; this phrase is also used by Paul in Ephesians and Corithians; one, we are the sweet savour unto the Lord and the second one that Christ was offered up as a sweet savour; how is your aroma unto the Lord? compare this with the sin of Sodom," it is a stink in the nostrils of God"; we should be offering a sweet smell unto the Lord;
2. a reference to 'sins of ignorance'; we are so general in our prayers of confession as Christians; "Lord, forgive us of all our sins"; never any depth or specific recognition of sins within our personal, family or church life; sins of commission and sins of omissions - those that we are aware of is one thing; but for the most part it is the sins that we are not aware of, we are in ignorance of such things and need to ask to God to make us aware lest we contiinue in sins of ignorance;
3. reference to difference between "Clean and Unclean; Holy and Unholy"; 10:3, 10; 11:44, 45, 47; 15:31; there is a distinct difference that needs to shown and practiced; God is holy and requires of us the same; if we are defiled and unclean and unholy this needs to be changed quickly lest we be an offence unto a holy, clean God; this is Who He is and as His children we are to be the same; put the sin away from you and be holy and clean; we cannot approach Him being defiled and filthy; must be made whole and then shall be granted permission to approach unto Him in worship;
1. the beginning of the book starts with the sacrifices that Moses is to communicate to Aaron and the priests; the sin offering, the peace offering, the trespass offering etc.
1:9, 13, 17; 2:2, 9, 12; 3:5, 16; 4:31; - "Sweet savor"; 17 times listed and used in the this book; all in reference to the sacrifices offered unto the Lord; it should be applied for us that whatever offering we present should be the same; this phrase is also used by Paul in Ephesians and Corithians; one, we are the sweet savour unto the Lord and the second one that Christ was offered up as a sweet savour; how is your aroma unto the Lord? compare this with the sin of Sodom," it is a stink in the nostrils of God"; we should be offering a sweet smell unto the Lord;
2. a reference to 'sins of ignorance'; we are so general in our prayers of confession as Christians; "Lord, forgive us of all our sins"; never any depth or specific recognition of sins within our personal, family or church life; sins of commission and sins of omissions - those that we are aware of is one thing; but for the most part it is the sins that we are not aware of, we are in ignorance of such things and need to ask to God to make us aware lest we contiinue in sins of ignorance;
3. reference to difference between "Clean and Unclean; Holy and Unholy"; 10:3, 10; 11:44, 45, 47; 15:31; there is a distinct difference that needs to shown and practiced; God is holy and requires of us the same; if we are defiled and unclean and unholy this needs to be changed quickly lest we be an offence unto a holy, clean God; this is Who He is and as His children we are to be the same; put the sin away from you and be holy and clean; we cannot approach Him being defiled and filthy; must be made whole and then shall be granted permission to approach unto Him in worship;
Psalm 27:8
"When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek."
Has there been a clear call to thee today, dear Christian? have you heard the voice of your Beloved saying unto you, Come and seek me? Do we not know that each child of God receives the same calling to seek His face. The question is not who the Lord speaks to, for He speaks to all His own. He speaks to the lost, "For the gospel hath appeared unto all". The issue is the response from man. The Psalmists writes, "When You spoke to me and called me to seek you, I answered, I will." Have you followed with affirmation that you will seek Him.
Many start off so well. They are moved, they are drawn, but soon as you look for them they ahve deaparted from the faith having loved this present world more. They are the parable of the sower and the see. The seed is cast and as soon as it lands it is snatched away by the birds of the air. They hear the gospel and are moved with conviction but quickly turned over untot the leading of Satan. Or the seed takes root and as it begins to grow it is choked by things of this world and loses its place. All have heard the call, "Seek my face" but only few will break free from the world and the flesh and bow in the throne room saying, " I am here to seek Your face, O mighty God".
It is the resolve within a Christian that recognizes what is at stake here. What would happen to the church today if each Christian would labor to seek His face? Would there not be a revival unleahsed upon the land? Some would argue with me that each Christian does seek His face. There is no possible way that this is true. Too many confessions from pastors, teachers, missionaries, and church members that they know wherein their sin lieth. Their sin is that they have left their first love and they do not give the Lord time each day, some fail to give Him time throughout the week and others fail to seek His face as long as months coupled together. One of our grossest sins within the church today is that we have heard the call to 'seek His face' but we have given place to others things than unto Him.
