"robe of righteousness"
In searching for these three words I found over 500 times in the Bible the word 'rigtheous' ; many describing the saints of old, defining their works of righteousness. They obeyed and found within was them b eing right with God. But we know that as a Christian our righteousness is nothing if it comes from our own merit, works or stengths. If "I" is involed in you being righteous then you are not righteous in the sight of God. The only hope a Christian has is Christs' righteousness. Romans is the great communicator of this truth on righteousness, which I will not lead into now. I want to have us fix our minds on the robe of righteousness, that which Christ imparts from Himself to us.
Quickly, I would remind you that found in holiness and the pursuit of truth leads to righteousness. Sin mars the robe and leaves us half intact of His fullness. When robed in righteousness we are covered by His blood and Divine hand. Having realized our sinfulness we find problems in our daily pursuit to know God and serve God. Throughly we must search our minds, actions, hearts and ambitions to see where sin may be lurking that would do the worst damamge to us. If sin is present then our righteousness is not intact. How many Christians are persisent and thorough with routing out the sin of our lives? How common on a weekly basis there is this instance of depth in the church today: "O Lord, forgive me of all my sins"; now that is not done on a daily basis for the most it is done several times during the week and that is the extent of them searching sin in their life. Is this not the cause of the quenching of the Holy Spirit? We have not gotten rid of the sin it lies before us and takes our righteousness away. You mean we lose it? No, but we are not covered in righeousness but covered in shame. Sin does not robe us in righteousness, but we are unrobed from righteousness. The thought in itself that I should take so lightly what He has done and imparted is so shameful. When I hear Christians take so lightly their sins and relish in grace and mercy with no thought what damage our sins costs souls or the kingdom it is awful. Paul wrote that he was the chiefest of sinners. Do you feel as if you could take that title from him? He is not, but I am the chief of sinners. Always a sign of being robed in righteousness is the mark of knowing how horrible our sins are. Isaiah, himself, said Woe is me fo rI am undone when he saw the glory of God. We should remember His holiness and righteousness. For in seeing that we see our sin and shame. We should do everything to fight against being unrobed. The devil tries to take it; the flesh fails and tries to remove it; and the world is constant in trying to steal it from us. We should fight against all things of sin lest we be unrobed from His righteousness. Mark the sins daily, morning and evening, if not more throughout the day. Confess them. Repent of them and be robed in righteousness.
With a daily purusit to mark and get rid of sin within us we would maintain our robe. This is found for those that seek it daily not monthly or yearly with such a haphazard approach to their Maker. They are renewed day by day the Scripture teaches us. The robe of righteousness is imparted by Christ for those that long for sweet communion with their Beloved. They speak to Him and He speaks to them. When He speaks, what does He say? He says, "Praise Me"; "Hear Me"; "Obey Me"; "Declare Who I am"; How wonderful the sayings of Christ that revealed unto the one that seeks Him. Of course, then the rest of the day is filled with action to secure the kingdom for Him. Labors, tears, devotions, writings, and so on to complete the task before us. For it is all about Him. When He sees your stout hearts, how you love Him, and how you pursue after Him, He rewards you with this robe. As Jacob made and gave the many colored robe to Joseph so our Lord imparts a gift to those that will fulfill His desire.
As you take a look at yourself today, what do you see? How deep have you gone with the searching for sin? What robe are you wearing? He stands ready to grant it, may you be ready to obtain it.
-- I have not obtained, because I have not maintained; but if I maintain, then I shall obtain;
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Jeremiah 11:11, 14; 14:11, 12; 15:1
"they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them"
""Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them. . ."
"Pray not for this people. . ."
"Though Moses and Samuel stood befor me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. . ."
How awful to be in such a place that God has shut the doors of opportunity or hope. Prayer brings hope and accomplishes the will of the Father. It is His good pleasure to answer prayers and pour out blessings upon His people. But what happens when the people sin to such an extent that God no longer wishes to bless becuase they have trampled His holiness and rejected His love and mercy. When this occurs then God's judgment must answer the actions of such rebellious people, thus, our verses found in Jeremiah.
It is a lie contiually taught today that God hears and answers all prayers. And that is true from the argument that God is all knowing and all present and there is nothing hid from God. He is able to hear and see everything, unless, He restrains Himself from seeing and hearing. In the book of Psalms there is the verse that tells us if we regard iniquity in our heart the Lord will not hear us. Many times over is this directive, God will not hear us. Is it because He can't? No. Isn't because there is too many prayers going up at the same time? No. It is because God restrains the prayers from entering into His Presence. And when you ask the common church goer about praying, they always reply, "I always pray". But when you ask them to pray, you get some vain reptition that has been said for decades that they learned to recite. Just listen to any offertory prayer in a Baptist church, it is the same phrases each week with no heart behind it. So the question is not whethter they pray or not, it is whether God hears or not. Can we know this? Absolutely. Is there any sin? Is there any disobedience? Then God will not hear.
The other point to note on prayer is praying the will of the Father. We have in the book of James the verse that tells us about praying amiss against the will of God. Here in our verses laid out in Jeremiah we have God saying that even if His faithful servants, Moses and Samuel, stood before Him asking He would still accomplishes His will. It is often, I believe, that many Christians are praying against the will of God. They are asking amiss because of fleshly desires and amibitions that are carnal. It is a hard thing to accept and pray the praye of Christ in the garden, "Nevertheless, not my will be done, but thy will". A person able to pray this is one that is surrendered to the Divine will of God. They have died to self in order that the Spirit may rule and reign within them. Well what if that means my loved ones must suffer? They pray it and accept it. What if that means I lsoe financial grounds and esteem? They pray it. What if that means a nation is judged? They pray it. You see it is the will of God and even Moses and Samuel,k who both had stood before the Lord, interceeded on behalf of Israel before prayed for God to be merciful and stay His hand of anger. They prevailed in prayer because God moved them to pray in such a manner. Hezekiah prayed for extension of his life when God had said he was going to die. Does God change His mind? NO, He waits for prayers to be offered to accomplish His will. And when it is set, it will be accomplished. I give another example: I believe that when God said to Josiah that after his death Judah would be carried away and judged. I don't believe that there was anything left for prayers or repentance that could have changed that decision. As soon as Josiah died judgment fell. Course of actions in histroy determine these things upon individuals, upon churches, unpon families and upon nations. Now God is supreme and guides and knows all, I am not trying to answer for God merely applying that which we have learned and seen about His ways. I pray the desires of my heart but the desires of my heart might be flesh, so I must pray the will of the Father be done. So I will not ask you at the close of this devotions whether you pray or not? But I will ask you, does the Lord hear you or not?
""Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them. . ."
"Pray not for this people. . ."
"Though Moses and Samuel stood befor me, yet my mind could not be toward this people. . ."
How awful to be in such a place that God has shut the doors of opportunity or hope. Prayer brings hope and accomplishes the will of the Father. It is His good pleasure to answer prayers and pour out blessings upon His people. But what happens when the people sin to such an extent that God no longer wishes to bless becuase they have trampled His holiness and rejected His love and mercy. When this occurs then God's judgment must answer the actions of such rebellious people, thus, our verses found in Jeremiah.
It is a lie contiually taught today that God hears and answers all prayers. And that is true from the argument that God is all knowing and all present and there is nothing hid from God. He is able to hear and see everything, unless, He restrains Himself from seeing and hearing. In the book of Psalms there is the verse that tells us if we regard iniquity in our heart the Lord will not hear us. Many times over is this directive, God will not hear us. Is it because He can't? No. Isn't because there is too many prayers going up at the same time? No. It is because God restrains the prayers from entering into His Presence. And when you ask the common church goer about praying, they always reply, "I always pray". But when you ask them to pray, you get some vain reptition that has been said for decades that they learned to recite. Just listen to any offertory prayer in a Baptist church, it is the same phrases each week with no heart behind it. So the question is not whethter they pray or not, it is whether God hears or not. Can we know this? Absolutely. Is there any sin? Is there any disobedience? Then God will not hear.
The other point to note on prayer is praying the will of the Father. We have in the book of James the verse that tells us about praying amiss against the will of God. Here in our verses laid out in Jeremiah we have God saying that even if His faithful servants, Moses and Samuel, stood before Him asking He would still accomplishes His will. It is often, I believe, that many Christians are praying against the will of God. They are asking amiss because of fleshly desires and amibitions that are carnal. It is a hard thing to accept and pray the praye of Christ in the garden, "Nevertheless, not my will be done, but thy will". A person able to pray this is one that is surrendered to the Divine will of God. They have died to self in order that the Spirit may rule and reign within them. Well what if that means my loved ones must suffer? They pray it and accept it. What if that means I lsoe financial grounds and esteem? They pray it. What if that means a nation is judged? They pray it. You see it is the will of God and even Moses and Samuel,k who both had stood before the Lord, interceeded on behalf of Israel before prayed for God to be merciful and stay His hand of anger. They prevailed in prayer because God moved them to pray in such a manner. Hezekiah prayed for extension of his life when God had said he was going to die. Does God change His mind? NO, He waits for prayers to be offered to accomplish His will. And when it is set, it will be accomplished. I give another example: I believe that when God said to Josiah that after his death Judah would be carried away and judged. I don't believe that there was anything left for prayers or repentance that could have changed that decision. As soon as Josiah died judgment fell. Course of actions in histroy determine these things upon individuals, upon churches, unpon families and upon nations. Now God is supreme and guides and knows all, I am not trying to answer for God merely applying that which we have learned and seen about His ways. I pray the desires of my heart but the desires of my heart might be flesh, so I must pray the will of the Father be done. So I will not ask you at the close of this devotions whether you pray or not? But I will ask you, does the Lord hear you or not?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Jeremiah 7-8
Found within the last half of chapter 7 and throughout chapter 8 is a very evil report about the children of Judah and all of Israel. I would like to point out these verses one by one and then compare them to our day.
7:28, "truth is perished";
8:5, "perpetual backsliding";
8:6, "no man repented. . .What have I done?";
8:10, "for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."
8:20, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?"
It is not my intent to make you weep, but found within a page of the Scriptures is some of the most horrible vereses to describe God's people. May I remind from the beginning here that this is not a heathen nation, covered by ignorance. Nor is it a nation that is made up of false gods from the traditions of their fathers. This is the chidlren of God, descended from Abraham, the friend of God. Six verses that I selected and know that there is many more that gives description of what was wrong. It would be easy to pass judgement upon Israel and Judah and mourn for their foolishness, but I believe the Scripture is relevant to us today and mirrors our church today. Note how these verses are connected to each other and related to the progression away from God. The first thing, 'truth is gone'. Telling the people in church today is a tricky thing for some. They desire acceptance from the pulpit and in the classes so they give half truths. TV preachers are renowned for this folly and transgression. When truth is absent the rest falls. Maintaining the truth in the Word is demanded and necessary. And how many in the church today (again, remember this is not about the lost out in the world, this is in the church today) decalre they believe the Bible and all of it is truth. But when you ask them specifics about what they believe, you find out that they have never read all the Bible and nor do they know th eBible. The sin of the church is the failure to teach, preach and live the Truth. Next, once truth is removed ( a very crafty ploy of the devil, no doubt) then it is almost common sense to know sin is present and gradually grow worse. "perpetual backsliding', is this not seen all across the church today, every other week comes the child of God. "I just can't break free from this habit'; "i try and try but I keep sinning'. One old preacher declared that the church in America today has re-dedicated itself so much that it has broken its dedicators. Know that it is constant backsliding and is the beginning of spiraling downwwards away from God. And because they get tired of not seeing change (which they never will without the truth of God's Word present in them) they accept this way of life and refuse to repent, because they no longer see it as evil and an affront against God. They settle down in sin and become used to it. Then they decalre, "I haven't done anything really bad. I am not as bad as others." "What have I done? in other words, I haven't murdered anyone or horrible sins. You see they have lost the capacity to recognize sin and the cost of it. Another marvelous trick of the devil to make the church short-sighted on the eternal weight of sin. And because there is no truth to reveal sin, then they quickly do the religtious thing and say a 5 second prayer, 'Lord, forgive me of all my sins - whatever they may be." No repentance and no recognition of transgression. Because the sin escalates in the church it spreads to the familes and to society. REad verse 10, 'everyone now is practicing sin"; it has covered all of society and with truth absent there is no remedy against reaping wickedness in every corner of life. Which brings us to one my most cherished verses in the Bible, 8:20. I memorized this early on in my teenage years. It is not close to me because of hope or a promise or some great word on faith, it is to remind me of the lost condition of men, women and children. 'We are not saved' now is there anyone that knows anything about the Bible not know what happens when a person who is not saved dies. They go to hell; and not to hell simply but for all eternity they are in hell, no escape, no relief. The eternal mindedness of a Christian must always remember this to stir them to seek the truth, for without the truth there is no salvation. "Faith cometh by hearing; hearing by the Word of God." This verse causes me great pain and sorrow, because there are many personal people in my life, church, family that this is true of them. Year after year, witness after witness, prayer after prayer, tears after tears and they are not saved, O how Horrible! God have mercy before it is too late. Save that soul nearest hell today. "For today is the day of salvation and now is the appointed time". Have you made this your prayer today? Have you labored in such a manner for the lost, does it bother you at all? Then go to the next verse, 8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" It would be easy to say, No. "There is no hope, no chance no way, just shut it down and wait for the Lord to come back or take me home. I am not trying anymore." The devil would have us believe this, he would have us lose heart and quit laboring for souls. But you that do know the truth, know that the Lord has 7,000 that have not kissed Baal. The Lord has His remnant among the nations. He is coming back and He is coming for His bride, because they have triumphant in the world over sin the devil. Because Jesus and the Father knows all, they know every one that is theirs. Are you apart of this body called Christians. Are you laboring for the truth to be promoted and lived daily? Do you mourn over the conditions in the church and in this world? Fight on! Don't lose heart. His hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; He is able to do all things and do them well. there is a physician and He is the Great Physician, the Sympathizing Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Son of God - Jesus Christ, my Beloved! Hear Him church!
