I can still hear dad yelling, "Do it now!" I make my dad out to be a big grump, from what I've recorded on the blog, but really he's a great fellow. When I was younger, I used to have a defiant side: Maybe I still do! Dad would 'encourage' me to get things done "now" because that's when he wanted it done. It wasn't unreasonable for him to say so, but there is something special about doing things immediately after you feel moved; whether by prompting or self motivation.
A single somewhat unusual word occurs three times in four concurrent verses in Mark 1. The same word is used twice more in the verses prior, and four more times later. The word is, "straightway." I had an idea of what it means, but I still had to look it up. Simply it means, "immediately," or, "forthwith," or "anon." We'll look at the three instances of our focus:
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mark 1:16-21
At the first, the Lord Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be his disciples. We find that their response is nothing less than immediate. Instead of taking their sweet time, telling the Lord "next week," or having an excuse, we read that "straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him." Do we have the same attitude when the Lord calls us to do something? How about when our parents ask us to do something? How about if a friend asks us for a favour? The most important of all here is the Lord's call, and if we hear his voice we don't need to simply respond: people need to be able to say of us that "straightway they forsook __________, and followed Him."
The Lord's call is described as "straightway." As soon as He sees John and Andrew, He calls them. He seen their need, and they were ones that He wanted. Later in Mark 6:34, we read, "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things." The same idea can be put here that when He seen the people in need, "he began to teach them many things." Are we as "straightway" as the Lord Jesus was? First He sees some who He wants for followers and immediately calls them. What if we told every person of Christ? Surely some would be saved? What if we find those that are saved, but are in need of some teaching since they are wandering? Would we be like the Lord Jesus, "be moved with compassion," and "teach them many things?" Are we zealous for the name of the Lord as we should be? We all have a million excuses, but we lack compassion for souls and zeal for the Truth.
The last situation Jesus goes "straightway" into the synagogue and teaches at Capernaum. The first thing the Lord Jesus does as He goes into a new town is to make sure that the gospel is spread. He took the opportunity that the Jewish synagogues would present for a guest to expound on the word of God for critiquing. When we go places, are we sure that we are spreading the gospel? Is the excuse, "It's a holiday," or "I'll be doing plenty of that when we get there." It's a simple ministry to leave a gospel tract at a resturaunt or a gas station. Something small like this would no doubt be blessed by God, and would constitute the fulfillment of the requirement to be "straightway."
If it's the call of the Lord, we need to hear and obey His voice. When we see lost souls, or those sheep that need to be fed, are we delivering? Take the time to pack some tracts and leave them behind, or slip one into the book you return to the library, anyway to leave the word of God where it can prosper and be blessed of God. If we were to do each of these in time, we wouldn't have recieved the message clearly: "straightway," immediately, right now! The Lord will bless.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Balance
"The Great Blondin" (Jean-François Gravelet) was a tightrope walker, who became famous for his walks and stunts on a tightrope across Niagara Falls. He performed many stunts like crossing with a blindfold, a manned wheelbarrow, his assistant on his back, and the supplies and gumption to successfully stop midway to stop and eat an omlete. We can certainly say that Blondin had great balance, and it was the key to His survival.I don't have any special verse today, but I have some sound advice through experience. I was just thinking about how it seems I havn't been getting messages to write about lately. I've been reading and enjoying, but nothing to fomulate into improving our Christian lifestyle. It just occured to be tonight: I have no balance.
The places I'm reading right now are Isaiah and Zechariah. You would notice that each of those places is in the Old Testament: There's no balance. Personally I'm learning tons about prophecy and the kingdom age, but not as much about Christian living. Though it's just advice, and not supported with a verse in Scripture that I've found, I hope you will heed to the warning and understand that I feel we need to read in a balanced manner. This is just one of the many balancing acts that we as Christians need to learn, such as reading/praying, God/family, and fellowship/privacy. Stay balanced, and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who might ask.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear 1 Peter 3:15
Friday, March 27, 2009
Behold the Man!
You're standing in a large open courtyard. Though it's large and open, you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with a large mob. You look around you see what's going on. You came late because you went to work and no one was there except the faithful administrative assistant. You had asked her where everyone was. "They've all gone to the court house to see what's going to happen with the new guy in town that's caused such a stir," she said. Off you hurried, thinking this would be a great story to publish in your paper, and thus you find yourself at the back of the pack of people, squinting toward the Roman architectured court house, as the hot sun is just beginning to unveil its fury as dawn slips into morning.
You ask the lady next to you, "Where has the judge and the accused gone?" "We're not sure," she says, "and that's why the crowd is getting so restless." Just at the time you're sure a riot will break out, the judge emerges with the defendant through the door, and stands between the two columns at the top of the stairs. An eerie hush falls over the crowd. The man has been beaten nearly to death. Thirty-nine times with a Roman whip. On his head was a crown of thorns. He was a bloody mess, and barely recognizable as a man. He was slumped over sightly as if his blood soaked coat was made of lead. Somehow he was able to stand, though it was obvious he was in shock from the lashing that sometimes killed the victim.
Amidst the silenced crowd the judge declares, "Behold, the man!" You watch to see what will happen. Perhaps the people will take pity on this scourged one who's fame in the city and country side for good works would surely get him off the hook for any crime he's done. The calm and stillness of the people lasted seemingly hours. The people looked at one another, stunned at the sight.
Then you hear the voice of the high priests, "Crucify him!" More voices joined in the call, "crucify him." The call becomes louder until everyone is shouting at the top of their lungs, crying out for the death by crucifixion of this man. You watch as they take him, and lead him away down a narrow street towards the place of the skull, Golgotha. You stay behind as people rush past. "The end of the story, just another of many Roman crucifixions," you think. Little did you know, that the morning you took off work would change the past, present and future of humanity. Nor could you have guessed that you would experience three hours of darkness from noon till 3 p.m., which would conclude with an earthquake. This was the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. This was the day that Jesus bore away the sins of the world.
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It's a pretty gory scene when we think about it. The words of Pontus Pilate, the judge, would have been scarred in the minds of many that day, "Behold the man!" (John 19:5) He in fact was not just a man, but the Son of man and the Son of God, yet He was brought so low as to be beaten by the creatures He created. This pre-cross scene was all necessary as a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 129:3). This one Jesus Christ was brought so low, and yet this was not the first time these exact words were said of Him.