The Psalmist, David, wrote that he heard the call and he quickly affirmed his heart and soul that he would seek Him. For those of you that come into the blessed chamber each day to seek His face you know the rewards of it. There is no absence, there is no distance there is no loss of time, He says, "Seek my face, and you answer, Thy face I will seek" Time is not a restraint, for He may call in the night or the day and whatever else is going on you respond, then and there. How faithful you are and you cannot imagine a life without it. How we would pray for others to be found obedient in great and small things to seek His face.
If you find yourself having lost time with Him. Having heard the call and refused it because of other things, turn now and delay not to confess, repent and find His mercy. Lose no more precious time while here on this earth to seek His face. If the issue is your heart, you do not desire to seek His face, then your sin is grosser than you know. Cry out for God to grant you the calling and the desire to seek His face and wait until it is given. The hardness of the heart has cost the church and His kingdom so much because they have no desire to seek His face. They know it is right; they know they should but they pursue other things and then wonder why the church and Christianity is what is today. It is becaue we have not sought His face with our whole being. We are not even broken over the fact that thousands of brothers and sisters have fallen prey to such idolatrous relationships. Cry out, "Restore your people, that they may seek your face". Their excuses, "I don't have time"; "It is not that important"; and "I don't have to do it everyday" OH! what answer will they give when they bow the knee on judgment day to a holy, just God that called unto them, "Seek my face; but you would not seek me"; no excuses then, only regret and sorrow. But to you who long and are seeking Him, hear these words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"; know then the face that you spent a life time seeking now, you shall see Him face to face and all of His glory.
Has there been a clear call to thee today, dear Christian? have you heard the voice of your Beloved saying unto you, Come and seek me? Do we not know that each child of God receives the same calling to seek His face. The question is not who the Lord speaks to, for He speaks to all His own. He speaks to the lost, "For the gospel hath appeared unto all". The issue is the response from man. The Psalmists writes, "When You spoke to me and called me to seek you, I answered, I will." Have you followed with affirmation that you will seek Him.
Many start off so well. They are moved, they are drawn, but soon as you look for them they ahve deaparted from the faith having loved this present world more. They are the parable of the sower and the see. The seed is cast and as soon as it lands it is snatched away by the birds of the air. They hear the gospel and are moved with conviction but quickly turned over untot the leading of Satan. Or the seed takes root and as it begins to grow it is choked by things of this world and loses its place. All have heard the call, "Seek my face" but only few will break free from the world and the flesh and bow in the throne room saying, " I am here to seek Your face, O mighty God".
It is the resolve within a Christian that recognizes what is at stake here. What would happen to the church today if each Christian would labor to seek His face? Would there not be a revival unleahsed upon the land? Some would argue with me that each Christian does seek His face. There is no possible way that this is true. Too many confessions from pastors, teachers, missionaries, and church members that they know wherein their sin lieth. Their sin is that they have left their first love and they do not give the Lord time each day, some fail to give Him time throughout the week and others fail to seek His face as long as months coupled together. One of our grossest sins within the church today is that we have heard the call to 'seek His face' but we have given place to others things than unto Him.
The Psalmist, David, wrote that he heard the call and he quickly affirmed his heart and soul that he would seek Him. For those of you that come into the blessed chamber each day to seek His face you know the rewards of it. There is no absence, there is no distance there is no loss of time, He says, "Seek my face, and you answer, Thy face I will seek" Time is not a restraint, for He may call in the night or the day and whatever else is going on you respond, then and there. How faithful you are and you cannot imagine a life without it. How we would pray for others to be found obedient in great and small things to seek His face.
If you find yourself having lost time with Him. Having heard the call and refused it because of other things, turn now and delay not to confess, repent and find His mercy. Lose no more precious time while here on this earth to seek His face. If the issue is your heart, you do not desire to seek His face, then your sin is grosser than you know. Cry out for God to grant you the calling and the desire to seek His face and wait until it is given. The hardness of the heart has cost the church and His kingdom so much because they have no desire to seek His face. They know it is right; they know they should but they pursue other things and then wonder why the church and Christianity is what is today. It is becaue we have not sought His face with our whole being. We are not even broken over the fact that thousands of brothers and sisters have fallen prey to such idolatrous relationships. Cry out, "Restore your people, that they may seek your face". Their excuses, "I don't have time"; "It is not that important"; and "I don't have to do it everyday" OH! what answer will they give when they bow the knee on judgment day to a holy, just God that called unto them, "Seek my face; but you would not seek me"; no excuses then, only regret and sorrow. But to you who long and are seeking Him, hear these words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant"; know then the face that you spent a life time seeking now, you shall see Him face to face and all of His glory.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Exodus 32:32 (rough draft)
"Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."