7:28, "truth is perished";
8:5, "perpetual backsliding";
8:6, "no man repented. . .What have I done?";
8:10, "for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."
8:20, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."
8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?"
It is not my intent to make you weep, but found within a page of the Scriptures is some of the most horrible vereses to describe God's people. May I remind from the beginning here that this is not a heathen nation, covered by ignorance. Nor is it a nation that is made up of false gods from the traditions of their fathers. This is the chidlren of God, descended from Abraham, the friend of God. Six verses that I selected and know that there is many more that gives description of what was wrong. It would be easy to pass judgement upon Israel and Judah and mourn for their foolishness, but I believe the Scripture is relevant to us today and mirrors our church today. Note how these verses are connected to each other and related to the progression away from God. The first thing, 'truth is gone'. Telling the people in church today is a tricky thing for some. They desire acceptance from the pulpit and in the classes so they give half truths. TV preachers are renowned for this folly and transgression. When truth is absent the rest falls. Maintaining the truth in the Word is demanded and necessary. And how many in the church today (again, remember this is not about the lost out in the world, this is in the church today) decalre they believe the Bible and all of it is truth. But when you ask them specifics about what they believe, you find out that they have never read all the Bible and nor do they know th eBible. The sin of the church is the failure to teach, preach and live the Truth. Next, once truth is removed ( a very crafty ploy of the devil, no doubt) then it is almost common sense to know sin is present and gradually grow worse. "perpetual backsliding', is this not seen all across the church today, every other week comes the child of God. "I just can't break free from this habit'; "i try and try but I keep sinning'. One old preacher declared that the church in America today has re-dedicated itself so much that it has broken its dedicators. Know that it is constant backsliding and is the beginning of spiraling downwwards away from God. And because they get tired of not seeing change (which they never will without the truth of God's Word present in them) they accept this way of life and refuse to repent, because they no longer see it as evil and an affront against God. They settle down in sin and become used to it. Then they decalre, "I haven't done anything really bad. I am not as bad as others." "What have I done? in other words, I haven't murdered anyone or horrible sins. You see they have lost the capacity to recognize sin and the cost of it. Another marvelous trick of the devil to make the church short-sighted on the eternal weight of sin. And because there is no truth to reveal sin, then they quickly do the religtious thing and say a 5 second prayer, 'Lord, forgive me of all my sins - whatever they may be." No repentance and no recognition of transgression. Because the sin escalates in the church it spreads to the familes and to society. REad verse 10, 'everyone now is practicing sin"; it has covered all of society and with truth absent there is no remedy against reaping wickedness in every corner of life. Which brings us to one my most cherished verses in the Bible, 8:20. I memorized this early on in my teenage years. It is not close to me because of hope or a promise or some great word on faith, it is to remind me of the lost condition of men, women and children. 'We are not saved' now is there anyone that knows anything about the Bible not know what happens when a person who is not saved dies. They go to hell; and not to hell simply but for all eternity they are in hell, no escape, no relief. The eternal mindedness of a Christian must always remember this to stir them to seek the truth, for without the truth there is no salvation. "Faith cometh by hearing; hearing by the Word of God." This verse causes me great pain and sorrow, because there are many personal people in my life, church, family that this is true of them. Year after year, witness after witness, prayer after prayer, tears after tears and they are not saved, O how Horrible! God have mercy before it is too late. Save that soul nearest hell today. "For today is the day of salvation and now is the appointed time". Have you made this your prayer today? Have you labored in such a manner for the lost, does it bother you at all? Then go to the next verse, 8:22, "Is there no balm in Gilead?" It would be easy to say, No. "There is no hope, no chance no way, just shut it down and wait for the Lord to come back or take me home. I am not trying anymore." The devil would have us believe this, he would have us lose heart and quit laboring for souls. But you that do know the truth, know that the Lord has 7,000 that have not kissed Baal. The Lord has His remnant among the nations. He is coming back and He is coming for His bride, because they have triumphant in the world over sin the devil. Because Jesus and the Father knows all, they know every one that is theirs. Are you apart of this body called Christians. Are you laboring for the truth to be promoted and lived daily? Do you mourn over the conditions in the church and in this world? Fight on! Don't lose heart. His hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that He cannot hear; He is able to do all things and do them well. there is a physician and He is the Great Physician, the Sympathizing Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Son of God - Jesus Christ, my Beloved! Hear Him church!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Jeremiah 6:16
"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therin, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."
I behold this verse and meditate on it. I have it marked within my Bible so that everytime I read through I stop at this verse and consider it. It is the truth of many generations and people. There is a path that is right and we should seek it. There is a path that is before us and we should get on it and stay. What is this path? It is the old path. Does that mean the older the better? No. But there is an old path that has been trod by saints gone before us and we should seek that path because it is the good way.
Old saints have set an example before us that is very little matched by today's Christianity. Very few do i come across that has found this path or is seeking this path. They wander around on all the newest paths. They try all the modern ways. There is some success that is why they perpetuate themselves for awhile. But when you observe the paths of the modern church and consider how long they endure, relatively speaking it is a short duration and then it fades away. I could name measures and programs of the church from my teenage years and how quickly they have passed. They might be like clothing styles and circulate around in another 15 to 20 years and be stylish again. But the old paths have lasted centuries and they are right and they last. But understand the old path is not an easy one, it is difficult. It will require sweat, tears and heartache, but remember it is the right way. Do you want to do right? There is a majority within the church who does, it is not in their desire to hurt God. But when the path is revealed to them, they consider it and then disregard for the easier path. I believe there is a deception today among believers in the church that is a fine line between the broad and wide path and the straight and narrow path. It is hard to discern who is on what path. They all claim they are on the right path but this cannot be. So what determines the path and who is on it?
The answer is found within the individual and laying it with Scripture and experience. Now it is not that I am adding anything to Scripture. But the old saints demonstrated the experience of the things found within Scripture. I have mentioned George Mueller alot and here is why. He layed claim to the Scriptures of faith and prayer. he took those truths found with in the Word and applied them to his life. From his life is manifested experience of the right path. the right path begins with Christ, grows in the Spirit, grows in prayer, through the Word and through experiences of life that manifest the wondrous works of God. The old path is engaged daily it is not a brief stop over on Sunday. It is pursued early in the morning and last hours in quiet time with the Lord. You lose 3/4 of the church right here. They won't rise early and they know very little of waiting before the Lord. They are in the Word daily. There is no reprieve from it. I hear some say, "Well I read it once and that is enough". It might be for the modern seeker but the old paths show that it is daily 'studying to shew yourslef approved'. The old paths are paths of evangelism. Burdened on the path is the passing of people everyday, and you behold there lostness and breaks the heart. Seeing the anguish of people daily and knowing they are on the wrong path and heading the wrong way into eternity. This compels the person on the old path to reach out and win the soul. I believe the old path walker seeks others to go with him. They call it mentoring today, but terminology means nothing. They present others of like-mindedness of the old path and demonstrate to them that it is the right path. many at this point when confronted with the old path reject it and say,"We will not walk therein". but there is a remnant that is given the gift of wisdom by God and a desire placed within them by God that compels them to seek the old path. Never can it be assumed that we mustered up the desire for the right path, that would be pride and vanity. It is a gift of God, given to all but accepted by only a few. Which takes us back to the verses of the straight and narrow gate, Jeus said, "Few there be that find it." What path are you on? Is it new, modern? or is it steeped in righteousness, faith and holiness patterened by old saints that have trod this way before? Time is marching on and much time has been lost, chose you this day Who you will serve.
I behold this verse and meditate on it. I have it marked within my Bible so that everytime I read through I stop at this verse and consider it. It is the truth of many generations and people. There is a path that is right and we should seek it. There is a path that is before us and we should get on it and stay. What is this path? It is the old path. Does that mean the older the better? No. But there is an old path that has been trod by saints gone before us and we should seek that path because it is the good way.
Old saints have set an example before us that is very little matched by today's Christianity. Very few do i come across that has found this path or is seeking this path. They wander around on all the newest paths. They try all the modern ways. There is some success that is why they perpetuate themselves for awhile. But when you observe the paths of the modern church and consider how long they endure, relatively speaking it is a short duration and then it fades away. I could name measures and programs of the church from my teenage years and how quickly they have passed. They might be like clothing styles and circulate around in another 15 to 20 years and be stylish again. But the old paths have lasted centuries and they are right and they last. But understand the old path is not an easy one, it is difficult. It will require sweat, tears and heartache, but remember it is the right way. Do you want to do right? There is a majority within the church who does, it is not in their desire to hurt God. But when the path is revealed to them, they consider it and then disregard for the easier path. I believe there is a deception today among believers in the church that is a fine line between the broad and wide path and the straight and narrow path. It is hard to discern who is on what path. They all claim they are on the right path but this cannot be. So what determines the path and who is on it?
The answer is found within the individual and laying it with Scripture and experience. Now it is not that I am adding anything to Scripture. But the old saints demonstrated the experience of the things found within Scripture. I have mentioned George Mueller alot and here is why. He layed claim to the Scriptures of faith and prayer. he took those truths found with in the Word and applied them to his life. From his life is manifested experience of the right path. the right path begins with Christ, grows in the Spirit, grows in prayer, through the Word and through experiences of life that manifest the wondrous works of God. The old path is engaged daily it is not a brief stop over on Sunday. It is pursued early in the morning and last hours in quiet time with the Lord. You lose 3/4 of the church right here. They won't rise early and they know very little of waiting before the Lord. They are in the Word daily. There is no reprieve from it. I hear some say, "Well I read it once and that is enough". It might be for the modern seeker but the old paths show that it is daily 'studying to shew yourslef approved'. The old paths are paths of evangelism. Burdened on the path is the passing of people everyday, and you behold there lostness and breaks the heart. Seeing the anguish of people daily and knowing they are on the wrong path and heading the wrong way into eternity. This compels the person on the old path to reach out and win the soul. I believe the old path walker seeks others to go with him. They call it mentoring today, but terminology means nothing. They present others of like-mindedness of the old path and demonstrate to them that it is the right path. many at this point when confronted with the old path reject it and say,"We will not walk therein". but there is a remnant that is given the gift of wisdom by God and a desire placed within them by God that compels them to seek the old path. Never can it be assumed that we mustered up the desire for the right path, that would be pride and vanity. It is a gift of God, given to all but accepted by only a few. Which takes us back to the verses of the straight and narrow gate, Jeus said, "Few there be that find it." What path are you on? Is it new, modern? or is it steeped in righteousness, faith and holiness patterened by old saints that have trod this way before? Time is marching on and much time has been lost, chose you this day Who you will serve.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Jeremiah 5:31
"And my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"
I convicted early on about reading the Bible through. I was challenged as a teenager to read through in a year and did so when I was 16 years old. Later on in my 20's I read biographies of great saints like George Mueller and George Whitfield that had read through over a 100 times in their life time. I knew that this was much more that reading through one time a year so I began to double up and read two times through a year. While reading through certain things on brought to bear by the Holy Spirit, certain word and phrases used over and over, themes laced throughout all of Scripture and then there is the question marks. I recorded for my own study all the questions of the Bible. Each question is for me, it must be personal, and I must answer it for myself, for my family, for my church and for my country. What will ye do in the end?
Not many want to answer that nor think about it. Everything today is about yesterday or today. But for those that have any knowledge of the Bible we know that an end is coming, either death here or the return of Christ. Life in this world is going to end. Then what? We know that judgment follows. While reading in the Anti-Nicene Fathers collection I came across the 'The Vision of Paul' and found within it supposedly Paul's regquest on seeing the end of the saint and the sinner. a most graphic detail of eternal things when life here come to an end. Do you consider it? Do you think about it? For most they never do until they get a phone call telling them that so and so has passed away. Or until they are at the funeral home and they are faced with mortality then. Very few give regards to the setting of the end. And because the end is not thought on people go on as if life goes on and they never have to answer nor be judged. How foolish among these is such a life.
But Christians, who should know better, give little regard to the end. For if Christians thought about the end they would witness, pray and live differently. Tozer said, if he could pain an eternal heaven on one eye and an eternal hell on the other no Christian would be the same. the Church does not think about the end of souls until it is too late. Get people to see the end and they will respond differently and live differently.
But what of the soul that lives for today and does not want to hear about the end? they must be presented the truth whether they want it or not. They live with the motto, Eat, Drink and be merry. Live life for self is their style. Do they know they will be judged? Yes, but they hold off on thinking about it because of the weight of decision. It is easier to continue as is than to adjust and change. So they march on days, weeks, months and years and then the end. Filled with regrets, hopeless and desponded. Vance Havner said, "The four worst words in life: What might have been." And oh, for the soul lost and perishing, the end comes and then what, hell. And not just hell for a moment, or an experience of it for a short time frame. For at the end, time is no more, hell is forever, never knowing an end. The thought itself is too much to bear isn't it? Why doesn't most people consider this? Becasue they don't want to know about the end. but the end is coming.