In Zechariah 6:12, three words jumped out of the page at me: "Behold, the man..." Here is a prophecy given by Zechariah to Joshua the High Priest, as the prophet explains to the priest that his crowning is symbolic of a coming day: The day when the priesthood and the throne will be united (2 in 1). The words describe one in glory and majesty on the throne, a ruler of the world and of the nation Israel. He is one who sprung up (the Branch) from among the Jews, and yet instead of being crowned He was rejected. The phrase, "Behold the man," was not what the Lord Jesus deserved as Pilate displayed Him to the audience; instead they should have seen Him as king and as John did when he could say that he, "beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
We can be thankful that we can forever dwell and behold this man Jesus someday. It will either be when we meet Him in the clouds or when we die, since ours sins have been covered by His blood. To the Christian, when we think of both scenes as very beautiful: "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20), and the Millennial kingdom of peace where Christ will reign supreme as the Branch (Isaiah 11).
You ask the lady next to you, "Where has the judge and the accused gone?" "We're not sure," she says, "and that's why the crowd is getting so restless." Just at the time you're sure a riot will break out, the judge emerges with the defendant through the door, and stands between the two columns at the top of the stairs. An eerie hush falls over the crowd. The man has been beaten nearly to death. Thirty-nine times with a Roman whip. On his head was a crown of thorns. He was a bloody mess, and barely recognizable as a man. He was slumped over sightly as if his blood soaked coat was made of lead. Somehow he was able to stand, though it was obvious he was in shock from the lashing that sometimes killed the victim.
Amidst the silenced crowd the judge declares, "Behold, the man!" You watch to see what will happen. Perhaps the people will take pity on this scourged one who's fame in the city and country side for good works would surely get him off the hook for any crime he's done. The calm and stillness of the people lasted seemingly hours. The people looked at one another, stunned at the sight.
Then you hear the voice of the high priests, "Crucify him!" More voices joined in the call, "crucify him." The call becomes louder until everyone is shouting at the top of their lungs, crying out for the death by crucifixion of this man. You watch as they take him, and lead him away down a narrow street towards the place of the skull, Golgotha. You stay behind as people rush past. "The end of the story, just another of many Roman crucifixions," you think. Little did you know, that the morning you took off work would change the past, present and future of humanity. Nor could you have guessed that you would experience three hours of darkness from noon till 3 p.m., which would conclude with an earthquake. This was the day that Jesus Christ was crucified. This was the day that Jesus bore away the sins of the world.
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It's a pretty gory scene when we think about it. The words of Pontus Pilate, the judge, would have been scarred in the minds of many that day, "Behold the man!" (John 19:5) He in fact was not just a man, but the Son of man and the Son of God, yet He was brought so low as to be beaten by the creatures He created. This pre-cross scene was all necessary as a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 129:3). This one Jesus Christ was brought so low, and yet this was not the first time these exact words were said of Him.
In Zechariah 6:12, three words jumped out of the page at me: "Behold, the man..." Here is a prophecy given by Zechariah to Joshua the High Priest, as the prophet explains to the priest that his crowning is symbolic of a coming day: The day when the priesthood and the throne will be united (2 in 1). The words describe one in glory and majesty on the throne, a ruler of the world and of the nation Israel. He is one who sprung up (the Branch) from among the Jews, and yet instead of being crowned He was rejected. The phrase, "Behold the man," was not what the Lord Jesus deserved as Pilate displayed Him to the audience; instead they should have seen Him as king and as John did when he could say that he, "beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
We can be thankful that we can forever dwell and behold this man Jesus someday. It will either be when we meet Him in the clouds or when we die, since ours sins have been covered by His blood. To the Christian, when we think of both scenes as very beautiful: "the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20), and the Millennial kingdom of peace where Christ will reign supreme as the Branch (Isaiah 11).
Monday, March 23, 2009
2 in 1
Who doesn't like things that are 2 in 1? Some people don't because its not as good as the two separate things that it replaces. Some people have 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner. I'm not a connoisseur of shampoo (that and I have hair an inch long), so I don't notice a difference. 2 in 1 body wash and shampoo. I like it because it's just easier to use. The downfall of a 2 in 1 is that it doesn't meet the standard that the two separate products has set.
There's a coming day where a 2 in 1 will be perfect. It's the day when the Lord Jesus finally takes His rightful place as the King of this earth, uniting the priesthood and the kingship. Zechariah 6:13 explains the day that His millennial kingdom will finally come,
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
First we read of how he shall build the temple of the Jehovah. A full description of this temple, its workers, prince and its glory can be found in Ezekiel 40-44. The glory of the Lord will finally be brought back to Jerusalem (Ezekiel 43:2-6, Zechariah 2:5).
"He shall bear the glory." In this is a picture of the mercy seat of the ark, which was in the holiest of holies. Here is where Jehovah would sit when His shekinah glory would fill the room. We might find that He, the Branch, would bear the glory of the Lord. John 1:14 tells us that, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." When Christ returns, He shall return in the brightness of glory; perhaps similar to that which the disciples seen on the day of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2, Luke 21:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Now to the 2 in 1 part. You say how can He be king and priest both? This one who will bring together royalty and priesthood is by right both king and priest.
If we were going to trace His lineage, we would find that both His mother Mary's and step-father Joseph's line goes back to David and Judah (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38). Since He is from this tribe, He has the right to take the throne of Israel.
As far as His priesthood goes, one could draw the comparison that the Lord Jesus' mother Mary was actually a Levite on her mother's side (Luke 1:5, 36), but His priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood. In Hebrews 7 we can read about how the Lord Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedec. The Levite order would end at the death of each priest, but the Lord Jesus is of an unchanging priesthood (Hebrews 7:23-24).
2 in 1! It is the greatest 2 in 1 ever. The Lord Jesus will someday take His role in both positions. We know that now He is doing the work of the priest (Hebrews 7:26-27), but someday He will take His rightful place as king. You might complain that your 2 in 1 shampoo isn't effective, but this One will unite the two positions and make them greater together than they ever were separate.