I call this passage the "Dash". It is a broken sentence. Moses begins but does not finish his request. Something happens here that is not told and only God and Moses know what it was. but I make an assumption upon this verse of what happens. Partly from my own experience as well as others from the church that have shared of similar requests. The children of Israel have sinned, Moses had spent the last 40 days on the mount in the presence of God. God spoke to him and he was in the midst of the glory of God. But then everythin stops and God commands Moses to go down to the people for they have sinned a great sin. Aaron had followed their request to make them gods of gold that they would worship and give glory to. It says and the people rose up to worship the idols and play. They indulge in lewd behavior of that of heathens and pagans that they knew was not right. Aaron did nothing but help in this demise. So Moses comes down and bearing the stones of the ten commandments in his holy anger at their sin he casts the stones down and breaks them. After Moses sets everything right the next day he returns unto the Lord to intercede. Now Moses had already done this before he came down. We read earlier in the chapter that God tells Moses the people are given to sin and stand aside and let Me destory them and I will make of thee a nation. Moses intercedes for the people here and God stays His hand of wrath. So this is not the first time Moses has to intercede on behalf of the people.
But here in this verse as he is making his supplication and intercession everything stops and there is inserted a 'dash'; why? Moses is confessing the sins of the people; understand he has been in the holiest of God for 40 days; you cannot be in the presence of God that long and not be aware of the things of God; sin is no longer acceptable, it is loathsome; holiness is desired and His glory is sought after; anything else will not satisfy; Moses now sees sin as God sees it, the reproach, the hideousness of it, the abomination in front of a holy, just God; Moses knows the verdict upon such as do these things, that there is no mercy and there must be judgment; he intercedes for the peoples lives and in the midst of the weight of it, it is too much for me and emotional, physically and spiritually he breaks; I believe that he wept and anguish filled him on behalf of the people of Israel;
Now to say all this is not for commentary, it is for the church to have the same desire of intercession for the people. The path is the same. Somebody is called out to come into the presence of God and stay and learn of His holiness and reproach for sin. Then when they see the sin in mankind is grieves the heart as it has God's heart. For He has always wanted for man's fallen estate to be restored. But you have so few that will take time to be alone with God and learn these things. That is why I believe there is so few intercessors that angonize over the 'lostness' of man and sins of the church and the nation. And, oh, those that do carry the burden of crying out to God day and night what a burden they bear. How many souls do they hold up for God not to judge and sentence but to extend His mercy, grace and long-suffering. They cannot hold up many a time without breaking in the midst of their prayers and words cannot be spoken, only tears shed. And, oh, what compassion God has upon the tears of His intercessors. Jesus looked upon Jerusaleum, "And he wept over it"; not the buildings the people, He saw the 'lostness' and was moved to cry for thier souls. "How often! How often! I would have gathered you under my wings but you would not come." The truth is real that a holy God will judge and sentence these that have spurned His Divine love and sacrifice through Jesus Christ. He will condemn them to an eternal hell -- the weight of the lost perishing for ever is too much for any intercessor. They will weep when they see them perishing for eternity. The casual, comfortable Christian knows nothing of this. They live for themselves and since they do not spend time with the Lord they know nothing of what must be. A tragic event, a death, a calamity may jar the sleeping church and Christian to be made aware that death is coming and judgement is upon them but how quickly will they return to "same' status. An intercessor bears the burden for the church, for the kingdom and God knows those that cry out to Him day and night. God knows those that weep over the perishing. God knows the ones that cannot speak profoundly and in complete senteces, but in the midst of their prayers, comes the -.
I call this passage the "Dash". It is a broken sentence. Moses begins but does not finish his request. Something happens here that is not told and only God and Moses know what it was. but I make an assumption upon this verse of what happens. Partly from my own experience as well as others from the church that have shared of similar requests. The children of Israel have sinned, Moses had spent the last 40 days on the mount in the presence of God. God spoke to him and he was in the midst of the glory of God. But then everythin stops and God commands Moses to go down to the people for they have sinned a great sin. Aaron had followed their request to make them gods of gold that they would worship and give glory to. It says and the people rose up to worship the idols and play. They indulge in lewd behavior of that of heathens and pagans that they knew was not right. Aaron did nothing but help in this demise. So Moses comes down and bearing the stones of the ten commandments in his holy anger at their sin he casts the stones down and breaks them. After Moses sets everything right the next day he returns unto the Lord to intercede. Now Moses had already done this before he came down. We read earlier in the chapter that God tells Moses the people are given to sin and stand aside and let Me destory them and I will make of thee a nation. Moses intercedes for the people here and God stays His hand of wrath. So this is not the first time Moses has to intercede on behalf of the people.