I convicted early on about reading the Bible through. I was challenged as a teenager to read through in a year and did so when I was 16 years old. Later on in my 20's I read biographies of great saints like George Mueller and George Whitfield that had read through over a 100 times in their life time. I knew that this was much more that reading through one time a year so I began to double up and read two times through a year. While reading through certain things on brought to bear by the Holy Spirit, certain word and phrases used over and over, themes laced throughout all of Scripture and then there is the question marks. I recorded for my own study all the questions of the Bible. Each question is for me, it must be personal, and I must answer it for myself, for my family, for my church and for my country. What will ye do in the end?
Not many want to answer that nor think about it. Everything today is about yesterday or today. But for those that have any knowledge of the Bible we know that an end is coming, either death here or the return of Christ. Life in this world is going to end. Then what? We know that judgment follows. While reading in the Anti-Nicene Fathers collection I came across the 'The Vision of Paul' and found within it supposedly Paul's regquest on seeing the end of the saint and the sinner. a most graphic detail of eternal things when life here come to an end. Do you consider it? Do you think about it? For most they never do until they get a phone call telling them that so and so has passed away. Or until they are at the funeral home and they are faced with mortality then. Very few give regards to the setting of the end. And because the end is not thought on people go on as if life goes on and they never have to answer nor be judged. How foolish among these is such a life.
But Christians, who should know better, give little regard to the end. For if Christians thought about the end they would witness, pray and live differently. Tozer said, if he could pain an eternal heaven on one eye and an eternal hell on the other no Christian would be the same. the Church does not think about the end of souls until it is too late. Get people to see the end and they will respond differently and live differently.
But what of the soul that lives for today and does not want to hear about the end? they must be presented the truth whether they want it or not. They live with the motto, Eat, Drink and be merry. Live life for self is their style. Do they know they will be judged? Yes, but they hold off on thinking about it because of the weight of decision. It is easier to continue as is than to adjust and change. So they march on days, weeks, months and years and then the end. Filled with regrets, hopeless and desponded. Vance Havner said, "The four worst words in life: What might have been." And oh, for the soul lost and perishing, the end comes and then what, hell. And not just hell for a moment, or an experience of it for a short time frame. For at the end, time is no more, hell is forever, never knowing an end. The thought itself is too much to bear isn't it? Why doesn't most people consider this? Becasue they don't want to know about the end. but the end is coming.
Jeremiah 2:13
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
Which one of these two evils is the worse? They work hand in hand don't they; forsake God and you will cling to something else which is less substantial; cling to something else and you will forsake God. Israel had paid the price already and now Judah, who should have learned from their sins, was getting ready to reap for their transgressions. You read the accounts of the prophets in the Old Testament and how they warned over and over and you ask yourself, 'what's wrong with these people? Don't they know whats coming? Why won't they wise up and serve the Lord and save themselves?" Then you look upon our nation, do you see the masses of people, have you observed the worship services? Have you heard any spiritual dialogue on heavenly things? Have we not forsaken the Lord? And you say, why don't these people wake up and see what's coming? Then you remember the consistency of life for man, we are so foolish that we simply repeat the mistakes of our fathers. Is there none wise? Is there none to deliver us? Must we be doomed to repeat the sins of our fathers and the sins of God's children Israel and Judah? Cannot we stop this process?
why do people forsake the Lord and His water? Why leave the pure water of life and go to a mud hole and drink the dirty water? Why try to convice ourselves that we don't need water? this is many questions for our devotion today and the reason that I have taken time to write them out is because it seems no one else is asking the questions and for the few that may be asking there are even fewer offering answers. The answer to all this of the two evils for our day is that the people have been deceived. The lost see no power within the church and among Christians that would prove and demonstrate that the Lord God is the living water. So they go about and try everything under the sun. Some of them even declare, "Oh, yeah, I tried that church thing." there answer defines that they went to a broken cistern, called a church, and did not find living water. The woman at the well is a perfect example of this. Jesus was trying to give Himself to the woman and she was only mindful of the well water.
The church goers or religious people of today are deceived because they have been fed the lie that works and good deeds is enough. So they continue to work and be faithful every Sunday morning and nothing changes, but they cling to the hope that their good works will help. They have no proof or evidence of an Almighty God working in and through their life. Growing up in church, I remember a man, an older man in his 70's. He was faithful every Sunday morning, I remember the pew he sat in every week. Never came to Sunday night, never came to Wednesday night, just Sunday morning church. His wife had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the choir, daughter was in church and married to a non-believer. But from Monday through Saturday, you could find him in the local bar, and he wasn't there for evangelism -- a broken cistern. How evil are ways in the church today! How evil are the thoughts of man that justifies a life that is not surrendered unto Him Who declares, "Die to self, pick up your cross and live for Me."
Lastly, Christians are deceived today because they think here in America that things will always continue as is. They do not want to be alarmed about the judgment coming. They sleep and do not want to be woken up from their wonderful dreams of success, riches and fame. Isn't it amazing how many Christians are living life according to the standards of the world and seek very little for the New Testament church's standard. We could take the wealth of the church in America today and evangelize the world over night with all that we have. But Christians today hoard their money, excess in salaries and possessions, I see these musicans today making millions on the cause of Christ; TV evangelist raking in millions of dollars for their own selves and always they justify it with they give to missions. It is only a small percentage and they thrive on fleshly wants with the rest. You won't find to many George Muellers today. All this is because we have forsaken the Lord and trusted and rely on broken cisterns. We would do well to wake up; ask and answer the questions of this time and repent quickly before we reap what Israel and Judah reaped.
There are Jeremiah's crying out among the land, but nobody is paying any attention to them!
Which one of these two evils is the worse? They work hand in hand don't they; forsake God and you will cling to something else which is less substantial; cling to something else and you will forsake God. Israel had paid the price already and now Judah, who should have learned from their sins, was getting ready to reap for their transgressions. You read the accounts of the prophets in the Old Testament and how they warned over and over and you ask yourself, 'what's wrong with these people? Don't they know whats coming? Why won't they wise up and serve the Lord and save themselves?" Then you look upon our nation, do you see the masses of people, have you observed the worship services? Have you heard any spiritual dialogue on heavenly things? Have we not forsaken the Lord? And you say, why don't these people wake up and see what's coming? Then you remember the consistency of life for man, we are so foolish that we simply repeat the mistakes of our fathers. Is there none wise? Is there none to deliver us? Must we be doomed to repeat the sins of our fathers and the sins of God's children Israel and Judah? Cannot we stop this process?
why do people forsake the Lord and His water? Why leave the pure water of life and go to a mud hole and drink the dirty water? Why try to convice ourselves that we don't need water? this is many questions for our devotion today and the reason that I have taken time to write them out is because it seems no one else is asking the questions and for the few that may be asking there are even fewer offering answers. The answer to all this of the two evils for our day is that the people have been deceived. The lost see no power within the church and among Christians that would prove and demonstrate that the Lord God is the living water. So they go about and try everything under the sun. Some of them even declare, "Oh, yeah, I tried that church thing." there answer defines that they went to a broken cistern, called a church, and did not find living water. The woman at the well is a perfect example of this. Jesus was trying to give Himself to the woman and she was only mindful of the well water.
The church goers or religious people of today are deceived because they have been fed the lie that works and good deeds is enough. So they continue to work and be faithful every Sunday morning and nothing changes, but they cling to the hope that their good works will help. They have no proof or evidence of an Almighty God working in and through their life. Growing up in church, I remember a man, an older man in his 70's. He was faithful every Sunday morning, I remember the pew he sat in every week. Never came to Sunday night, never came to Wednesday night, just Sunday morning church. His wife had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the choir, daughter was in church and married to a non-believer. But from Monday through Saturday, you could find him in the local bar, and he wasn't there for evangelism -- a broken cistern. How evil are ways in the church today! How evil are the thoughts of man that justifies a life that is not surrendered unto Him Who declares, "Die to self, pick up your cross and live for Me."
Lastly, Christians are deceived today because they think here in America that things will always continue as is. They do not want to be alarmed about the judgment coming. They sleep and do not want to be woken up from their wonderful dreams of success, riches and fame. Isn't it amazing how many Christians are living life according to the standards of the world and seek very little for the New Testament church's standard. We could take the wealth of the church in America today and evangelize the world over night with all that we have. But Christians today hoard their money, excess in salaries and possessions, I see these musicans today making millions on the cause of Christ; TV evangelist raking in millions of dollars for their own selves and always they justify it with they give to missions. It is only a small percentage and they thrive on fleshly wants with the rest. You won't find to many George Muellers today. All this is because we have forsaken the Lord and trusted and rely on broken cisterns. We would do well to wake up; ask and answer the questions of this time and repent quickly before we reap what Israel and Judah reaped.
There are Jeremiah's crying out among the land, but nobody is paying any attention to them!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Isaiah 51:9, 17; 52:1
"Awake, awake"
Repeated here within a few short verses is this alarm sounding off. It is a call for Zion to rise up for it has been asleep for far too long. It is a call for the Lord to awake to save them. the impact of saying the word twice is for the urgency of the moment. It is far different to say to someone, "Would you please wake up?" It is not in the passive manner here in these verses; it is not gentle; it is dogmatic. Two features I would like to present to you today with this dogmatic phrase in our mind: 1. to our ownselves and 2. to the church.
Ourselves - it is a constant lifestyle for most Christians today, that they know they should do better, should try harder, live more holier but ending with sloth and slumber. The challenge of the Holy Spirit to come to us echos within our souls, minds and hearts to stir up. He is not pleased with such a lazy life that does not seek His glory. The Holy Spirit beckons unto us with the momnent of decision, "awake, awake" for we have let to much time waste already. How can we know that this is the case? Baptisms within churches continue to slump; holiness is less and less; woship is meager and almost vile to God's holiness; prayers is rising among a remnant but for the whole is null and void; the Word is passed over for TV and evil is growing by leaps and bounds. When such things are happening we have to look at our our ownselves first. Am I awake? Am I laboring? What have I done this week for His kingdom? What have I done this month for eternal weight for souls, for my own soul? And if honesty was true most would confirm they are asleep and slumbering along life and will one day wake up to see that they have missed time and opportunity for the Lord. And once time has elapsed away from us you cannot go back and get it. Every day counts, every hour, every minute every second, and if you are alseep to the things of God your sin will find you out.
church - is the church asleep? Some of the things I have already mentioned shows the same signs as the individual, the world is perishing and the church is ineffective about doing anything about it. why? Because they have been asleep for decades now and have lost the voice of God and the power of God to do anything about it. They have stirred up at times but have sought to their own strength and means. They no longer wait before the Lord as a people, they rush out and try to do their own thing. Fast asleep, nothing awakes them except the alarming tragedies of life. the devil has mastered this sleep among the church, he has lulled us to sleep with no concern and no fear and no urgency. For you cannot tell me that when there is danger, on guard against the enemy that you are not awake and aware of all that is going on around you. But how many today know nothing of the events of this life, nothing of the persuction of brothers and sisters across seas and they are left unaffected and asleep. if they was awake they would not only be mindful of such events but stirred to action. They would be mobilized as one army in prayer, obeying and laboring for the kingdom. But what will the Lord find when He comes again, it will be the garden of Gethsemane again when He asked Peter, James and John to pray with Him, He came to them and they were asleep. What of My church? SSSSHHHH, they are asleep. And He will cry, "AWAKE; AWAKE!!" There is no time for sleep now, for the enemy has come in while you were asleep and has taken the city and your homes. Now rise up and be doing for the souls of men are perishing and the advancement of evil is marching forward. Turn it around now before it is too late and reap what we have sown. When the church senses the urgency of what God can do through a vessel yielded unto Him, then they will awake and be doing. But as long as they believe the lie that everything is okay and it will all work out in the end they will sleep on; while a world goes to hell for eternity; while their family goes to hell for eternity and while what could have been is no more.
Repeated here within a few short verses is this alarm sounding off. It is a call for Zion to rise up for it has been asleep for far too long. It is a call for the Lord to awake to save them. the impact of saying the word twice is for the urgency of the moment. It is far different to say to someone, "Would you please wake up?" It is not in the passive manner here in these verses; it is not gentle; it is dogmatic. Two features I would like to present to you today with this dogmatic phrase in our mind: 1. to our ownselves and 2. to the church.