There's a coming day where a 2 in 1 will be perfect. It's the day when the Lord Jesus finally takes His rightful place as the King of this earth, uniting the priesthood and the kingship. Zechariah 6:13 explains the day that His millennial kingdom will finally come,
Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
First we read of how he shall build the temple of the Jehovah. A full description of this temple, its workers, prince and its glory can be found in Ezekiel 40-44. The glory of the Lord will finally be brought back to Jerusalem (Ezekiel 43:2-6, Zechariah 2:5).
"He shall bear the glory." In this is a picture of the mercy seat of the ark, which was in the holiest of holies. Here is where Jehovah would sit when His shekinah glory would fill the room. We might find that He, the Branch, would bear the glory of the Lord. John 1:14 tells us that, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." When Christ returns, He shall return in the brightness of glory; perhaps similar to that which the disciples seen on the day of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2, Luke 21:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Now to the 2 in 1 part. You say how can He be king and priest both? This one who will bring together royalty and priesthood is by right both king and priest.
If we were going to trace His lineage, we would find that both His mother Mary's and step-father Joseph's line goes back to David and Judah (Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38). Since He is from this tribe, He has the right to take the throne of Israel.
As far as His priesthood goes, one could draw the comparison that the Lord Jesus' mother Mary was actually a Levite on her mother's side (Luke 1:5, 36), but His priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood. In Hebrews 7 we can read about how the Lord Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedec. The Levite order would end at the death of each priest, but the Lord Jesus is of an unchanging priesthood (Hebrews 7:23-24).
2 in 1! It is the greatest 2 in 1 ever. The Lord Jesus will someday take His role in both positions. We know that now He is doing the work of the priest (Hebrews 7:26-27), but someday He will take His rightful place as king. You might complain that your 2 in 1 shampoo isn't effective, but this One will unite the two positions and make them greater together than they ever were separate.
Psalm 110
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Actions Speak Louder than Words
Mark Twain has many famous sayings. One of them is, "Actions speak louder than words." This thought is clearly expressed by the prophet Isaiah when he is explaining the reason for God disciplining Jerusalem. He says in 29:13,
This is a common problem we have as humans, we pretend to be something we aren't. Sometimes we pretend we are loyal to God on the outside, but on the inside we are not committed. Fake.
The Lord Jesus called the Pharisees out for this very reason. The Pharisees on the outside were ones who were uber spiritual. If people were watching, they were sure to be very pious. On the outward, they had all the appearances of ones with right hearts, but their actions spoke louder than their words. Matthew 15:7-9 calls out the Pharisees for the very things that Israel was guilty of 700 years earlier.
In Matthew 23 the Lord brings out all that the Pharisees were doing wrong.
There is a little "Pharisee" in each of us, and we need to snuff it out. People hate hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another, and we need to steer clear of this. We may say the right things, but are we living the right life. We might have all the right answers, speak the right shiboleth, and look like a Christian on the outside, but what are we on the inside? We can only pretend for so long before the inside starts showing through. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," so while you are yet young or not too old, we need to change and develop a pure heart.
Each one who is saved has been made a new creation. Yet our sinful nature still is in us. We will not be perfected until the Lord comes again to give us perfectly Christlike minds and incorruptable bodies. But will the Lord say to you at the Judgment Seat, "Your heart wasn't right and your worship was in vain, though you said all the right words"? Examine your life, how is your heart and what are your actions because they speak louder than your words.
"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men."
This is a common problem we have as humans, we pretend to be something we aren't. Sometimes we pretend we are loyal to God on the outside, but on the inside we are not committed. Fake.
The Lord Jesus called the Pharisees out for this very reason. The Pharisees on the outside were ones who were uber spiritual. If people were watching, they were sure to be very pious. On the outward, they had all the appearances of ones with right hearts, but their actions spoke louder than their words. Matthew 15:7-9 calls out the Pharisees for the very things that Israel was guilty of 700 years earlier.
In Matthew 23 the Lord brings out all that the Pharisees were doing wrong.
- labouring in law and never extending grace
- taking widow's houses and making long prayers
- searching for people to become subject to the law
- oaths on objects, rather than based on their own word
- omitting some of the law, while placing emphesis on tithes and giving
- clean outside, dirty inside
- righteous outside, dead inside
- gloryfying the tombs of the prophets killed by their fathers
There is a little "Pharisee" in each of us, and we need to snuff it out. People hate hypocrites, saying one thing and doing another, and we need to steer clear of this. We may say the right things, but are we living the right life. We might have all the right answers, speak the right shiboleth, and look like a Christian on the outside, but what are we on the inside? We can only pretend for so long before the inside starts showing through. "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," so while you are yet young or not too old, we need to change and develop a pure heart.
Each one who is saved has been made a new creation. Yet our sinful nature still is in us. We will not be perfected until the Lord comes again to give us perfectly Christlike minds and incorruptable bodies. But will the Lord say to you at the Judgment Seat, "Your heart wasn't right and your worship was in vain, though you said all the right words"? Examine your life, how is your heart and what are your actions because they speak louder than your words.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Powerful Words
Your friend calls and said they are coming to pick you up to go for coffee. You get ready and are looking out the front window, waiting for them to pull in. Someone pulls into the drive way, but is that your friend? Its a new sports car. You look into the car and sure enough, its your friend. They show you under the hood and you quickly understand that this car is powerful! The friend came over not just in a car, but in one that was full of power.
Remember when the gospel pulled into your driveway. The first time you heard it, you found there was something different about the message. It just wasn't a man speaking words, but there was something greater going on with this message besides just an ordinary speech. When you heard the first convicting gospel message of your life, it didn't come just in word but in power and the Holy Spirit. Paul writes to the Thessalonians to remind them of this and where the power of the gospel comes from. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5 he says, "how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance."
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment, while pointing to Christ. The Lord Jesus tells us in John 16:9-11 why the Holy Spirit does each of these: "of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged." This needs to be the basis of our gospel message.
First we always need to tell people of their sin. The nature of sin that indwells every piece of creation, including humans, needs to told to anyone who will listen. Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned." Give them the message that they are sinners and let the Spirit use the word of God. We can't avoid telling people that they are sinners, because as the Lord Jesus said, "And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).