But here in this verse as he is making his supplication and intercession everything stops and there is inserted a 'dash'; why? Moses is confessing the sins of the people; understand he has been in the holiest of God for 40 days; you cannot be in the presence of God that long and not be aware of the things of God; sin is no longer acceptable, it is loathsome; holiness is desired and His glory is sought after; anything else will not satisfy; Moses now sees sin as God sees it, the reproach, the hideousness of it, the abomination in front of a holy, just God; Moses knows the verdict upon such as do these things, that there is no mercy and there must be judgment; he intercedes for the peoples lives and in the midst of the weight of it, it is too much for me and emotional, physically and spiritually he breaks; I believe that he wept and anguish filled him on behalf of the people of Israel;
Now to say all this is not for commentary, it is for the church to have the same desire of intercession for the people. The path is the same. Somebody is called out to come into the presence of God and stay and learn of His holiness and reproach for sin. Then when they see the sin in mankind is grieves the heart as it has God's heart. For He has always wanted for man's fallen estate to be restored. But you have so few that will take time to be alone with God and learn these things. That is why I believe there is so few intercessors that angonize over the 'lostness' of man and sins of the church and the nation. And, oh, those that do carry the burden of crying out to God day and night what a burden they bear. How many souls do they hold up for God not to judge and sentence but to extend His mercy, grace and long-suffering. They cannot hold up many a time without breaking in the midst of their prayers and words cannot be spoken, only tears shed. And, oh, what compassion God has upon the tears of His intercessors. Jesus looked upon Jerusaleum, "And he wept over it"; not the buildings the people, He saw the 'lostness' and was moved to cry for thier souls. "How often! How often! I would have gathered you under my wings but you would not come." The truth is real that a holy God will judge and sentence these that have spurned His Divine love and sacrifice through Jesus Christ. He will condemn them to an eternal hell -- the weight of the lost perishing for ever is too much for any intercessor. They will weep when they see them perishing for eternity. The casual, comfortable Christian knows nothing of this. They live for themselves and since they do not spend time with the Lord they know nothing of what must be. A tragic event, a death, a calamity may jar the sleeping church and Christian to be made aware that death is coming and judgement is upon them but how quickly will they return to "same' status. An intercessor bears the burden for the church, for the kingdom and God knows those that cry out to Him day and night. God knows those that weep over the perishing. God knows the ones that cannot speak profoundly and in complete senteces, but in the midst of their prayers, comes the -.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Exodus scriptures that stand out to me;
17:15, Moses built an altar; I love the altar, one of my favorite hymns is, "Is Your All on the Altar?" Throughout Scripture there is these references to the altar that allows for man to approach unto God;
18:11, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods" a declaration of salvation from Jethro
18:18, "Too heavy for thee: thou art not able to perform it thyself alone" a lesson that their are things of life that is beyond us and we need instruction to do better and perform wiser;
19:19, "Moses spake, and God answered" what a wonderful passage of direct communication between God and His servant; may it be for us as well that when we speak God hears and answers us;
19:20, "Lord came down. . .Moses went up" God in His desire for man to be reconciled with HIm, has done all to bring us into a relationship with HIm, including coming down to meet us; but we must do our part and rise above this world and go to Him; go up dear brethern, go up, for He has already come down through Christ Jesus our Lord;
19:22, "the priests also. . .sanctify themselves" shoudln't they already have been sanctified? but apparently they were not and the command came forward; a constant problem among us the Spirit bids us be holy and the flesh, "in which no good thing dwelleth" contaminates us;
20:1-17, the Ten Commandments; how few know where to find these in the Bible;
20:20, "Fear not, for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not" fear not the things of this world but fear the Lord; another word study I did was "the fear of the Lord" how many times this is used throughout the Bible to direct us and shape us; here the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin; O that many would practice and fulfill it;
20:21, "drew near unto the thick darkness" always has been a mystery that the God in Who is light and shines forth, dwells in the thick darkness; not only just 'dark' but "thick darkness';