Ourselves - it is a constant lifestyle for most Christians today, that they know they should do better, should try harder, live more holier but ending with sloth and slumber. The challenge of the Holy Spirit to come to us echos within our souls, minds and hearts to stir up. He is not pleased with such a lazy life that does not seek His glory. The Holy Spirit beckons unto us with the momnent of decision, "awake, awake" for we have let to much time waste already. How can we know that this is the case? Baptisms within churches continue to slump; holiness is less and less; woship is meager and almost vile to God's holiness; prayers is rising among a remnant but for the whole is null and void; the Word is passed over for TV and evil is growing by leaps and bounds. When such things are happening we have to look at our our ownselves first. Am I awake? Am I laboring? What have I done this week for His kingdom? What have I done this month for eternal weight for souls, for my own soul? And if honesty was true most would confirm they are asleep and slumbering along life and will one day wake up to see that they have missed time and opportunity for the Lord. And once time has elapsed away from us you cannot go back and get it. Every day counts, every hour, every minute every second, and if you are alseep to the things of God your sin will find you out.
church - is the church asleep? Some of the things I have already mentioned shows the same signs as the individual, the world is perishing and the church is ineffective about doing anything about it. why? Because they have been asleep for decades now and have lost the voice of God and the power of God to do anything about it. They have stirred up at times but have sought to their own strength and means. They no longer wait before the Lord as a people, they rush out and try to do their own thing. Fast asleep, nothing awakes them except the alarming tragedies of life. the devil has mastered this sleep among the church, he has lulled us to sleep with no concern and no fear and no urgency. For you cannot tell me that when there is danger, on guard against the enemy that you are not awake and aware of all that is going on around you. But how many today know nothing of the events of this life, nothing of the persuction of brothers and sisters across seas and they are left unaffected and asleep. if they was awake they would not only be mindful of such events but stirred to action. They would be mobilized as one army in prayer, obeying and laboring for the kingdom. But what will the Lord find when He comes again, it will be the garden of Gethsemane again when He asked Peter, James and John to pray with Him, He came to them and they were asleep. What of My church? SSSSHHHH, they are asleep. And He will cry, "AWAKE; AWAKE!!" There is no time for sleep now, for the enemy has come in while you were asleep and has taken the city and your homes. Now rise up and be doing for the souls of men are perishing and the advancement of evil is marching forward. Turn it around now before it is too late and reap what we have sown. When the church senses the urgency of what God can do through a vessel yielded unto Him, then they will awake and be doing. But as long as they believe the lie that everything is okay and it will all work out in the end they will sleep on; while a world goes to hell for eternity; while their family goes to hell for eternity and while what could have been is no more.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Isaiah 41:20
"That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it."
There are four things to be done here: see, know, consider and understand. Two things of worship: the Lord does it and the Lord creates it. Then there is a statement of direction upon the four things, they are to be done together.
see - We should know of the Scripture that tells us, having eyes to see and cannot see. We are aware today among the church there is great spiritual blindness of the purpose of the kingdom. Many saints sit in the church and are unable to see why they are here and why God saved them, they ahve no purpose because they cannot see. They lack sight in faith, for faith is the evidence of things not seen. This means not seen with the physical eye but beholding in the spiritual eye that it is God. We believe in God even though we have never seen God. We must learn to teach ourselves how to see the spiritual. Make the prayer of Elisha for his servantj, "Open eyes that he may see." And when the Lord opened his eyes he saw over 10,000 angels, he saw the spiritual world. We are blinded because our eyesight is limited, instead of asking the Lord to heal our blindness. Why is it that when reading the Bible a verse or subject jumps out at us; now, we have read that portion numerous times but now we see the truth of it. Why? Because our blindness has been taken away and we see.
know - Found throughout Scripture is this mandate for the Christian, to know Him and His ways. Three things are found upon this truth of knowing: 1. to know by the mind, a knowledge of; 2. to know by wisdom, wisdom is of God and a gift of understanding taking knowledge of the mind and applying it to life through experience; 3. discernment - an understanding of knowing truth, it is the ability to judge a situation and discern right and wrong; holy and unholy and apply the gift of wisdom. God's ultimate purpose is found throughout almost every chapter of the book of Ezekiel, "that they might know the Lord". Do you know Him and His ways? you might be wise enough to say, 'we are finite and He is infinite, therefore we can not know His ways.' To that I will say He commands us to know Him and He teaches us of Himself. Now God would not command it if we were incapable of obtaining it. But it is not in the power of the flesh to know Him, it is in the power of Him abiding in us that allows us to know Him.
consider - I hear many say that, 'they know about God' but yet they do not live for Him or in Him. The difference is found in this word, consider Him. Who He is? What He has done, is doing and will do? Consider the way of life and where it leads. This life is a brief experience and allows enough opportunity to hear the truth and respond to the truth. those that perish into hell have heard the truth and know the truth but have not repsonded by considering the truth. For what person in their right mind consdiers hell and heaven and chooses hell, the Psalmist tells us the fool does. Because the fool does not consider the cost, or the eternal weight of his actions and descisions. Consider your ways that in every action, thought and course of life there is a reaction, there is a result. A person that knows about prayer but never prays, has not considered that prayer shapes and delivers the will of God into a life. Why was we saved? because God moved someone to prayer for us, He awaits for us to consider the result of obiedence. When people do not obey His leadings, they know it but they fail to accomplish His desired end.
understand - the end result and consqueneces of decisions; Understand how God works in the midst of the nations, in the midst of the church, in the midst of your personal life. See, know, consider how God has been instrumental in bringing you where you are. Why was you born here and in this generation? Why did God give you the spouse you have? Why do you have the chidlren that you do? Divine appointment, this is the term that I apply to God bringing certain people and events into your life that directs to become more for Him. Understand that Divine appointment are a gift from God, He is speaking do you hear Him? When you understand this you are more aware of what God is wanting and willing to do in you and through you. then you expand that to the kingdoms business, there is a vastness that we cannot comprehend but we are knowledgable that He is able and is working in the midst of all of it to accomplish His desire.
He does this. . .creates it - The attributes of God mentioned are His power of creation. Powerful verses to remind us that God speaks it and it is done. He forms it and no one can undo His work. God shapes and forms the events of life to bring about His desired plan. Remember now that God has formed you, created you, directed you, brought you to a particular place in life for His desired end. Are you submitting to this or have you gone astray? Disobedinece within the Christians life is working against God. Such actions limit the work of God in this world; a church that does not prayer, study or witness limits the work of God in tha tplace. You are designed person for a designed job that brings glory to Him and manifests His work among those that know you and observe you. What a great testimony when someone says of you, "Look what God has done for them". It is a noticable life for Him. But if they don't notice it then why not? Are you hiding it or disobeying? We are to be submitted and surrendered to Him Who does it and creates it. For if He creates it, can He not uncreate it? Where one will not work for Him, He may uncreate it and form another one that will work for Him for His desired end. Be careful you do not take for granted the life and opportunity God has given.
Lastly, this is to be done together. One alone cannot do it, there is need of each one fulfilling. Paul gives the illustration of the body, each different parts but each working for the body. You and I as Christians are a part of something bigger and better than our ownselves. Labor with them not against them.
There are four things to be done here: see, know, consider and understand. Two things of worship: the Lord does it and the Lord creates it. Then there is a statement of direction upon the four things, they are to be done together.
see - We should know of the Scripture that tells us, having eyes to see and cannot see. We are aware today among the church there is great spiritual blindness of the purpose of the kingdom. Many saints sit in the church and are unable to see why they are here and why God saved them, they ahve no purpose because they cannot see. They lack sight in faith, for faith is the evidence of things not seen. This means not seen with the physical eye but beholding in the spiritual eye that it is God. We believe in God even though we have never seen God. We must learn to teach ourselves how to see the spiritual. Make the prayer of Elisha for his servantj, "Open eyes that he may see." And when the Lord opened his eyes he saw over 10,000 angels, he saw the spiritual world. We are blinded because our eyesight is limited, instead of asking the Lord to heal our blindness. Why is it that when reading the Bible a verse or subject jumps out at us; now, we have read that portion numerous times but now we see the truth of it. Why? Because our blindness has been taken away and we see.
know - Found throughout Scripture is this mandate for the Christian, to know Him and His ways. Three things are found upon this truth of knowing: 1. to know by the mind, a knowledge of; 2. to know by wisdom, wisdom is of God and a gift of understanding taking knowledge of the mind and applying it to life through experience; 3. discernment - an understanding of knowing truth, it is the ability to judge a situation and discern right and wrong; holy and unholy and apply the gift of wisdom. God's ultimate purpose is found throughout almost every chapter of the book of Ezekiel, "that they might know the Lord". Do you know Him and His ways? you might be wise enough to say, 'we are finite and He is infinite, therefore we can not know His ways.' To that I will say He commands us to know Him and He teaches us of Himself. Now God would not command it if we were incapable of obtaining it. But it is not in the power of the flesh to know Him, it is in the power of Him abiding in us that allows us to know Him.
consider - I hear many say that, 'they know about God' but yet they do not live for Him or in Him. The difference is found in this word, consider Him. Who He is? What He has done, is doing and will do? Consider the way of life and where it leads. This life is a brief experience and allows enough opportunity to hear the truth and respond to the truth. those that perish into hell have heard the truth and know the truth but have not repsonded by considering the truth. For what person in their right mind consdiers hell and heaven and chooses hell, the Psalmist tells us the fool does. Because the fool does not consider the cost, or the eternal weight of his actions and descisions. Consider your ways that in every action, thought and course of life there is a reaction, there is a result. A person that knows about prayer but never prays, has not considered that prayer shapes and delivers the will of God into a life. Why was we saved? because God moved someone to prayer for us, He awaits for us to consider the result of obiedence. When people do not obey His leadings, they know it but they fail to accomplish His desired end.
understand - the end result and consqueneces of decisions; Understand how God works in the midst of the nations, in the midst of the church, in the midst of your personal life. See, know, consider how God has been instrumental in bringing you where you are. Why was you born here and in this generation? Why did God give you the spouse you have? Why do you have the chidlren that you do? Divine appointment, this is the term that I apply to God bringing certain people and events into your life that directs to become more for Him. Understand that Divine appointment are a gift from God, He is speaking do you hear Him? When you understand this you are more aware of what God is wanting and willing to do in you and through you. then you expand that to the kingdoms business, there is a vastness that we cannot comprehend but we are knowledgable that He is able and is working in the midst of all of it to accomplish His desire.
He does this. . .creates it - The attributes of God mentioned are His power of creation. Powerful verses to remind us that God speaks it and it is done. He forms it and no one can undo His work. God shapes and forms the events of life to bring about His desired plan. Remember now that God has formed you, created you, directed you, brought you to a particular place in life for His desired end. Are you submitting to this or have you gone astray? Disobedinece within the Christians life is working against God. Such actions limit the work of God in this world; a church that does not prayer, study or witness limits the work of God in tha tplace. You are designed person for a designed job that brings glory to Him and manifests His work among those that know you and observe you. What a great testimony when someone says of you, "Look what God has done for them". It is a noticable life for Him. But if they don't notice it then why not? Are you hiding it or disobeying? We are to be submitted and surrendered to Him Who does it and creates it. For if He creates it, can He not uncreate it? Where one will not work for Him, He may uncreate it and form another one that will work for Him for His desired end. Be careful you do not take for granted the life and opportunity God has given.
Lastly, this is to be done together. One alone cannot do it, there is need of each one fulfilling. Paul gives the illustration of the body, each different parts but each working for the body. You and I as Christians are a part of something bigger and better than our ownselves. Labor with them not against them.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Isaiah 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4;
"For All this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
Within the Bible there are statements and words and phrases, mentioned only once, and we are to give heed to all the Word. But often there is repeated phrases, and this if, of course, no accident. God is speaking a Word to us and to all generations, so that when He repeats a statement over and over there is a clear message to be gleaned and not missed. Found four times in the beginning of the book of Isaiah is this verse at the close of 4 verses. This is the foretelling of the destruction of Israel. When God stretches our HIs hand to destroy, who can make Him take it back in? Who can make Him stop? We have stories in the Bible that saints that interceeded stopped His anger. We have Moses standing in the gap for the children of Israel when God's hand was ready to be stretched out and destroy them and make of him a nation. We have David, who when God stretched out His hand over Judah and the angel of the Lord was standing above Jerusaleum made an altar and stayed the wrath of God. there is hope in the midst of God's anger when He streched out His hand to punish and destroy. Here Israel was on the verge of Assyria coming in and carrying away the tribes of Israel. Why? What makes God angry? Psalm 7:11, "God is angry with the wicked every day." His anger is a direct result of our sin and disobedience. For a child of God, He chastens us and allows for us to reap what we have sown in sin. There are times of mercy and refreshing but we should not tempt the Lord when we know what we should be doing. "For him that knoweth to do good, and doesth it not, to him it is sin." Do you know what you are to be doing? Sure you do; that is not the question, the question is, will you do right or wrong? The flesh says do wrong; the Spirit says do right; and they are always at enemity. Be reminded that when you choose wrong and sin, the wrath of God is present, for He hath made a way for us to escape when we are tempted to sin. No excuses, no surprises, we just chose to sin. Now confess and repent before His hand is stretched out. Has not our nation gone this way? Has not the church gone this way? You hear a constant tale that it doesn't matter; everything is okay; it's not really that bad. oh, how little we consider the wrath of God. I wonder if Israel's demise was the same formula? 'We are God's children, He won't touch us." but then, when His hand was outstretched it was too late. We would do well to learn the lesson early and not get in this place of destruction. Not to get in the place where we anger God and are threatened with His anger. This would require a more holy life; a yielded life; a surrendered life; is it presnt with you? is it present with me?
"For all this His anger is not turned away. . ." I dread the day when judgement comes and someone cries out, 'Could this not have been stopped?" And the answer the church needs to respond is, "Yes, we could have stopped it; but we would not."
Give heed to the warning before this day.