The basis of the message of righteousness is that the sinner needs to be made righteous. Romans 5:19 is a perfect transition between sin and righteousness: For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. The Lord Jesus Christ's obedience of the Father to go to the cross is the way that the sinner can be made righteous. It is in the work of Christ alone, and we need to emphasize that. The Lord Jesus has gone to the Father and we have no physical example of righteousness. Because of this the Holy Spirit works to show how a sinner can be made righteous, by pointing them to the Son.
Finally, judgment to come. It has already been planned that those who are not made righteous will be judged for their sins. The unbeliever is a follower of the prince of this world, Satan, and they will be judged for following him. The sinner will stand before the Great White Throne, and when their name isn't found in the Lamb's Book of Life, than they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, as will be the prince of this world (Revelation 20:10-15 ).
The power source of the gospel is the Holy Spirit. He is the turbo boost or supercharge that makes the gospel effective. Without Him they are just words. Our job is to deliver the word of God and let Him use it. The Lord has promised to bless His word and since He has promised we must never stray from it (Isaiah 55:11). We can try new ways and methods of sharing the gospel, but all our efforts have to be using the word of God, so that the Holy Spirit might use it in power.
Remember when the gospel pulled into your driveway. The first time you heard it, you found there was something different about the message. It just wasn't a man speaking words, but there was something greater going on with this message besides just an ordinary speech. When you heard the first convicting gospel message of your life, it didn't come just in word but in power and the Holy Spirit. Paul writes to the Thessalonians to remind them of this and where the power of the gospel comes from. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5 he says, "how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance."
The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, righteousness and judgment, while pointing to Christ. The Lord Jesus tells us in John 16:9-11 why the Holy Spirit does each of these: "of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged." This needs to be the basis of our gospel message.
First we always need to tell people of their sin. The nature of sin that indwells every piece of creation, including humans, needs to told to anyone who will listen. Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned." Give them the message that they are sinners and let the Spirit use the word of God. We can't avoid telling people that they are sinners, because as the Lord Jesus said, "And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17).
The basis of the message of righteousness is that the sinner needs to be made righteous. Romans 5:19 is a perfect transition between sin and righteousness: For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. The Lord Jesus Christ's obedience of the Father to go to the cross is the way that the sinner can be made righteous. It is in the work of Christ alone, and we need to emphasize that. The Lord Jesus has gone to the Father and we have no physical example of righteousness. Because of this the Holy Spirit works to show how a sinner can be made righteous, by pointing them to the Son.
Finally, judgment to come. It has already been planned that those who are not made righteous will be judged for their sins. The unbeliever is a follower of the prince of this world, Satan, and they will be judged for following him. The sinner will stand before the Great White Throne, and when their name isn't found in the Lamb's Book of Life, than they will be cast into the Lake of Fire, as will be the prince of this world (Revelation 20:10-15 ).
The power source of the gospel is the Holy Spirit. He is the turbo boost or supercharge that makes the gospel effective. Without Him they are just words. Our job is to deliver the word of God and let Him use it. The Lord has promised to bless His word and since He has promised we must never stray from it (Isaiah 55:11). We can try new ways and methods of sharing the gospel, but all our efforts have to be using the word of God, so that the Holy Spirit might use it in power.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fullness of Greatness Part 3
I remember once when it rained so hard, that you couldn't see further than about 10 feet. Tyson's family was up from Glen Ewen and were at the house at the time. In the west we were able to see great clouds building, but they passed on by. We thought we were in the clear. But little did we know that the storm was going to back in from the east. It started to rain, and we went to the east window and saw a giant storm approaching. Thunder and lightning began the storm. Then came the rains. I've never seen anything like it. It only rained for about 45 minutes, but there was 8 inches of rain left behind. A huge reservoir had formed at the low point in our yard. Rivers of free flowing water ran down the driveway from the highway as if it was the Amazon. I'll always remember how amazing and powerful that rainstorm was.
Look at Psalm 147:8, "[God] covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains." Think of the might of the most powerful storm, but that is nothing in comparison to the power of God. A category 5 hurricane slamming into the coast, or a series of tornadoes ripping through the mid-west United States: God is so much more powerful. We read how he prepares the rain perhaps somewhat like I might prepare this blog posting: Not such a big deal to the creator. He covers the sky with clouds and makes the grass to grow. No great task done by God, but to us something we could study for years and years. Yet, we are not beginning to see the fullness of His greatness.
I could write a new part to this blog for the rest of my life, and I wouldn't scratch the surface when talking about the greatness of God. Through eternity we'll perhaps get through "the beginner's crash course to the greatness of God." Look at Isaiah 40:25 again, "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." What can we compare God to? We can't understand how great He is because our puny minds have limits. We can't understand how glorious His person is until we see Him as He is. We will never understand the depth of His love. How great is our God! Praise the Lord that He is our God, the maker of the heavens and earth.
Thus concludes my feeble attempt to describe the fullness of His greatness. Take a read and meditate on Isaiah 40, Psalm 147 and Job 38-42. When you read take note of the characteristics of God. Get to know Him better. Learn how He is unlimited in every aspect. Fear and worship Him since He is the one that has power in giving eternal life and over death and hell. The only righteous Judge, and this is the Saviour of feeble creatures like us! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 146
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Look at Psalm 147:8, "[God] covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains." Think of the might of the most powerful storm, but that is nothing in comparison to the power of God. A category 5 hurricane slamming into the coast, or a series of tornadoes ripping through the mid-west United States: God is so much more powerful. We read how he prepares the rain perhaps somewhat like I might prepare this blog posting: Not such a big deal to the creator. He covers the sky with clouds and makes the grass to grow. No great task done by God, but to us something we could study for years and years. Yet, we are not beginning to see the fullness of His greatness.
I could write a new part to this blog for the rest of my life, and I wouldn't scratch the surface when talking about the greatness of God. Through eternity we'll perhaps get through "the beginner's crash course to the greatness of God." Look at Isaiah 40:25 again, "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." What can we compare God to? We can't understand how great He is because our puny minds have limits. We can't understand how glorious His person is until we see Him as He is. We will never understand the depth of His love. How great is our God! Praise the Lord that He is our God, the maker of the heavens and earth.