20:26, "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." Proving once again that God dwells everywhere, so much so that if we step up God is above is also beneath and we should not reveal our uncleanness before HIm; how we approach God is important, no matter what the rest of the world says,"Oh it doesn't matter, just so long as you talk to God" it does; EM Bounds declared that a Christians position before the Lord is important and reflects our humility (kneeling or prostrate), our worship (bowed before Him) and our love; respect and reverence;
22:31, "ye shall be holy men unto me" a prayer to add and to fulfill from His grace and mercy;
23:25-26, How much is God able to do for us as a nation, a church, a family? He can take sickness away, long life give, blessings impart and all because they are serving and worshipping Him as He has declared. Fruitifulness of children; I see and know many barren women today but they will not submit and surrender unto the Lord; many verses speak on these things if only we would hear what the Spirit is saying; not just fruitfulness of bearing children but fruit of the Spirit and fruit of gleaning souls can be shown when God blesses;
18:11, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods" a declaration of salvation from Jethro
18:18, "Too heavy for thee: thou art not able to perform it thyself alone" a lesson that their are things of life that is beyond us and we need instruction to do better and perform wiser;
19:19, "Moses spake, and God answered" what a wonderful passage of direct communication between God and His servant; may it be for us as well that when we speak God hears and answers us;
19:20, "Lord came down. . .Moses went up" God in His desire for man to be reconciled with HIm, has done all to bring us into a relationship with HIm, including coming down to meet us; but we must do our part and rise above this world and go to Him; go up dear brethern, go up, for He has already come down through Christ Jesus our Lord;
19:22, "the priests also. . .sanctify themselves" shoudln't they already have been sanctified? but apparently they were not and the command came forward; a constant problem among us the Spirit bids us be holy and the flesh, "in which no good thing dwelleth" contaminates us;
20:1-17, the Ten Commandments; how few know where to find these in the Bible;
20:20, "Fear not, for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not" fear not the things of this world but fear the Lord; another word study I did was "the fear of the Lord" how many times this is used throughout the Bible to direct us and shape us; here the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin; O that many would practice and fulfill it;
20:21, "drew near unto the thick darkness" always has been a mystery that the God in Who is light and shines forth, dwells in the thick darkness; not only just 'dark' but "thick darkness';
20:26, "Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." Proving once again that God dwells everywhere, so much so that if we step up God is above is also beneath and we should not reveal our uncleanness before HIm; how we approach God is important, no matter what the rest of the world says,"Oh it doesn't matter, just so long as you talk to God" it does; EM Bounds declared that a Christians position before the Lord is important and reflects our humility (kneeling or prostrate), our worship (bowed before Him) and our love; respect and reverence;
22:31, "ye shall be holy men unto me" a prayer to add and to fulfill from His grace and mercy;
23:25-26, How much is God able to do for us as a nation, a church, a family? He can take sickness away, long life give, blessings impart and all because they are serving and worshipping Him as He has declared. Fruitifulness of children; I see and know many barren women today but they will not submit and surrender unto the Lord; many verses speak on these things if only we would hear what the Spirit is saying; not just fruitfulness of bearing children but fruit of the Spirit and fruit of gleaning souls can be shown when God blesses;
Exodus 17:7 (rough draft)
So much to write from Bible readings this morning, this section of Exodus and tomorrow's is some of my favorite Scriptures;
"Is the Lord among us, or not?"
Filled with unbelief and tempting the Lord, the children of Israel were now in a sinful place before God. God had brought them forth from Egypt with great power. He had shown them His mercy by providing them food and water. How do they repay His blessings and mercies, by questioning Him. We all have been there and questioned the ways of the Lord. We have not agreed with the way things were going; we have not liked the time frame, our impatience; we have wanted it our way, self governing instead of God-centered. And in the hottest battles we were filled with unbelief and cried out, "Are you there or not?" Even though, we know the promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee".