Within the Bible there are statements and words and phrases, mentioned only once, and we are to give heed to all the Word. But often there is repeated phrases, and this if, of course, no accident. God is speaking a Word to us and to all generations, so that when He repeats a statement over and over there is a clear message to be gleaned and not missed. Found four times in the beginning of the book of Isaiah is this verse at the close of 4 verses. This is the foretelling of the destruction of Israel. When God stretches our HIs hand to destroy, who can make Him take it back in? Who can make Him stop? We have stories in the Bible that saints that interceeded stopped His anger. We have Moses standing in the gap for the children of Israel when God's hand was ready to be stretched out and destroy them and make of him a nation. We have David, who when God stretched out His hand over Judah and the angel of the Lord was standing above Jerusaleum made an altar and stayed the wrath of God. there is hope in the midst of God's anger when He streched out His hand to punish and destroy. Here Israel was on the verge of Assyria coming in and carrying away the tribes of Israel. Why? What makes God angry? Psalm 7:11, "God is angry with the wicked every day." His anger is a direct result of our sin and disobedience. For a child of God, He chastens us and allows for us to reap what we have sown in sin. There are times of mercy and refreshing but we should not tempt the Lord when we know what we should be doing. "For him that knoweth to do good, and doesth it not, to him it is sin." Do you know what you are to be doing? Sure you do; that is not the question, the question is, will you do right or wrong? The flesh says do wrong; the Spirit says do right; and they are always at enemity. Be reminded that when you choose wrong and sin, the wrath of God is present, for He hath made a way for us to escape when we are tempted to sin. No excuses, no surprises, we just chose to sin. Now confess and repent before His hand is stretched out. Has not our nation gone this way? Has not the church gone this way? You hear a constant tale that it doesn't matter; everything is okay; it's not really that bad. oh, how little we consider the wrath of God. I wonder if Israel's demise was the same formula? 'We are God's children, He won't touch us." but then, when His hand was outstretched it was too late. We would do well to learn the lesson early and not get in this place of destruction. Not to get in the place where we anger God and are threatened with His anger. This would require a more holy life; a yielded life; a surrendered life; is it presnt with you? is it present with me?
"For all this His anger is not turned away. . ." I dread the day when judgement comes and someone cries out, 'Could this not have been stopped?" And the answer the church needs to respond is, "Yes, we could have stopped it; but we would not."
Give heed to the warning before this day.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Song of Solomon 1:6
"They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept."
One of my most favorite books in the Bible, mostly because of Charles Spurgeons approach to it. It is an instructional book for the soul that is in love with Christ Jesus, our Beloved. Within this verse it is a woman speaking about herself. Here may we look within ourselves and follow the introspection that is needed for today.
"keeper of the vineyards. . ." I am responible for others; God has put the most of us in a place that requires we lead, guide, shape and form the lives and souls of manyh. Now to some that may be your family, to others, you are the only witness for Christ at work or school and to others you lead in a church and disciples are placed around you. Know this, that God has placed you and I in different places for keeping the vineyards of souls. We shape them and form them. Can you not look back at your past and know that God placed certain people in your midst that shaped your way of life. I could share endlessly about the ones that God placed in my life and were instrumental in leading me to Christ and a closer walk with Him. Now as much as they impacted you, look now at your life and who is watching and listening to you? See that young child that mimicks you; see that family member that is being shaped as you, they do what you do; see that church member that seeks you out for wisdom. Each one you impact whether good or bad. You are a keeper of the vineyards of people in this day and age. Two notes that should be mentioned here: 1. parents have children lent to them from the Lord; they are responsible for molding and shaping that child to be as much for God as possible; teaching and bringing up a child in the ways that they should go. It is a huge repsonsbility, but one I fear today is taken lightly and passed on tot eh world for them to teach and instruct. I would fight hell itself for the souls of my chidlren. Too long have I heard of parents that claim the promise in Proverbs but they took no heed to the vineyards they were responsible for. Worldly things - yes; spiritual things - no; this is a pattern that I have seen. 2. generations to come, needs to be mentioned here as well; "this man being dead, yet speaketh"; how I love this phrase; how does a soul that c annot speak communciate to those that are too come? writings, prayers, a faithful witness borne by others, there are ways to accomplish this. Why? Because that may speak with power by the Holy Spirit to those who they have never met. To offer yourself in this form is by the Holy Spirit to use as He sees fit.
But the last part of this verse is most horrible. Knowing we all have been given responsiblity of others (vineyards) in order to make a rightly difference in others we ourselves must be right. "but my own vineyard have I not kept" Is it possible to be so busy tending to others that our ownselves is neglected? absolutely. Many a pastors and leaders ahve lost their way because of neglect for their vineyard. You cannot pour out and pour out and never pour back in spiritually. Think about blood transfusion for a moment. Some one wishes to save others and does so by giving their blood by pints. Well they can give multiple pints to save others but if they do not give time to replenish their blood they will die. Tending to your own spiritual help is found within the verse, 'renew yourself day by day'. Be in the Word; in prayer; waiting upomn the Lord. Ministry today is defined as working for others. But I see manhy that are busy for others but they are guilty of this verses message, they did not tend to their own vineyard. I have seen many a pastors children swept out into sin because of this neglect. Would to God that we understood His speaking to us that there is a happy medium to find in balancing life upon our own selfs as well as in tending to our walk with the Lord. Have you understood this? ARe you daily walking with God and searching your own heart and soul to rid it of sins and unbelief? Does He speak to you that you are consumed with others but neglect your own self? Healthy spiritual life is found in the balance of both.
One of my most favorite books in the Bible, mostly because of Charles Spurgeons approach to it. It is an instructional book for the soul that is in love with Christ Jesus, our Beloved. Within this verse it is a woman speaking about herself. Here may we look within ourselves and follow the introspection that is needed for today.
"keeper of the vineyards. . ." I am responible for others; God has put the most of us in a place that requires we lead, guide, shape and form the lives and souls of manyh. Now to some that may be your family, to others, you are the only witness for Christ at work or school and to others you lead in a church and disciples are placed around you. Know this, that God has placed you and I in different places for keeping the vineyards of souls. We shape them and form them. Can you not look back at your past and know that God placed certain people in your midst that shaped your way of life. I could share endlessly about the ones that God placed in my life and were instrumental in leading me to Christ and a closer walk with Him. Now as much as they impacted you, look now at your life and who is watching and listening to you? See that young child that mimicks you; see that family member that is being shaped as you, they do what you do; see that church member that seeks you out for wisdom. Each one you impact whether good or bad. You are a keeper of the vineyards of people in this day and age. Two notes that should be mentioned here: 1. parents have children lent to them from the Lord; they are responsible for molding and shaping that child to be as much for God as possible; teaching and bringing up a child in the ways that they should go. It is a huge repsonsbility, but one I fear today is taken lightly and passed on tot eh world for them to teach and instruct. I would fight hell itself for the souls of my chidlren. Too long have I heard of parents that claim the promise in Proverbs but they took no heed to the vineyards they were responsible for. Worldly things - yes; spiritual things - no; this is a pattern that I have seen. 2. generations to come, needs to be mentioned here as well; "this man being dead, yet speaketh"; how I love this phrase; how does a soul that c annot speak communciate to those that are too come? writings, prayers, a faithful witness borne by others, there are ways to accomplish this. Why? Because that may speak with power by the Holy Spirit to those who they have never met. To offer yourself in this form is by the Holy Spirit to use as He sees fit.
But the last part of this verse is most horrible. Knowing we all have been given responsiblity of others (vineyards) in order to make a rightly difference in others we ourselves must be right. "but my own vineyard have I not kept" Is it possible to be so busy tending to others that our ownselves is neglected? absolutely. Many a pastors and leaders ahve lost their way because of neglect for their vineyard. You cannot pour out and pour out and never pour back in spiritually. Think about blood transfusion for a moment. Some one wishes to save others and does so by giving their blood by pints. Well they can give multiple pints to save others but if they do not give time to replenish their blood they will die. Tending to your own spiritual help is found within the verse, 'renew yourself day by day'. Be in the Word; in prayer; waiting upomn the Lord. Ministry today is defined as working for others. But I see manhy that are busy for others but they are guilty of this verses message, they did not tend to their own vineyard. I have seen many a pastors children swept out into sin because of this neglect. Would to God that we understood His speaking to us that there is a happy medium to find in balancing life upon our own selfs as well as in tending to our walk with the Lord. Have you understood this? ARe you daily walking with God and searching your own heart and soul to rid it of sins and unbelief? Does He speak to you that you are consumed with others but neglect your own self? Healthy spiritual life is found in the balance of both.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Psalm 121 - commentary
Most Bible knowledgable Christians can quote the first verse. It is a source of comfort and hope, 'I need God and I know where I can find Him'. Made up of only 8 verses there are three words that bind it together - "come"; "Keep" and "preserve".
Come - verse 1, 2, 8; Keep - verse 3, 4, 5; Preserve - 7,8;
A prayer to be offered off of these three words and this Psalm; O Lord I lift my eyes unto the heavens and hills; that which You have created, for You are the Creator of all things and sustainer of them. "Come" unto me this day, for I need Thee; You beckon me to come up unto You, may I be found obedient to such things. "Keep" me this day; for I know not what may lie before me but You do, for You know all things; "keep" me from sin, how offensive it is unto You; how prone I am to practice to invite it in; "keep my loved ones under Your ahnd of protection, for he (who is evil) would touch them to get ot me; "keep" Thy church holy and true so that we may extend unto all the nations Thy kingdom; "keep" us in Thy will and sustains us on the stragiht and narrow path; "preserve" Thy words throughout my life, lest I forget them and fall away; preserve my ways before Thee so that all that behold me may say,"They took knowledge that I had been with Jesus; Preserve my thoughts and intents of my heart so that I may always know Thee the power of Thy resurrection;
Come - verse 1, 2, 8; Keep - verse 3, 4, 5; Preserve - 7,8;
A prayer to be offered off of these three words and this Psalm; O Lord I lift my eyes unto the heavens and hills; that which You have created, for You are the Creator of all things and sustainer of them. "Come" unto me this day, for I need Thee; You beckon me to come up unto You, may I be found obedient to such things. "Keep" me this day; for I know not what may lie before me but You do, for You know all things; "keep" me from sin, how offensive it is unto You; how prone I am to practice to invite it in; "keep my loved ones under Your ahnd of protection, for he (who is evil) would touch them to get ot me; "keep" Thy church holy and true so that we may extend unto all the nations Thy kingdom; "keep" us in Thy will and sustains us on the stragiht and narrow path; "preserve" Thy words throughout my life, lest I forget them and fall away; preserve my ways before Thee so that all that behold me may say,"They took knowledge that I had been with Jesus; Preserve my thoughts and intents of my heart so that I may always know Thee the power of Thy resurrection;
Psalm 119:176
"I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments."
I see and hear this testimony more than I care to. it is found throughout the church body today. It is the confession of believers who have left their first love, "I have gone astray". It may be your plight today that it has been a long season that you have been astray. Nothing is like it used to be, something is missing from your life. Given a moment the Holy Spirit comes and refreshes our minds and reveals that you have quenched Him and resisted Him. With the power of the Holy Spirit limited by our owning sinfulness now the flesh can take over and lead us into temptation where we fall and fail. We may know that we are not in the place God wishes us to be, but we also must know that His desire is for the prodigals to return. His word declares to us His heart and p;romise, "Now unto Him Who is able to keep us from falling and present us Holy and blameless before His Presence." He is able! But why have we gone astray? Why have we lost the fellowship of that which we know to be pure and holy and right? The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and we sin against the One Who loves us and redeems us. Yes, you may find yourself away from Him today but know this is not what He desires for you.
Isn't it amazing that the Psalmist declares next, "Seek thy servant"? Shouldn't it be a declaration, "I will seek Thee"? Come and get me Lord, for I have failed and sinned against Thee, come to me and rescue. The Psalmist cries out for redemption. Does not the Lord know all things? Does He not see us in this pitful sinful way? Come and look upon me again with favor and restore me before Thee where I knew Your PResence and was favored by your strength and grace. Seek me, O God, and cause me to remember the waters of Meribah compared to the waters from Thy throne. O what a difference is found between the two. A declaration - "I am Thy servant"; I may have gone away from Thee but I am still Thy servant. Compare it to a runaway slave who wishes to return to service unto him Master.
The last phrase is the kindling of hope -- "I do not forget thy commandments." All throughout this 176 verses is the constant reference to the Word. References of: statues, laws, testimonies, commandments, word. Each of these references laid in the heart and leading the decisions of life. Instructions taken to heart to keep us from sin and preserve our walk with HIm. After all these verses of hope and faithfulness by the Psalmist he decalres himself having gone astray but his foundation is laid in the word of God. If we would know our rightful place and stay on the path set before us for holiness then we will remember the word of God. Find an unfaithful servant and you find one who forgot the word of God. The danger today among so many is the not that they have forgot but that they have never read, memorized it or sought to know it. they are like the chaff of the wheat and soon the wind blows and they are taken with it. But a solider of the cross lays deep the thoughts, verses and remembers the word of God for such hope and direction. Hold vast to the Word of God and do not let it go. We are nothing without it, but with it we have great opportunity.
I see and hear this testimony more than I care to. it is found throughout the church body today. It is the confession of believers who have left their first love, "I have gone astray". It may be your plight today that it has been a long season that you have been astray. Nothing is like it used to be, something is missing from your life. Given a moment the Holy Spirit comes and refreshes our minds and reveals that you have quenched Him and resisted Him. With the power of the Holy Spirit limited by our owning sinfulness now the flesh can take over and lead us into temptation where we fall and fail. We may know that we are not in the place God wishes us to be, but we also must know that His desire is for the prodigals to return. His word declares to us His heart and p;romise, "Now unto Him Who is able to keep us from falling and present us Holy and blameless before His Presence." He is able! But why have we gone astray? Why have we lost the fellowship of that which we know to be pure and holy and right? The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and we sin against the One Who loves us and redeems us. Yes, you may find yourself away from Him today but know this is not what He desires for you.