Thus concludes my feeble attempt to describe the fullness of His greatness. Take a read and meditate on Isaiah 40, Psalm 147 and Job 38-42. When you read take note of the characteristics of God. Get to know Him better. Learn how He is unlimited in every aspect. Fear and worship Him since He is the one that has power in giving eternal life and over death and hell. The only righteous Judge, and this is the Saviour of feeble creatures like us! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 146
1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Fullness of Greatness Part 2
Charismatic: Barack Obama.
Compassionate: Your best friend.
Smart: Albert Einstein.
We have found in our verses thus far, that God meets the first two attributes. Lets view the final one, but again look at the verses from Psalm 147:2-5,
"The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
Smart is often defined by the amount of knowledge one person can have. Truly the Lord is the definition of the fullness of knowledge. I'm sure you've gazed up into the vast expanse of the heavens and seen the countless stars twinkling in the sky. Countless? I think not. There is one who knows not only the number of stars, but also calls each one by their name!
Consider also Isaiah 40:22, 26: "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in... Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth."
This is He: The creator of the universe. He has created the universe by stretching it out like a curtain, giving the stars, the planets, and a place for you and I to dwell. He has set each star in it's spot in the sky, while sending them off into orbit. "Go Polaris. Onward Mira. Be away Sun!" How small should that make us feel? Something that we might think is so great, to Him is just ordinary. He brings out the stars at night in starry number to declare His glory, and He calls each one by their name.
How humble should this make us! This is the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity, who calls the stars by name, and yet He would think of us when He sent His Son. The only begotten Son of God, the one who created all things and upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3) would become the sacrificial Lamb of God.
How great is our God, and how small are we! To whom will we liken Him, or to who is equal to Him? (Isaiah 40:25) Where were we when He laid the foundations of the earth? (Job 38:4) Truly He is the fullness of all knowledge and we can echo the Psalmist, "His understanding is infinite," and Isaiah 40:28, "there is no searching of His understanding."
Hopefully you have found that God is the fullness of greatness. We only looked at a few things, but it gives us more of an appreciation for how great our God is. Obama, your best friend, and Einstein are nothing in comparison to God. Since He is so great, we know that we can take any problem to Him. We can show others His beauty and the wonder of the cross so that they might be drawn to Him. Finally we can rest in Him knowing that He knows all things past, present, and future, while caring for us weaklings though He is the greatest and far and above all others. He is the fullness of greatness.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Compassionate: Your best friend.
Smart: Albert Einstein.
We have found in our verses thus far, that God meets the first two attributes. Lets view the final one, but again look at the verses from Psalm 147:2-5,
"The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
Smart is often defined by the amount of knowledge one person can have. Truly the Lord is the definition of the fullness of knowledge. I'm sure you've gazed up into the vast expanse of the heavens and seen the countless stars twinkling in the sky. Countless? I think not. There is one who knows not only the number of stars, but also calls each one by their name!
Consider also Isaiah 40:22, 26: "It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in... Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth."
This is He: The creator of the universe. He has created the universe by stretching it out like a curtain, giving the stars, the planets, and a place for you and I to dwell. He has set each star in it's spot in the sky, while sending them off into orbit. "Go Polaris. Onward Mira. Be away Sun!" How small should that make us feel? Something that we might think is so great, to Him is just ordinary. He brings out the stars at night in starry number to declare His glory, and He calls each one by their name.
How humble should this make us! This is the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity, who calls the stars by name, and yet He would think of us when He sent His Son. The only begotten Son of God, the one who created all things and upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3) would become the sacrificial Lamb of God.
How great is our God, and how small are we! To whom will we liken Him, or to who is equal to Him? (Isaiah 40:25) Where were we when He laid the foundations of the earth? (Job 38:4) Truly He is the fullness of all knowledge and we can echo the Psalmist, "His understanding is infinite," and Isaiah 40:28, "there is no searching of His understanding."
Hopefully you have found that God is the fullness of greatness. We only looked at a few things, but it gives us more of an appreciation for how great our God is. Obama, your best friend, and Einstein are nothing in comparison to God. Since He is so great, we know that we can take any problem to Him. We can show others His beauty and the wonder of the cross so that they might be drawn to Him. Finally we can rest in Him knowing that He knows all things past, present, and future, while caring for us weaklings though He is the greatest and far and above all others. He is the fullness of greatness.
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Fullness of Greatness Part 1
Charismatic: Barack Obama.
Compassionate: Your best friend.
Smart: Albert Einstein.
Those are just a list of attributes, and people who fit their description. Obama is president of the United States because people are wanting to follow him, playing on the emotions of people as all great speakers do. Your best friend is your best friend because they are more than just an ordinary friend, they can be trusted with anything and will help you feel better in rough stretches. Einstein is the model of "smart." His physics formulas, exceptional I.Q. and contributions to the Manhattan Project put him in the category as one of the smartest people.
Is there one person who could be the greatest at these three attributes? Look at these verses from Psalm 147:2-5,
"The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
In this I feel we can see how great the Lord is, and is the fullness of all things; including these three attributes.
He is charismatic to those that are outcasts, or in need. Think back to when you were saved. How great was your need? Who could help? There was only one person who could ever help. There is only one that could bring peace to your soul. You were now realizing that you were a sinner, could never meet the expectations of God, condemned by the law, and finding that works don't satisfy. Christ became the most beautiful person in the world. Everything about Him became your passion. Suddenly the darkest day in history shone light into your heart. You clung to a blood stained column of wood, for this is where you found your salvation was purchased. He brought you into the fold. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
See the compassion that the Lord offers. He heals the broken in heart, and takes care of our griefs. A small amount of stress does a number on me. There aren't always people we can go to, but we can always go to Him. But there is one, who I believe the Proverbs is referring to when Solomon in 18:24 says, "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." There are a multitude of verses, a few of which I will leave here, and simply take them at face value.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. upon you, and Take my yoke learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:1-7
Compassionate: Your best friend.
Smart: Albert Einstein.