One truth is for certain, God will not play second fiddle to man. The church today should ask the question, "Is the Lord among us, or not?" Baptisms down, sin growing by leaps and bounds, families being devasted by sin, churches floundering in growth, (except those that wish to entertain more than honor God), Bible reading and teaching shrinking, Christian growth minimal and prayer is dismissed as for old saints or specially called Christians. These are all testimonies among the church today for us to ask, where is the Lord?" God will not be among us if we continute toexalt self instead of exalting HIM. Is He present? Yes, but we have grieved and resisted and quenched His Holy Spirit. Three things that we were commanded not to do as His people. Our unbelief that souls are beyond saving; the church needs to be modernized and vamped to win the world by the ways of the world; more entertainment and less spiritual disciplines are the methods adopted by churches and Christians today. How hell laughs at such attempts to be spiritual with unspiritual means. Hell declares,"they are doing the work for us". We are not our own but have been bought with a price and this requires us to surrender our ways unto Him. Come out from among them and be separatew; Be ye holy, for I am holy; Seek me with all your heart, mind, soul and body.
His Presence is diminshed from showing His power and changing lifes because we have sinned a great sin. We have allowed for our freedom and comfort to direct our ways of serving. A little hour on Sunday; no prayer or Bible through the week; no witnessing for months at a time; live life for yourself instead of for your Savior. These are things that we must answer for the downfall among the church. If any dare question God's love or mercy, this is not what He intended, this is of our own doing. "Is the Lord among us, or not?" He wishes to be and will be first or He will allow for our choices to seal our fate. We all should choose this day, "As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord." Then we will know that He is among us and watches over us and accomplishes His kingdom's business among us.
"Is the Lord among us, or not?"
Filled with unbelief and tempting the Lord, the children of Israel were now in a sinful place before God. God had brought them forth from Egypt with great power. He had shown them His mercy by providing them food and water. How do they repay His blessings and mercies, by questioning Him. We all have been there and questioned the ways of the Lord. We have not agreed with the way things were going; we have not liked the time frame, our impatience; we have wanted it our way, self governing instead of God-centered. And in the hottest battles we were filled with unbelief and cried out, "Are you there or not?" Even though, we know the promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee".
One truth is for certain, God will not play second fiddle to man. The church today should ask the question, "Is the Lord among us, or not?" Baptisms down, sin growing by leaps and bounds, families being devasted by sin, churches floundering in growth, (except those that wish to entertain more than honor God), Bible reading and teaching shrinking, Christian growth minimal and prayer is dismissed as for old saints or specially called Christians. These are all testimonies among the church today for us to ask, where is the Lord?" God will not be among us if we continute toexalt self instead of exalting HIM. Is He present? Yes, but we have grieved and resisted and quenched His Holy Spirit. Three things that we were commanded not to do as His people. Our unbelief that souls are beyond saving; the church needs to be modernized and vamped to win the world by the ways of the world; more entertainment and less spiritual disciplines are the methods adopted by churches and Christians today. How hell laughs at such attempts to be spiritual with unspiritual means. Hell declares,"they are doing the work for us". We are not our own but have been bought with a price and this requires us to surrender our ways unto Him. Come out from among them and be separatew; Be ye holy, for I am holy; Seek me with all your heart, mind, soul and body.
His Presence is diminshed from showing His power and changing lifes because we have sinned a great sin. We have allowed for our freedom and comfort to direct our ways of serving. A little hour on Sunday; no prayer or Bible through the week; no witnessing for months at a time; live life for yourself instead of for your Savior. These are things that we must answer for the downfall among the church. If any dare question God's love or mercy, this is not what He intended, this is of our own doing. "Is the Lord among us, or not?" He wishes to be and will be first or He will allow for our choices to seal our fate. We all should choose this day, "As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord." Then we will know that He is among us and watches over us and accomplishes His kingdom's business among us.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Isaiah 58: 13-14; (Rough draft)
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.. . ."
Sunday for most people is their own dayand it is for their own pleasure. But to a Christian it is the day of the Lord in which we gather to worship. How many Christians I have heard that when they was sick or weather forbade us from meeting that it threw everything off. Meaning that they expected something from Sunday worship. I view it as the opportunity for God to meet us and shew us His glory. Because if you read where revivals occurred most it was when God's people were gathered together. Songs, prayer, Scriptures being taught and preached and fellowship of God's people allow for the opportuntiy for God to be glorified and exalted. This verse declare for somethings to be left and other things to be embraced.
Leave thine own pleasures and thine own ways on the Lord's day. Here in the United States though it is all about a person's pleasure and their own ways. From sporting events to family to sloth it is geared for individuals and families to abhor worshipping God and gather for their own interests and pleasures. I believe one old preacher put it this way when he said, 'Many a Christian has undone everything gained in a Sunday morning worship service because of their Sunday afternoon antics. ' For most they believe one hour on Sunday morning is putting in their time for the Lord, only so they can indulge their own desires for the rest of the day. It is not just Sunday morning and/or Sunday evening it is the entire day.