Isn't it amazing that the Psalmist declares next, "Seek thy servant"? Shouldn't it be a declaration, "I will seek Thee"? Come and get me Lord, for I have failed and sinned against Thee, come to me and rescue. The Psalmist cries out for redemption. Does not the Lord know all things? Does He not see us in this pitful sinful way? Come and look upon me again with favor and restore me before Thee where I knew Your PResence and was favored by your strength and grace. Seek me, O God, and cause me to remember the waters of Meribah compared to the waters from Thy throne. O what a difference is found between the two. A declaration - "I am Thy servant"; I may have gone away from Thee but I am still Thy servant. Compare it to a runaway slave who wishes to return to service unto him Master.
The last phrase is the kindling of hope -- "I do not forget thy commandments." All throughout this 176 verses is the constant reference to the Word. References of: statues, laws, testimonies, commandments, word. Each of these references laid in the heart and leading the decisions of life. Instructions taken to heart to keep us from sin and preserve our walk with HIm. After all these verses of hope and faithfulness by the Psalmist he decalres himself having gone astray but his foundation is laid in the word of God. If we would know our rightful place and stay on the path set before us for holiness then we will remember the word of God. Find an unfaithful servant and you find one who forgot the word of God. The danger today among so many is the not that they have forgot but that they have never read, memorized it or sought to know it. they are like the chaff of the wheat and soon the wind blows and they are taken with it. But a solider of the cross lays deep the thoughts, verses and remembers the word of God for such hope and direction. Hold vast to the Word of God and do not let it go. We are nothing without it, but with it we have great opportunity.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Psalm 78:60
"So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;"
As I come upon this Psalm and read this verse, my mind is immediately taken to remember and consider what God has done to the places that He has allowed to house His Presence. We have first the tent made of Moses and traveled with the children of Israel throughout the 40 years of wilderness, only to be appraoched by Moses and Aaron. Now we have the children of Israel in the promised land and under Joshua's hand the tent where the ark is set is placed in Shiloh. Constant references are made of this throughout Joshua, Judges and I Samuel. The last place of reference that Shiloh was used was under the hand of Eli when Samuel was spoken to by God. We read the account of Israel, "men came to Shiloh to meet God", for that was were the tabernacle was. But when we get to the time of Eli and his sons, there is great perversion and the Lord's name is dishonored. Of course, the history goes on that after Samuel, Saul is made king and very little other reference to a designated place for the tabernacle and place of worship. Until we get to David, who bring the ark up and puts it in Jerusaleum, where later Solomon builds the temple and houses the ark. God's glory came down upon the tent in the wilderness; God's glory came down upon the temple when Solomon offered praise, prayer and offering. We know the temple to be destroyed and later rebuilt and that the time of Jesus' coming the temple was defiled again by the Pharisees. "My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of theives." And in 70 AD the temple is destroyed and never more to restored. Where does the Spirit reside? Where is God's Presence to come down? Where is it men may come and seek Him? Pentecost offered the next venue of God imparting His Spirit, He comes down upon the 120 in the upper room and there abides upon them as fire, He is settled in their hearts and souls. The Presence of God is now flowing in regions around the world. Something I would like for you to consider here. God came down upon Jerusaleum and we have quickly 8000 beingg saved and worshipping the Lord. Paul the great missionary moves north and west across the empire and ASia minor and Europe is anointed as the place of God residing. Now is God not everywhere? Yes; Just because I refer to Him in Europe and these specific places does not take away that He is else where moving the hearts and the minds of AFrica and Asia. But see the trend, how He shifts from Israel - from Shiloh to Jersaleum to Rome to England; study the movements of God and see up to the 1900's how God worked through Luther in Germany; Wesley, Knowx, Calvin, Bunyan and Spurgeon; see how God manifested Himself to these faithful servants and the focus is found there in Europe; Now we enter the last century, 1900-2000; where is God to be found? great revivalist coming out of America, 1700 - Edwards; 1800 - Finney, Moody, Torrey; Torrey of course launched world wide tours to the whole world; see how God blest the church in Europe, see how God blest the church in America; Now where are we at? are these same places been blest? are we not in comparison to this verse in Psalms and also repeated throughout Jeremiah, "look at Shiloh and see what I did to it for forsaking me" God is working wondrously in the church of Asia and Africa; 10,000's of thousands are being swept in to the kingdom; but what about us? are we Shiloh? can we not see it? Maybe, having eyes to see we cannot see; having ears to hear, we cannot hear; He destroyed Shiloh, He destroyed Jerusaleum, He destroyed europe, He is destroying America; He moves and blesses to where He is being honored and worshipped rightly; His Name will not be profaned among the heathen; this is a world perspective to consider;
Individually: does He not come to the soul, the individual? Yes, He gloriously comes unto us; How greatful and thankful of such times of visitations; are you like Shiloh? Your comments, "I remember when God was near and I was with Him"; Are you like Job, "Oh, that days were like days of old" - Everything to you is in the past,nothing present nothing for the future; I don't want Shilohto be our trademark in the church or the individual; We have to many verses that declare of serving and obeying rightly; Confess - agonizing confession of unbelief, fleshly weakness and sinful decisions; Repent - "I have gone this way, but I will go this way no more!" a resolve to stay faithful and obedient; endued with power - Acts 1:8, wait upon the Lord and receive power; frutiful - the dearth and the barreness is removed because God is honored with a vessel that is chosen to renew and restore holiness and righteousness; you have departed? return to Him and find mercy; you are falling away? stop the process and renew your vows to be a servant of the Lord; if God has forsaken you as He did to Shiloh and these other places, it is because you have gone the way of the world and forsaken Him; Now remember the Word, "God does not leave nor forsake", but if a soul quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit to be limited and uneffective because we choose sin, it is the same reference as if God has departed, it is not His desire, it is our choice; Choose this day, who and what you shall be and may it be found said, 'As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord" If you choose not this path, You are like Shiloh; Church - can you not see we are heading there quickly if not already in the town outskirts, Return and renew yourself to Him;
As I come upon this Psalm and read this verse, my mind is immediately taken to remember and consider what God has done to the places that He has allowed to house His Presence. We have first the tent made of Moses and traveled with the children of Israel throughout the 40 years of wilderness, only to be appraoched by Moses and Aaron. Now we have the children of Israel in the promised land and under Joshua's hand the tent where the ark is set is placed in Shiloh. Constant references are made of this throughout Joshua, Judges and I Samuel. The last place of reference that Shiloh was used was under the hand of Eli when Samuel was spoken to by God. We read the account of Israel, "men came to Shiloh to meet God", for that was were the tabernacle was. But when we get to the time of Eli and his sons, there is great perversion and the Lord's name is dishonored. Of course, the history goes on that after Samuel, Saul is made king and very little other reference to a designated place for the tabernacle and place of worship. Until we get to David, who bring the ark up and puts it in Jerusaleum, where later Solomon builds the temple and houses the ark. God's glory came down upon the tent in the wilderness; God's glory came down upon the temple when Solomon offered praise, prayer and offering. We know the temple to be destroyed and later rebuilt and that the time of Jesus' coming the temple was defiled again by the Pharisees. "My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of theives." And in 70 AD the temple is destroyed and never more to restored. Where does the Spirit reside? Where is God's Presence to come down? Where is it men may come and seek Him? Pentecost offered the next venue of God imparting His Spirit, He comes down upon the 120 in the upper room and there abides upon them as fire, He is settled in their hearts and souls. The Presence of God is now flowing in regions around the world. Something I would like for you to consider here. God came down upon Jerusaleum and we have quickly 8000 beingg saved and worshipping the Lord. Paul the great missionary moves north and west across the empire and ASia minor and Europe is anointed as the place of God residing. Now is God not everywhere? Yes; Just because I refer to Him in Europe and these specific places does not take away that He is else where moving the hearts and the minds of AFrica and Asia. But see the trend, how He shifts from Israel - from Shiloh to Jersaleum to Rome to England; study the movements of God and see up to the 1900's how God worked through Luther in Germany; Wesley, Knowx, Calvin, Bunyan and Spurgeon; see how God manifested Himself to these faithful servants and the focus is found there in Europe; Now we enter the last century, 1900-2000; where is God to be found? great revivalist coming out of America, 1700 - Edwards; 1800 - Finney, Moody, Torrey; Torrey of course launched world wide tours to the whole world; see how God blest the church in Europe, see how God blest the church in America; Now where are we at? are these same places been blest? are we not in comparison to this verse in Psalms and also repeated throughout Jeremiah, "look at Shiloh and see what I did to it for forsaking me" God is working wondrously in the church of Asia and Africa; 10,000's of thousands are being swept in to the kingdom; but what about us? are we Shiloh? can we not see it? Maybe, having eyes to see we cannot see; having ears to hear, we cannot hear; He destroyed Shiloh, He destroyed Jerusaleum, He destroyed europe, He is destroying America; He moves and blesses to where He is being honored and worshipped rightly; His Name will not be profaned among the heathen; this is a world perspective to consider;
Individually: does He not come to the soul, the individual? Yes, He gloriously comes unto us; How greatful and thankful of such times of visitations; are you like Shiloh? Your comments, "I remember when God was near and I was with Him"; Are you like Job, "Oh, that days were like days of old" - Everything to you is in the past,nothing present nothing for the future; I don't want Shilohto be our trademark in the church or the individual; We have to many verses that declare of serving and obeying rightly; Confess - agonizing confession of unbelief, fleshly weakness and sinful decisions; Repent - "I have gone this way, but I will go this way no more!" a resolve to stay faithful and obedient; endued with power - Acts 1:8, wait upon the Lord and receive power; frutiful - the dearth and the barreness is removed because God is honored with a vessel that is chosen to renew and restore holiness and righteousness; you have departed? return to Him and find mercy; you are falling away? stop the process and renew your vows to be a servant of the Lord; if God has forsaken you as He did to Shiloh and these other places, it is because you have gone the way of the world and forsaken Him; Now remember the Word, "God does not leave nor forsake", but if a soul quenches and grieves the Holy Spirit to be limited and uneffective because we choose sin, it is the same reference as if God has departed, it is not His desire, it is our choice; Choose this day, who and what you shall be and may it be found said, 'As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord" If you choose not this path, You are like Shiloh; Church - can you not see we are heading there quickly if not already in the town outskirts, Return and renew yourself to Him;
Monday, April 7, 2008
Psalm 55:22
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
Is this verse not all about the Lord? Is there not promise and hope to be found her? Laid out before us today is the need and the hope for manyto be found within this verse. All around knowing and looking upon people, there is constant need and burdens. Constant sickness, trials, lostness and weights laid to every life. Where do most look? They look to the ways of man, the doctors, the shrinks, the help of friends and family, but few look to the Lord except in general passing. As if to make sure they have covered all their bases. But I will bow come before Him, Who is able, and able to do all things well. For I know Him and what He has done, is doing and shall do, and there is none like Him. Who else is more able and willing to bear my burden and help me. who else is powerful enough to command and assist and it will alst? It is the Lord my God. have you anchored in Him today? Is there things that press sore to the heart and soul and you look up wondering if there is help? I would have you follow the directions found within this verse and you will find Him suffecient.
All around there are families, souls and churches carrying burdens. Some of these burdens are laid upon us, as the burden of the lost; others, are burdens of our own making. Yet whatever the burden there is One that we must proceed to and call upon Him. I don't come in and dump my needs before Him in a arrogant manner, I come humbly before the God of this universe. I come remembering and rehearsing what He has said to me abut Himself. I find Him waiting for me and willing to help me. "He will sustain me"; does He not already know my burden and why it is there? Yea, for He knows all things. He even knows whether we come to HIm or whether we have delayed in coming. But here we are before Him, knowing His mercy, knowing love for us, knowing His power to speak and command and it is done. "Give me your burden", He says; (Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find rest) He takes it and works a great work in our midst. We are not worthy of such help, such compassion but He is God and desires to show His favor upon His children. He loves to reward His righteous people. Yet you may argue, "I am not righteous, but sinful and vile". ARe we not vile and born in sin? Have we not all trangressed and failed Him, Whom our soul loveth? Yes,we have; (All have sinned and come short of the glory of God) But it is not our works of rightesouesness that shall grant us favor and ground to stand upon. For we are not robed in our own works and means, for they are defiled and empty; we are robed in Jesus Christs righteousness. He imparts to us tha tmost precious gift of making us righteous in Him and through Him. Cover us this day, O mighty King and lay upon Thy robe of righteousness! Exalt and praise Him for such affection and mercy as this gift.
Now, is there anything that lies sore upon your heart and within your mind that you cannot come and cast before His nailed scarred feet? Bow before the throne of Almighty God and see the FAther, the Son on the right hand and the HOly Spirit making intercession for us and our burdens of life. May your faith claim these things today and may you arise and go knowing He cares for you.
Is this verse not all about the Lord? Is there not promise and hope to be found her? Laid out before us today is the need and the hope for manyto be found within this verse. All around knowing and looking upon people, there is constant need and burdens. Constant sickness, trials, lostness and weights laid to every life. Where do most look? They look to the ways of man, the doctors, the shrinks, the help of friends and family, but few look to the Lord except in general passing. As if to make sure they have covered all their bases. But I will bow come before Him, Who is able, and able to do all things well. For I know Him and what He has done, is doing and shall do, and there is none like Him. Who else is more able and willing to bear my burden and help me. who else is powerful enough to command and assist and it will alst? It is the Lord my God. have you anchored in Him today? Is there things that press sore to the heart and soul and you look up wondering if there is help? I would have you follow the directions found within this verse and you will find Him suffecient.