Those are just a list of attributes, and people who fit their description. Obama is president of the United States because people are wanting to follow him, playing on the emotions of people as all great speakers do. Your best friend is your best friend because they are more than just an ordinary friend, they can be trusted with anything and will help you feel better in rough stretches. Einstein is the model of "smart." His physics formulas, exceptional I.Q. and contributions to the Manhattan Project put him in the category as one of the smartest people.
Is there one person who could be the greatest at these three attributes? Look at these verses from Psalm 147:2-5,
"The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite."
In this I feel we can see how great the Lord is, and is the fullness of all things; including these three attributes.
He is charismatic to those that are outcasts, or in need. Think back to when you were saved. How great was your need? Who could help? There was only one person who could ever help. There is only one that could bring peace to your soul. You were now realizing that you were a sinner, could never meet the expectations of God, condemned by the law, and finding that works don't satisfy. Christ became the most beautiful person in the world. Everything about Him became your passion. Suddenly the darkest day in history shone light into your heart. You clung to a blood stained column of wood, for this is where you found your salvation was purchased. He brought you into the fold. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
See the compassion that the Lord offers. He heals the broken in heart, and takes care of our griefs. A small amount of stress does a number on me. There aren't always people we can go to, but we can always go to Him. But there is one, who I believe the Proverbs is referring to when Solomon in 18:24 says, "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." There are a multitude of verses, a few of which I will leave here, and simply take them at face value.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. upon you, and Take my yoke learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:1-7
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Stretch or Starve
The concept of "stretch or starve" isn't as common as it used to be. Some of my grandparents, great grandparents, and up the generation lived on this meal time ideology. This is more of a large family concept, likely why it has become more or less extinct as far as I was found. The way many large families would operate is after the blessing, your options would be to either stretch out and grab some food or starve.
I was thinking today that I seem to be unfaithful to my blog. The messages to put down are coming less frequently as of late. I'm hoping that if you come and read that you aren't expecting a few words here and there to sustain you. If you are, and the messages right now are coming less than daily, your spiritual ribs are showing. If we were able to see ourselves in light of our spiritual girth, how would we look?
Now consider possibly one of my favorite sections of scripture that I usually think of in terms of gospel, but it applies nicely to our lives as Christians also. Isaiah 55:1-2 says, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food."
I love this section. View it as a call to you, child of God. See the invitation? Come. Who is it to? Everyone who thirsts and has no money. Why? The waters are free, the joy (wine) is free, and the food is free.
Then why do we spend so much time and effort on things that don't matter? The pieces of entertainment that get us wrapped up. The magazines we read, the stars and sports figures we think about. The games that matter so much to us. The mall that becomes the place where we so frequently spend "our" hard earned cash. And what will it matter in light of eternity? To borrow a phrase from a good friend of mine, "it's just fuel for the fire."
Now if you are on the defensive, that's what I expect. If you're looking for a loophole in my argument, you'll likely find it in the verse as it says, "come, buy and eat!" Well you say, "If I have no money, how can I buy?" Someone I've worked with in the past always says that nothing is free because it always costs somebody something. How true! In this case I made a mistake in saying that its free, because it's not. It's going to cost us something to be continually nourished.
This cost to us will be our time. A great sacrifice in today's busy world, but it's absolutely necessary if we are going to be putting any meat on our spiritual body. If we are going to get off the bottle of the milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2), it's going to take a lot of alone time with God. I feel like I keep beating the same drum, but it's always the same key: Honest prayer and careful reading. Make the time and get on your knees and into the word of God.
What kind of a spiritual body do we have? Are we skinny and malnourished, or are we bulking up on the richness of the word of God and our exercise in it? When it comes down to it, the Lord isn't going to spoon feed us. There is no way to grow on our own in our spiritual lives, apart from time with Him. We need to, "Listen diligently to [Him], and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food," that is the word of God. In the massive family of God the blessing at the Lord's table has been said. Now will you stretch or starve?
I was thinking today that I seem to be unfaithful to my blog. The messages to put down are coming less frequently as of late. I'm hoping that if you come and read that you aren't expecting a few words here and there to sustain you. If you are, and the messages right now are coming less than daily, your spiritual ribs are showing. If we were able to see ourselves in light of our spiritual girth, how would we look?
Now consider possibly one of my favorite sections of scripture that I usually think of in terms of gospel, but it applies nicely to our lives as Christians also. Isaiah 55:1-2 says, "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food."
I love this section. View it as a call to you, child of God. See the invitation? Come. Who is it to? Everyone who thirsts and has no money. Why? The waters are free, the joy (wine) is free, and the food is free.
Then why do we spend so much time and effort on things that don't matter? The pieces of entertainment that get us wrapped up. The magazines we read, the stars and sports figures we think about. The games that matter so much to us. The mall that becomes the place where we so frequently spend "our" hard earned cash. And what will it matter in light of eternity? To borrow a phrase from a good friend of mine, "it's just fuel for the fire."
Now if you are on the defensive, that's what I expect. If you're looking for a loophole in my argument, you'll likely find it in the verse as it says, "come, buy and eat!" Well you say, "If I have no money, how can I buy?" Someone I've worked with in the past always says that nothing is free because it always costs somebody something. How true! In this case I made a mistake in saying that its free, because it's not. It's going to cost us something to be continually nourished.
This cost to us will be our time. A great sacrifice in today's busy world, but it's absolutely necessary if we are going to be putting any meat on our spiritual body. If we are going to get off the bottle of the milk of the word (1 Peter 2:2), it's going to take a lot of alone time with God. I feel like I keep beating the same drum, but it's always the same key: Honest prayer and careful reading. Make the time and get on your knees and into the word of God.
What kind of a spiritual body do we have? Are we skinny and malnourished, or are we bulking up on the richness of the word of God and our exercise in it? When it comes down to it, the Lord isn't going to spoon feed us. There is no way to grow on our own in our spiritual lives, apart from time with Him. We need to, "Listen diligently to [Him], and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food," that is the word of God. In the massive family of God the blessing at the Lord's table has been said. Now will you stretch or starve?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Discouragement
Ezra was in Babylonian/Persian-Median, patiently awaiting the Lord's command to go back to Jerusalem. Perhaps like Daniel, he knew the 70 years of captivity was about to end, and Ezra was starting to get giddy. Sure enough, as the prophecy forecast, Cyrus make his proclamation, "...Go to Jerusalem which is in Judah and build The Temple of God, the God of Israel, Jerusalem's God. Those who stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold, tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in Jerusalem." So off Ezra went, returning on the first caravan with the governor Zerubbabel, and the high priest Joshua.