For pastors that have labored faithfully all day in proclaiming the Word andserving the Lord, it can all be undone by what they do on Sunday night when they retire into their own homes. Guard yourselves that the entire day is the Lord's and to be used for honoring Him. Labor to maintain a spirit of worship until your eyes close at night, and know that your works do follow you.
The two things to be gained is to honor Him and to delight in Him. Most of things that read in the Bible that give direction to us on our walk with the Lord is found in one simple word -- obedience. Finding the same thing here that when He is honored and we delight in Him it is all because we have been obedient unto Him Who is worthy. At the same thought, disobedience removes honor and delight to Him. Most Christians testify that they don't understand why they don't desire to serve Him more and they won't serve Him more, it is simply because they have disobeyed Him. Starting with the simple instruction of keeping the Sabbath day. Most churches have shut down on Sunday nights and as old Vance Havner said, "Start at 11 o'clock shapr and end at 12 o'clock dull." all because it was about self instead of honoring and delighting in Him.
Another way of promoting Spiritual success on Sunday is the prayer that goes into it. EM Bounds declared that you get out it what you put into it. If you don't labor or pray over the services Sunday then don't be disappointed if you walk away with nothing. But many a solider has been blest ten fold becuase they labored six days and found God's perfect rest in worship on the seventh day.
Sunday for most people is their own dayand it is for their own pleasure. But to a Christian it is the day of the Lord in which we gather to worship. How many Christians I have heard that when they was sick or weather forbade us from meeting that it threw everything off. Meaning that they expected something from Sunday worship. I view it as the opportunity for God to meet us and shew us His glory. Because if you read where revivals occurred most it was when God's people were gathered together. Songs, prayer, Scriptures being taught and preached and fellowship of God's people allow for the opportuntiy for God to be glorified and exalted. This verse declare for somethings to be left and other things to be embraced.
Leave thine own pleasures and thine own ways on the Lord's day. Here in the United States though it is all about a person's pleasure and their own ways. From sporting events to family to sloth it is geared for individuals and families to abhor worshipping God and gather for their own interests and pleasures. I believe one old preacher put it this way when he said, 'Many a Christian has undone everything gained in a Sunday morning worship service because of their Sunday afternoon antics. ' For most they believe one hour on Sunday morning is putting in their time for the Lord, only so they can indulge their own desires for the rest of the day. It is not just Sunday morning and/or Sunday evening it is the entire day.
For pastors that have labored faithfully all day in proclaiming the Word andserving the Lord, it can all be undone by what they do on Sunday night when they retire into their own homes. Guard yourselves that the entire day is the Lord's and to be used for honoring Him. Labor to maintain a spirit of worship until your eyes close at night, and know that your works do follow you.
The two things to be gained is to honor Him and to delight in Him. Most of things that read in the Bible that give direction to us on our walk with the Lord is found in one simple word -- obedience. Finding the same thing here that when He is honored and we delight in Him it is all because we have been obedient unto Him Who is worthy. At the same thought, disobedience removes honor and delight to Him. Most Christians testify that they don't understand why they don't desire to serve Him more and they won't serve Him more, it is simply because they have disobeyed Him. Starting with the simple instruction of keeping the Sabbath day. Most churches have shut down on Sunday nights and as old Vance Havner said, "Start at 11 o'clock shapr and end at 12 o'clock dull." all because it was about self instead of honoring and delighting in Him.