All around there are families, souls and churches carrying burdens. Some of these burdens are laid upon us, as the burden of the lost; others, are burdens of our own making. Yet whatever the burden there is One that we must proceed to and call upon Him. I don't come in and dump my needs before Him in a arrogant manner, I come humbly before the God of this universe. I come remembering and rehearsing what He has said to me abut Himself. I find Him waiting for me and willing to help me. "He will sustain me"; does He not already know my burden and why it is there? Yea, for He knows all things. He even knows whether we come to HIm or whether we have delayed in coming. But here we are before Him, knowing His mercy, knowing love for us, knowing His power to speak and command and it is done. "Give me your burden", He says; (Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and ye shall find rest) He takes it and works a great work in our midst. We are not worthy of such help, such compassion but He is God and desires to show His favor upon His children. He loves to reward His righteous people. Yet you may argue, "I am not righteous, but sinful and vile". ARe we not vile and born in sin? Have we not all trangressed and failed Him, Whom our soul loveth? Yes,we have; (All have sinned and come short of the glory of God) But it is not our works of rightesouesness that shall grant us favor and ground to stand upon. For we are not robed in our own works and means, for they are defiled and empty; we are robed in Jesus Christs righteousness. He imparts to us tha tmost precious gift of making us righteous in Him and through Him. Cover us this day, O mighty King and lay upon Thy robe of righteousness! Exalt and praise Him for such affection and mercy as this gift.
Now, is there anything that lies sore upon your heart and within your mind that you cannot come and cast before His nailed scarred feet? Bow before the throne of Almighty God and see the FAther, the Son on the right hand and the HOly Spirit making intercession for us and our burdens of life. May your faith claim these things today and may you arise and go knowing He cares for you.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Job 37:14, 16
"Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. . .v. 16 the wondrouse works of him which is perfect in knowledge?"
It is upon the April day that I view outside my window the 'wondrous works' of God. Through His creation I see the grass turning the most beautiful shade of green. Upon the trees the buds are filling out and getting ready to explode. The birds are active and moving and the signs of spring are here. This is God's handy work and they fill all of life around us. Most live life without seeing or appreciated it. It is the common fact that most are aware of, "You don't appreciate until its gone." And after a winter of cold and deadness in nature things are changing and we should consider it. Some will say, "Oh, it happens every year." Yes, and it should be considered every year. From the beginning of time in the book of Genesis, God not only created it but He sustains it. Seasons of change by His perfect knowledge, for He know best.
but it is not just nature to consider, see within yourself the wondrous works of God. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." My existence of life makes me rejoice that I have life and I have health; and i have a mind that can think and be used to consider Hm. I ahve a soul that has been saved from destruction and the second death and I know my place is with Him. only by His Divine favor, mercy and love have I been saved - but I consider it! I consider the means of my salvation through Christ, His sacrifice, His atonement and all that I am in Christ is because He poured Himself out for me - I consider it. I ahve the experiences in my life of ansered prayer, blessings each day and great things done on my behalf - I consider it. I see the work of God among nations, within families and churches and know that He is behind it and guides it - I consider it. In all these things I consider and know that God is God and that there is no other god in this universe. I worship Him because of this and I know He holds all within His power. And seeing all of my past an dpresent has been done by Him for His glory and honor, I know that there are things yet to be done as well. Future events, prayers, movings of His Spirit, Divine things and glorious things for the kingdom are yet to be done but shall be done - I consider these future things. I am nothing, He is everything and He allows for me to see and consider His wondrous works. I am limited in being able to know a fraction of all His wondrous works, but even in my limitations I give glory unto Him Who is great and greatly to be praised. What of you dear child of God? What do you see today, in you and around you ? Have you considering anything of importance this day or yesterday or is it all trivial and vain?
This generation has lost the art of being still and read the verse again, "Be still, stand still and consider. . ." Hustle and bustle, moving and shaking - stop! and consdier His wondrous works. In church services it should be laid out at the beginning of worship, 'What has God done?" Testimonies among God's people should be active to reveal how much God has done that would produce praise and honor. But if a group is asked or an individual is asked, 'what has God done ?" And they was to reply, 'I don't know' It is a clear statement they ahve not been still to consider His wondrous works. the heart that is full says with David, my cup runneth over when - I consider it.
It is upon the April day that I view outside my window the 'wondrous works' of God. Through His creation I see the grass turning the most beautiful shade of green. Upon the trees the buds are filling out and getting ready to explode. The birds are active and moving and the signs of spring are here. This is God's handy work and they fill all of life around us. Most live life without seeing or appreciated it. It is the common fact that most are aware of, "You don't appreciate until its gone." And after a winter of cold and deadness in nature things are changing and we should consider it. Some will say, "Oh, it happens every year." Yes, and it should be considered every year. From the beginning of time in the book of Genesis, God not only created it but He sustains it. Seasons of change by His perfect knowledge, for He know best.
but it is not just nature to consider, see within yourself the wondrous works of God. "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." My existence of life makes me rejoice that I have life and I have health; and i have a mind that can think and be used to consider Hm. I ahve a soul that has been saved from destruction and the second death and I know my place is with Him. only by His Divine favor, mercy and love have I been saved - but I consider it! I consider the means of my salvation through Christ, His sacrifice, His atonement and all that I am in Christ is because He poured Himself out for me - I consider it. I ahve the experiences in my life of ansered prayer, blessings each day and great things done on my behalf - I consider it. I see the work of God among nations, within families and churches and know that He is behind it and guides it - I consider it. In all these things I consider and know that God is God and that there is no other god in this universe. I worship Him because of this and I know He holds all within His power. And seeing all of my past an dpresent has been done by Him for His glory and honor, I know that there are things yet to be done as well. Future events, prayers, movings of His Spirit, Divine things and glorious things for the kingdom are yet to be done but shall be done - I consider these future things. I am nothing, He is everything and He allows for me to see and consider His wondrous works. I am limited in being able to know a fraction of all His wondrous works, but even in my limitations I give glory unto Him Who is great and greatly to be praised. What of you dear child of God? What do you see today, in you and around you ? Have you considering anything of importance this day or yesterday or is it all trivial and vain?
This generation has lost the art of being still and read the verse again, "Be still, stand still and consider. . ." Hustle and bustle, moving and shaking - stop! and consdier His wondrous works. In church services it should be laid out at the beginning of worship, 'What has God done?" Testimonies among God's people should be active to reveal how much God has done that would produce praise and honor. But if a group is asked or an individual is asked, 'what has God done ?" And they was to reply, 'I don't know' It is a clear statement they ahve not been still to consider His wondrous works. the heart that is full says with David, my cup runneth over when - I consider it.
Job 34:32
"That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more."
There are numerous things beyond our ability to know and see. But our mistake usually lies in the fact that if we cannot see then our minds dismiss it. That does not erase the responsiblity nor the outcome of things unseen. The wisdom in this verse begins with the idea of the recognition that there are things beyond us. We know the verse, "Thy ways and Thy thoughts are above and beyond us." (Isaiah 55:8-9) I begin to understand then that their is a path from mere routine knowledge that leads to higher ways and thoughts. The only way is through and in God. Knowiwng this path exists should compel every Christian to start to pursue these things, unfortunately we see Christians live a life in worldliness and flesh with little or no desire to go on up. I believe that God's Spirit beckons unto us to come up. There are points of our life where we hear truth and experiences tha tour beyond our own and their is a hunger, a desire, that is breathed into us to go after this unseen. This requires faith to beleive that God is leading us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Not seen takes us to the point of this verse, I have not known these things before, it is a first for me, but it is right. Where are these ways taking us? The higher we go up the closer to God we become. Less and less of the world and more and more of Him. Usually Christians are brought to this truth through difficulties and trials. When they are in trouble they need God, they cry out to Him and wander where He is. He is above and we beneath, but only because we sought after gross things of the flesh and the world. Realizing if we was where He was and that we, as His followers, should be with Him; we should make change to be where He is at. but as soon as the trouble is past msot return unto their former ways and leave His place.
The last half of this verse this verse should be instructive to our prayers and life. Realizing we are not where we should be, should lead us to seek Him. And because we are in the wrong place and out of His will, this is sin. Through disobedience we have arrived at the wrong place. We have made a choice for the flesh or the world and this is not according to God's desire. Since we have sinned, and it has been presented to us by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, immediate confession and repentance should take place. some Christians waller in the mire and refuse, they remain in their sins. Some refuse to acknowledge that they have sinned and harden themselves, quenching the Holy Spirit. Churches that hold to the traditions of their fathers where it is the way of man and not the way of the Holy Spirit are found in this boat. Refusing to understand and pursue after these unseen ways is the path of a fool and continues sin in the church and limits the kingdom. Understand these carry eternal weight for nations and the course of histroy for all mankind. The devil blinds the church and believers to think that their gross actions of sin does not carry any course of events outside of their own life. Consider this example: if the whole of the church cared about the lost and cried out to God, what do you think woul dhappen around this world? if the whole of the church realized their failure to live holy lifes and confessed and repented, what do you think would happen? Well, we would see a revival unlike any before. Now reduce it to half of the church praying for the lost and caring about holinesss. Of course, we would understand it would less production for the kingdom but it would still be advancement in this world. Now consider where only a few in the church care and seek for Him (where we are at today) we know, that little is done and advancement is limited. Can you not see that it is for the whole of the church to seek after the unseen and reject the course of iniquity within our nation, families, churches and our own lives. A profound statement of resolve, "I will do no more". Oh for the church and you and I to make this our solemn plea. Take the verse from "My Jesus, I love Thee": 'all the follies of sin I resign' - I will do no more! I am done with sin and I am on the path to the unseen, for I know it to be right because God is there adn I want to be where God is. Is this your desire today, dear beleiver? dear church? dear family of God? May we amend our ways and be taught the unseen ways of the Lord; and sin we will have no part of.
There are numerous things beyond our ability to know and see. But our mistake usually lies in the fact that if we cannot see then our minds dismiss it. That does not erase the responsiblity nor the outcome of things unseen. The wisdom in this verse begins with the idea of the recognition that there are things beyond us. We know the verse, "Thy ways and Thy thoughts are above and beyond us." (Isaiah 55:8-9) I begin to understand then that their is a path from mere routine knowledge that leads to higher ways and thoughts. The only way is through and in God. Knowiwng this path exists should compel every Christian to start to pursue these things, unfortunately we see Christians live a life in worldliness and flesh with little or no desire to go on up. I believe that God's Spirit beckons unto us to come up. There are points of our life where we hear truth and experiences tha tour beyond our own and their is a hunger, a desire, that is breathed into us to go after this unseen. This requires faith to beleive that God is leading us. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Not seen takes us to the point of this verse, I have not known these things before, it is a first for me, but it is right. Where are these ways taking us? The higher we go up the closer to God we become. Less and less of the world and more and more of Him. Usually Christians are brought to this truth through difficulties and trials. When they are in trouble they need God, they cry out to Him and wander where He is. He is above and we beneath, but only because we sought after gross things of the flesh and the world. Realizing if we was where He was and that we, as His followers, should be with Him; we should make change to be where He is at. but as soon as the trouble is past msot return unto their former ways and leave His place.
The last half of this verse this verse should be instructive to our prayers and life. Realizing we are not where we should be, should lead us to seek Him. And because we are in the wrong place and out of His will, this is sin. Through disobedience we have arrived at the wrong place. We have made a choice for the flesh or the world and this is not according to God's desire. Since we have sinned, and it has been presented to us by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, immediate confession and repentance should take place. some Christians waller in the mire and refuse, they remain in their sins. Some refuse to acknowledge that they have sinned and harden themselves, quenching the Holy Spirit. Churches that hold to the traditions of their fathers where it is the way of man and not the way of the Holy Spirit are found in this boat. Refusing to understand and pursue after these unseen ways is the path of a fool and continues sin in the church and limits the kingdom. Understand these carry eternal weight for nations and the course of histroy for all mankind. The devil blinds the church and believers to think that their gross actions of sin does not carry any course of events outside of their own life. Consider this example: if the whole of the church cared about the lost and cried out to God, what do you think woul dhappen around this world? if the whole of the church realized their failure to live holy lifes and confessed and repented, what do you think would happen? Well, we would see a revival unlike any before. Now reduce it to half of the church praying for the lost and caring about holinesss. Of course, we would understand it would less production for the kingdom but it would still be advancement in this world. Now consider where only a few in the church care and seek for Him (where we are at today) we know, that little is done and advancement is limited. Can you not see that it is for the whole of the church to seek after the unseen and reject the course of iniquity within our nation, families, churches and our own lives. A profound statement of resolve, "I will do no more". Oh for the church and you and I to make this our solemn plea. Take the verse from "My Jesus, I love Thee": 'all the follies of sin I resign' - I will do no more! I am done with sin and I am on the path to the unseen, for I know it to be right because God is there adn I want to be where God is. Is this your desire today, dear beleiver? dear church? dear family of God? May we amend our ways and be taught the unseen ways of the Lord; and sin we will have no part of.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Job 14:15
Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands."
Job makes this statement that after all the sorrow and grief, God will call and he will answer Him. It is a constant theme found throughout Scripture when God calls and His servants answer, "Here I am". We have the opposite also proclaimed that when God calls man does not answer Him. May we be found as Job today with a desire that we have waited before Him and was ready when He called unto us. We should be aware of the truth that the church in America has lost the art of waiting upon the Lord. We have become so devleoped and educated and our self producing that we don't need the old ways. The idea that we could ever serve the Lord and work for the Kingdom and see it enlarged without His hand at work within us is heresy. the failure of the church to grow and produce spiritual men and women is found that we do not have time to wait before Him. So that when He calls, we tell Him, "We will get back with YOu as soon as we can." We have gone from where the old saints testified to long hours of prayer, meditation on the Word and being still before Him to one minute devotions, one chapter reading per day and 10 minute mediations filled with flowery sayings from man. we have lost the desire to know God. Andrew Murray said, "Alone with God, will make one wholly for God". A loss of desire and need to pray has afflicted the church and we have lost much and are accountable for much. As a child, I still remember the sermon EJ Daniels preached at the pastors conference on "The Watchman" from Ezekiel. I believe God is still calling, but the question is, who is answering? We must be found daily before HIm waiting to hear Him say, "I am calling thee. Here I am Lord, Speak."