They lay the foundation of the temple and the people rejoice! But just when times seem so good, winds of trouble blow in from the north, angry because they are not allowed to worship through helping to build the temple. To make matters worse, a new king is in Persia. After a letter of accusation from the adversaries, work is stopped by order of the king.
Discouragement. "Why has the Lord sent us back to Jerusalem, only to lay the foundations of the temple!" Times seemed so good. They were even doing the work of the Lord. Who can know His ways! Could this be the will of God?
Along comes encouragement. A couple guys who came in on the first caravan back, were used of the Lord. Haggai and Zechariah come onto the scene with a message from the Lord, "It's time to build." They might have replied, "But the king said...". "But the Lord said." So they start building. Zechariah comes with messages from the Lord to encourage Joshua and Zerubbabel. Haggai confirms this, "I am with you, saith the Lord" (Haggai 1:13).
You've guess whats going to happen next. Those old adversaries write the king, this time a new king, Darius. The Lord showed that this is going to be the time that His temple will be built, as not only is the command to work granted but anything they needed to help build would be given to them.
Are you discouraged? I certainly have been in the past. There are many reasons why we can be discouraged. Often, and most times, it's because the Lord doesn't act in the way we suppose He will. "Why is the Lord doing that?", I ask. A plan is all laid out in my mind.
But as Isaiah tells us in 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God has a plan, and it's better than our plan. God knows everything, and He knows what's best.
Then we might rebut, "But the Lord said...". Well, Isaiah covers that too in the next verses, 10-11, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Always remember that God never forgets. Our piddly little minds can't wrap our head around the ways of God. We need to trust that what He is doing is what is best.
Look at how it turned out for the temple builders! Better than before. Anything they needed would be supplied by the Empire itself! How glorious was the way of God in this. The encouragement of Zechariah from God came true, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (Zechariah 4:9-10).
Rejoice child of God! God is just working things better for you. He will deliver as He always has. Always remember that God never forgets.
They lay the foundation of the temple and the people rejoice! But just when times seem so good, winds of trouble blow in from the north, angry because they are not allowed to worship through helping to build the temple. To make matters worse, a new king is in Persia. After a letter of accusation from the adversaries, work is stopped by order of the king.
Discouragement. "Why has the Lord sent us back to Jerusalem, only to lay the foundations of the temple!" Times seemed so good. They were even doing the work of the Lord. Who can know His ways! Could this be the will of God?
Along comes encouragement. A couple guys who came in on the first caravan back, were used of the Lord. Haggai and Zechariah come onto the scene with a message from the Lord, "It's time to build." They might have replied, "But the king said...". "But the Lord said." So they start building. Zechariah comes with messages from the Lord to encourage Joshua and Zerubbabel. Haggai confirms this, "I am with you, saith the Lord" (Haggai 1:13).
You've guess whats going to happen next. Those old adversaries write the king, this time a new king, Darius. The Lord showed that this is going to be the time that His temple will be built, as not only is the command to work granted but anything they needed to help build would be given to them.
Are you discouraged? I certainly have been in the past. There are many reasons why we can be discouraged. Often, and most times, it's because the Lord doesn't act in the way we suppose He will. "Why is the Lord doing that?", I ask. A plan is all laid out in my mind.
But as Isaiah tells us in 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." God has a plan, and it's better than our plan. God knows everything, and He knows what's best.
Then we might rebut, "But the Lord said...". Well, Isaiah covers that too in the next verses, 10-11, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Always remember that God never forgets. Our piddly little minds can't wrap our head around the ways of God. We need to trust that what He is doing is what is best.
Look at how it turned out for the temple builders! Better than before. Anything they needed would be supplied by the Empire itself! How glorious was the way of God in this. The encouragement of Zechariah from God came true, "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel" (Zechariah 4:9-10).
Rejoice child of God! God is just working things better for you. He will deliver as He always has. Always remember that God never forgets.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Political Protest
I'm not sure if it has always been this way, but there sure seems to be a lot of political complaints. People seem to find things to complain about with their government. For the last four years, George W. Bush was the major target of criticism. Although the American people reelected him, they would continue to condemn his efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The media would take shot after shot on him in relentless fashion.Have we entered ourselves into a trap? The newly elected president, Barack Obama, is sure to
come under some fire at some point. It seems to be obvious, that though he claims Christianity as his faith, that his moral standards have sunk low and shifted left. He is either a puppet of the people, or has perverted his interpretation of scripture.One of his recent moves has proven this. Obama is a supporter of abortion, and has proven so through his decision to overturn the Bush legislation for doctors to be able to refuse to do abortions because of believes, and by having government funding for abortions. This from a man so seems so cold in his faith, and has yet to share the change that the Lord Jesus has made in his life.
If you think you have figured out the trap that I'm talking about, you likely haven't. The trap isn't that the new president of the United States doesn't stand for Christian values, but rather the trap is that we take on the role of the accusers and critics. I so openly condemned the accusers in the past, I need to be careful that I don't become one myself.
As a Christian, what are we to do instead of criticizing and complaining? Pray and instead have our mouths filled with the love of Christ.
Imagine in the days of the early Roman Empire being a Christian. Open persecution. It was always "open season" on Christians. People like Saul of Tarsus going from house to house, breaking down doors and stealing Christians off to prison. Observe the Christian response to being driven from their homes in Acts 8:4, "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." Amazing. I think I would be complaining, telling people that would hear about how the government shouldn't be so cruel and its unfair. Instead of taking the low road, since they were scattered everywhere, they preached the word.
When Paul writes to Timothy, he is sure to tell Timothy that the government is included when he says to pray for, "all people." Why are we to pray for them? The verse finishes off by telling us, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." (1 Timothy 2:2) We can be thankful that although the governments aren't as they should be, we still live in a country where it isn't against the laws of the country to preach and share the name of Christ in public.