Another way of promoting Spiritual success on Sunday is the prayer that goes into it. EM Bounds declared that you get out it what you put into it. If you don't labor or pray over the services Sunday then don't be disappointed if you walk away with nothing. But many a solider has been blest ten fold becuase they labored six days and found God's perfect rest in worship on the seventh day.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Exodus - commentary rough draft, spell check is down;
I usually do commentary verse by verse but because of time and space I will just pull out a few things that stood out to me in Bible readings; some I have marked others I use for thought and prayers;
Exodus 3:5, "Draw not night hither" a strange statement from God when viewed to the Scripture in James that says "Draw night to me and I will draw night to you"; but here there is a refraining place for Moses not to come any closer because of the holiness; We have the authority of promise offered to us that says we can come boldly to the throne because of Jesus Christ making a way; this was not available to Moses at this time; isn't it amazing that as Exodus develops near the end Moses not only is allowed to draw near he is allowed to see the hinder parts of God;
Exodus 4:2, "What is that in thine hand?" God uses who we are and what we have for His kingdoms work;
4:11, "Have not I, the Lord?" another question with an answer that we should fast to, God made all and allows such things in this world to accomplish His Divine purpsoe;
5:17, "Ye are idle, ye are idle" I always read this and immediately I am convicted of my own state estate and that of the church; why is that the work ceases and rots because of our slothful, idle state in the things of God; oh, we have time for everything else but the things of eternity;
6:12 & 30, "Who am of uncircumcised lips" a strange statement from Moses seeing that in the flesh he should have been and was circumsized; his two sons had to be circumsized on the way back to Egypt by his wife when the angel met him to kill him because they were not circumsized; "Thou art a bloody husband unto me because of the circumscission"; but this is not to with the circumscission of the body but of his speech and the ability to communicate that he felt failed and was lacking anointing as upon those that are circumsized are blest in being obeident to the covenant;
repeated phrase throughout the plagues: 7:13, 22,8:15, 19; 9:12, 35; repeated to remind that the Lord already knew the heart of Pharoah and God fortells it so that God might be honored that He is above man and knows their hearts better than they do; God says it and it is, for God cannot lie and His ways are true;
9:20-21, the testimony and witness of man; the few that fear the word of the Lord through Moses, listened and obeyd but the rest gave no heed; as in the days of Noah, they were warned and warned until at last the ark was shut and then it was too late; so men are warned today that destruction and hell is coming and unless they repent they will perish and they are warned and warned and few give heed to the Word of the Lord through the man of God;
9:27, Confession from Pharoah - the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." but the time you read verse 34 his heart is hardened, confession of the lips but not of the heart; at that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord it will be a confession but it will be too late; many confess today only for self preservation but with time they are quickly back to their sin and ways and have not changed; so it it that confession is necessary but repentance is the agreeing factor for a saved person; without a change of heart and ways a confession is simply idle words;
Exodus 3:5, "Draw not night hither" a strange statement from God when viewed to the Scripture in James that says "Draw night to me and I will draw night to you"; but here there is a refraining place for Moses not to come any closer because of the holiness; We have the authority of promise offered to us that says we can come boldly to the throne because of Jesus Christ making a way; this was not available to Moses at this time; isn't it amazing that as Exodus develops near the end Moses not only is allowed to draw near he is allowed to see the hinder parts of God;
Exodus 4:2, "What is that in thine hand?" God uses who we are and what we have for His kingdoms work;
4:11, "Have not I, the Lord?" another question with an answer that we should fast to, God made all and allows such things in this world to accomplish His Divine purpsoe;
5:17, "Ye are idle, ye are idle" I always read this and immediately I am convicted of my own state estate and that of the church; why is that the work ceases and rots because of our slothful, idle state in the things of God; oh, we have time for everything else but the things of eternity;
6:12 & 30, "Who am of uncircumcised lips" a strange statement from Moses seeing that in the flesh he should have been and was circumsized; his two sons had to be circumsized on the way back to Egypt by his wife when the angel met him to kill him because they were not circumsized; "Thou art a bloody husband unto me because of the circumscission"; but this is not to with the circumscission of the body but of his speech and the ability to communicate that he felt failed and was lacking anointing as upon those that are circumsized are blest in being obeident to the covenant;
repeated phrase throughout the plagues: 7:13, 22,8:15, 19; 9:12, 35; repeated to remind that the Lord already knew the heart of Pharoah and God fortells it so that God might be honored that He is above man and knows their hearts better than they do; God says it and it is, for God cannot lie and His ways are true;
9:20-21, the testimony and witness of man; the few that fear the word of the Lord through Moses, listened and obeyd but the rest gave no heed; as in the days of Noah, they were warned and warned until at last the ark was shut and then it was too late; so men are warned today that destruction and hell is coming and unless they repent they will perish and they are warned and warned and few give heed to the Word of the Lord through the man of God;
9:27, Confession from Pharoah - the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." but the time you read verse 34 his heart is hardened, confession of the lips but not of the heart; at that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord it will be a confession but it will be too late; many confess today only for self preservation but with time they are quickly back to their sin and ways and have not changed; so it it that confession is necessary but repentance is the agreeing factor for a saved person; without a change of heart and ways a confession is simply idle words;
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