Sitting in prayer meetings (or so they are called) made up of a sick list that goes on forever. Listening to the ones that take joy in the sorrow of others as if they get excitement. It brings to my heart the old saying, 'Misery loves company.' And if there wasn't any need of sick or deaths they would be sorrowful because they know not how to joy in the Lord nor worship Him in His wondrous works. and in these prayer meetings not one call for an awakening or a quickening of the church; not one petition for the lost with any burden for eternity in hell. I wonder how a Christian can go years without one anxious moment over the lost? As a child scarred from neglect lasts on into their adult life, so we should see the church and this generation is scarred from the neglect of the church being and doing what it should.
Is all lost? Never more to be reclaimed or used - 'set on the self and left'? No! "He will have a desire for the work of His Hands". I am not my own; He has made me, saved me and called me and has plans for me. Can God look upon the church and not desire it? No, we are graven on the palms of His hands and He cannot forget us. we may forget Him and cease to wait before Him. But His thoughts and desires are ever upon us. How great they are goes beyond are abilities to understand. Oh that we would wait before Hm and then we would hear Him speak of us and His church and know the path of power to save, to reclaim to renew and to revive. It cannot be done in the hustle and bustle of this generation. We must learn a lesson from the past and wait upon Him and before Him.
The uniqueness of "Broken Before the Thone" is that it is a long duration of waiting upon Him. It is not a short conference where there is speaking and music and a 5 minute prayer time. We are gathered for days and hours. You cannot prevail with God with time spent with God. and the reason that Christians today are faltering in holiness and rightesouness is that we have forgotten the method "I must obtain (the Spirit) so that I may maintain (my walk with Him); If I do not maintain it is because I have not obtained." Acts 1:8, they received power after they waiting before the Lord in the upper room for 10 days. Do not expect to receive power of the Holy Spirit for waiting 10 seconds or 10 minutes; hours and days not seconds and minutes.
Job makes this statement that after all the sorrow and grief, God will call and he will answer Him. It is a constant theme found throughout Scripture when God calls and His servants answer, "Here I am". We have the opposite also proclaimed that when God calls man does not answer Him. May we be found as Job today with a desire that we have waited before Him and was ready when He called unto us. We should be aware of the truth that the church in America has lost the art of waiting upon the Lord. We have become so devleoped and educated and our self producing that we don't need the old ways. The idea that we could ever serve the Lord and work for the Kingdom and see it enlarged without His hand at work within us is heresy. the failure of the church to grow and produce spiritual men and women is found that we do not have time to wait before Him. So that when He calls, we tell Him, "We will get back with YOu as soon as we can." We have gone from where the old saints testified to long hours of prayer, meditation on the Word and being still before Him to one minute devotions, one chapter reading per day and 10 minute mediations filled with flowery sayings from man. we have lost the desire to know God. Andrew Murray said, "Alone with God, will make one wholly for God". A loss of desire and need to pray has afflicted the church and we have lost much and are accountable for much. As a child, I still remember the sermon EJ Daniels preached at the pastors conference on "The Watchman" from Ezekiel. I believe God is still calling, but the question is, who is answering? We must be found daily before HIm waiting to hear Him say, "I am calling thee. Here I am Lord, Speak."
Sitting in prayer meetings (or so they are called) made up of a sick list that goes on forever. Listening to the ones that take joy in the sorrow of others as if they get excitement. It brings to my heart the old saying, 'Misery loves company.' And if there wasn't any need of sick or deaths they would be sorrowful because they know not how to joy in the Lord nor worship Him in His wondrous works. and in these prayer meetings not one call for an awakening or a quickening of the church; not one petition for the lost with any burden for eternity in hell. I wonder how a Christian can go years without one anxious moment over the lost? As a child scarred from neglect lasts on into their adult life, so we should see the church and this generation is scarred from the neglect of the church being and doing what it should.
Is all lost? Never more to be reclaimed or used - 'set on the self and left'? No! "He will have a desire for the work of His Hands". I am not my own; He has made me, saved me and called me and has plans for me. Can God look upon the church and not desire it? No, we are graven on the palms of His hands and He cannot forget us. we may forget Him and cease to wait before Him. But His thoughts and desires are ever upon us. How great they are goes beyond are abilities to understand. Oh that we would wait before Hm and then we would hear Him speak of us and His church and know the path of power to save, to reclaim to renew and to revive. It cannot be done in the hustle and bustle of this generation. We must learn a lesson from the past and wait upon Him and before Him.
The uniqueness of "Broken Before the Thone" is that it is a long duration of waiting upon Him. It is not a short conference where there is speaking and music and a 5 minute prayer time. We are gathered for days and hours. You cannot prevail with God with time spent with God. and the reason that Christians today are faltering in holiness and rightesouness is that we have forgotten the method "I must obtain (the Spirit) so that I may maintain (my walk with Him); If I do not maintain it is because I have not obtained." Acts 1:8, they received power after they waiting before the Lord in the upper room for 10 days. Do not expect to receive power of the Holy Spirit for waiting 10 seconds or 10 minutes; hours and days not seconds and minutes.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Job 11:7
"Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?"
Are we able to ascend unto the throne of God and be like Him? Are we able to discern all of His ways? Can we live in this life without sin all our days and how does that happen? A few of the questions that arise within the heart of those that would know God. No, finite cannot know infiniteness; flesh cannot know the fulness of divinity; but we can reach to the fullest capacity of our abilities to know Him. How is it done? By searching Him out. It is not a one day event, it is a life time event. Seeking and pursuing after Him to know Him and not just so that you might have a knowledge of Who He is and What He is but the knowledge becomes a part of you.
I feel limited in my ability to understand and communicate this, but I believe there are set points that allow for doors to open in life that brings us closer to Him and knowing Him. First, there is the desire to know Him. And again, common among church folks today is the mind knowledge that has been taught to them from Sudnay school and church services. But that is the limit of it, they have no greater pursuit to seek, find and apply these truths of God. Made in the image of God we are, our physical bodies - face, arms, legs, a shape that defines God and that sets us apart from all other created life. Within us a soul that God creates and sustains. the first (the body) is past away and decays until we are given a new body in eternity, but the soul is continuing from beginning of life throughout eternity. The body is the vessel that holds the soul, whether it be this physcial vessel or the cellestial vessel in heaven. and because we are int he image of God and given a soul by God (Who else can do this? NOne) then we have a part of God, all mankind. The reason I do not believe in an atheist is because of this point. They can convince their mind on what ever they want but deep within all is the gift of God - the soul. The soul having come from God; the spirit of life having been breathed into us by God has that attachment to His Being. "Deep calleth unto deep" That which comes from God wants to be with God and know God. so this desire to search Him out and know Him is not a man made thing, it is a Divine thing come from God. God wants us to know Him. Each person has glimpses of life that they want answers to life and reasons of why. they may only last a second flash through the mind and the heart but everyone has them. Those that pursue on to find out the whys have chosen to act on this gift of God to draw us unto Him. It is a choice. The desire comes from God in us and then He allows for us to decide how much we want to know Him. The thought flashes to most in a brief moment but because of other interests and pursuits they dismiss it and to not think upon it. And as quickly as it comes it goes. But the others are those that are presented this thought and they dwell on it and search it out. And because they have begun to pursue Him, He helps them to find Him. There are things given in this life to help with this - the Bible; the Holy Spirit; experiences of your own life and others. In each of these it points Him and you walk after it. But you are in uncharted waters and you have not been this way before. Here is another choice to make in life - stop and go back to that which is familiar or continue on? Fear and the nature of man to be be in control will stop the process for most at this point. But a few are not satisified and they will move ahead in the dark, drawn to the Light that beckons unto them. Each day to remember the lesson learned from yesterday and adding up the experiences that have revealed this Unknowable God in all His vastness. You are able to start to piece together Who He is, His attributes describe Him. His actions reveal His movitves. Your purpose is shown in life, not of what you want out of life, but what He is willing to reveal and give you in this life. As the old saying, "It is not about you; it is about Him". This truth becomes more robust throughout each day of pursuit. They asked old Vance Havner, "Would like to go back and live life again?" His reply, "NO, I am too close to heaven now; I am too close to my final destination." Each day and opportunity to know Him takes us one step closer to being where He wants us to be - with Him. This life is a journey to that place divine place. some make a waste of it, others meander throught but a few pursue to the greatest of honors which is to know Him. Of course, sin sets us back from moving forward and stalls the process. the flesh complicates things because of its resistance to Divine things. But remember each day is stepping toward Him if we choose. And after weeks, months, years, decades how far have we come in this purusit? I believe men like Robert Murray McCheyne and David Brainerd got down the trail a whole lot faster than most. Because they did not stop pursuing for the world or the flesh. But most Christians are out int he pasturing mulling around saying, "Which way do I go?" Look after Him and go after Him. Pursue the opportuntiy to know Him and find Him out. He will reveal unto us great things. How much time have we lost? How many chances have been past over? And while some will mire down in the past of regrets, all the while you are regretting past choices and mistakes and sins you are losing time to move forward.
Are we able to ascend unto the throne of God and be like Him? Are we able to discern all of His ways? Can we live in this life without sin all our days and how does that happen? A few of the questions that arise within the heart of those that would know God. No, finite cannot know infiniteness; flesh cannot know the fulness of divinity; but we can reach to the fullest capacity of our abilities to know Him. How is it done? By searching Him out. It is not a one day event, it is a life time event. Seeking and pursuing after Him to know Him and not just so that you might have a knowledge of Who He is and What He is but the knowledge becomes a part of you.
I feel limited in my ability to understand and communicate this, but I believe there are set points that allow for doors to open in life that brings us closer to Him and knowing Him. First, there is the desire to know Him. And again, common among church folks today is the mind knowledge that has been taught to them from Sudnay school and church services. But that is the limit of it, they have no greater pursuit to seek, find and apply these truths of God. Made in the image of God we are, our physical bodies - face, arms, legs, a shape that defines God and that sets us apart from all other created life. Within us a soul that God creates and sustains. the first (the body) is past away and decays until we are given a new body in eternity, but the soul is continuing from beginning of life throughout eternity. The body is the vessel that holds the soul, whether it be this physcial vessel or the cellestial vessel in heaven. and because we are int he image of God and given a soul by God (Who else can do this? NOne) then we have a part of God, all mankind. The reason I do not believe in an atheist is because of this point. They can convince their mind on what ever they want but deep within all is the gift of God - the soul. The soul having come from God; the spirit of life having been breathed into us by God has that attachment to His Being. "Deep calleth unto deep" That which comes from God wants to be with God and know God. so this desire to search Him out and know Him is not a man made thing, it is a Divine thing come from God. God wants us to know Him. Each person has glimpses of life that they want answers to life and reasons of why. they may only last a second flash through the mind and the heart but everyone has them. Those that pursue on to find out the whys have chosen to act on this gift of God to draw us unto Him. It is a choice. The desire comes from God in us and then He allows for us to decide how much we want to know Him. The thought flashes to most in a brief moment but because of other interests and pursuits they dismiss it and to not think upon it. And as quickly as it comes it goes. But the others are those that are presented this thought and they dwell on it and search it out. And because they have begun to pursue Him, He helps them to find Him. There are things given in this life to help with this - the Bible; the Holy Spirit; experiences of your own life and others. In each of these it points Him and you walk after it. But you are in uncharted waters and you have not been this way before. Here is another choice to make in life - stop and go back to that which is familiar or continue on? Fear and the nature of man to be be in control will stop the process for most at this point. But a few are not satisified and they will move ahead in the dark, drawn to the Light that beckons unto them. Each day to remember the lesson learned from yesterday and adding up the experiences that have revealed this Unknowable God in all His vastness. You are able to start to piece together Who He is, His attributes describe Him. His actions reveal His movitves. Your purpose is shown in life, not of what you want out of life, but what He is willing to reveal and give you in this life. As the old saying, "It is not about you; it is about Him". This truth becomes more robust throughout each day of pursuit. They asked old Vance Havner, "Would like to go back and live life again?" His reply, "NO, I am too close to heaven now; I am too close to my final destination." Each day and opportunity to know Him takes us one step closer to being where He wants us to be - with Him. This life is a journey to that place divine place. some make a waste of it, others meander throught but a few pursue to the greatest of honors which is to know Him. Of course, sin sets us back from moving forward and stalls the process. the flesh complicates things because of its resistance to Divine things. But remember each day is stepping toward Him if we choose. And after weeks, months, years, decades how far have we come in this purusit? I believe men like Robert Murray McCheyne and David Brainerd got down the trail a whole lot faster than most. Because they did not stop pursuing for the world or the flesh. But most Christians are out int he pasturing mulling around saying, "Which way do I go?" Look after Him and go after Him. Pursue the opportuntiy to know Him and find Him out. He will reveal unto us great things. How much time have we lost? How many chances have been past over? And while some will mire down in the past of regrets, all the while you are regretting past choices and mistakes and sins you are losing time to move forward.
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