Instead of complaining to everyone, expending our energy on telling everyone about what a rotten job the government is doing, pray. I understand "pro-choice" isn't pro-choice since it's taking the like of an innocent child, and that what Obama has done is wrong, but let us always be thankful that we have a loving Saviour who will one day reign on earth and take His rightful place. He will destroy all His enemies, set up His kingdom, and reign forever and ever. He is the heir to the crown of earth, and is now moving the nations around like pawns in preparation for that coming day of the Millennial Reign, and the coming Kingdom of heaven to earth.
And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. Zechariah 14:9
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Here, There and Everywhere
I have a tendency to watch sports. One of the sports if football. In the NFL its the 22 guys trying to kill each other at one time over a single piece of inflated pigskin, who become the best of friends when the final gun sounds. A player that I've always enjoyed watching is Ray Lewis, linebacker on the Baltimore Ravens. He was the greatest defensive player I had ever seen during their Super Bowl season in 2000. People would ask me why I think he's so great. I would simple reply, "he's everywhere!" The opponent would run to the right, middle, or left, and there he was to help drive the running back into the ground. They would throw it anywhere, and there was Ray Lewis at the end of the gain to stop the play. We know he's not actually "everywhere," he just has great football intelligence to anticipate where the ball will be and meet it there.
The quality of being everywhere belongs to One, and the knowledge of that should change our lives. David in Psalm 139 records how God is everywhere. There is no place that he cannot go where God was not (v7). God does before him and behind him in protection (v5). Whether heaven or hell or the grave (v8). In the dark, you are illuminated in the sight of God (v12-13). There is nothing hid from our omniscient and omnipresent God, He even knew us while we were formed (v13-16).
How amazing is our God! Yet how accountable it makes us before Him! There is nothing that we can do, that God does not know. There is no thought that we can think that God cannot read. God is always watching.
A children's song came to mind, "He sees what we do, He hears what we say, My Lord is writing all the time, time, time time..." Not only does He know everything, but He writes it all down. Another scary thought perhaps. We will be accountable for everything that we do. If you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, you will stand someday before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The books will be opened, and each will have to give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). There will be rewards given, and rewards withheld.
What is it that we are doing for the present to gain eternal reward? I need to quit focusing on things that are temporal, and become more fixed on the eternal. A little saying runs through my mind from time to time, "invest in eternity." Lay up treasures in heaven! What we do now matters for eternity.
The first was at salvation. The greatest investment of all, trading in sin and death for Christ and everlasting life. The bright lights and occupying entertainment didn't matter to us on salvation's day, and yet it often slips back into our lives. That night where nothing mattered more than finding for our trouble soul peace. There we found that salvation was not in anything else, but Christ. His work, His stripes, His blood and His resurrection.
Now that we are on the path toward heaven's gate, we need to set up treasure for ourselves. What am I doing to store up reward? How has my life been one of worship? What will I say when I have to give account at the Judgment Seat? There will Christ be sitting full of glory and holiness, and there will I kneel as an undeserving product of salvation. Live your life right and with eternity in mind so that the world creating, resurrecting, miracle making, all powerful voice might say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." He sees it all, He knows it all, He deserves it all, and He's writing it all: Invest in eternity.
The quality of being everywhere belongs to One, and the knowledge of that should change our lives. David in Psalm 139 records how God is everywhere. There is no place that he cannot go where God was not (v7). God does before him and behind him in protection (v5). Whether heaven or hell or the grave (v8). In the dark, you are illuminated in the sight of God (v12-13). There is nothing hid from our omniscient and omnipresent God, He even knew us while we were formed (v13-16).
How amazing is our God! Yet how accountable it makes us before Him! There is nothing that we can do, that God does not know. There is no thought that we can think that God cannot read. God is always watching.
A children's song came to mind, "He sees what we do, He hears what we say, My Lord is writing all the time, time, time time..." Not only does He know everything, but He writes it all down. Another scary thought perhaps. We will be accountable for everything that we do. If you have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, you will stand someday before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The books will be opened, and each will have to give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). There will be rewards given, and rewards withheld.
What is it that we are doing for the present to gain eternal reward? I need to quit focusing on things that are temporal, and become more fixed on the eternal. A little saying runs through my mind from time to time, "invest in eternity." Lay up treasures in heaven! What we do now matters for eternity.
The first was at salvation. The greatest investment of all, trading in sin and death for Christ and everlasting life. The bright lights and occupying entertainment didn't matter to us on salvation's day, and yet it often slips back into our lives. That night where nothing mattered more than finding for our trouble soul peace. There we found that salvation was not in anything else, but Christ. His work, His stripes, His blood and His resurrection.
Now that we are on the path toward heaven's gate, we need to set up treasure for ourselves. What am I doing to store up reward? How has my life been one of worship? What will I say when I have to give account at the Judgment Seat? There will Christ be sitting full of glory and holiness, and there will I kneel as an undeserving product of salvation. Live your life right and with eternity in mind so that the world creating, resurrecting, miracle making, all powerful voice might say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." He sees it all, He knows it all, He deserves it all, and He's writing it all: Invest in eternity.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Always a Way Back
I seem to be showing that I have some knowledge in Greek Mythology lately. Have you heard of the wise Theseus, hero of Athens, and his adventure into a labyrinth? Brave Theseus, entered the labyrinth built by King Minos of Crete to house the great and dangerous minotaur. A minotaur is half man and half bull. This labyrinth was built in such an ingenious way that anyone who entered would never find they way out again, and eventually fell prey to the wandering minotaur. The maze was so difficult, that some believed that the paths rearranged themselves once you entered so that you would never escape. Theseus went it, trailing behind him string that had been given to him. To make a long myth short, he slew the minotaur and followed the string back.
Have you ever read the Mark Twain Classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer? I havn't, but I have watched the movie. Remember Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer lost in the cave? Well incase you havn't, Tom takes his favorite girl Becky on a picnic to McDougal cave. They come across Injun Joe who was on the run as a convicted criminal. Tom and Becky go further into the cave to get away but get lost! They run out of food and candles, but eventually Tom finds a way out.There are times where we seem to get lost and can't find our way back to the Lord. We might feel like a Theseus that forgot the string, or like Tom and Becky lost and thinking there is no hope. The amazing thing is that if Christ is your Saviour, there's always a way back.
Think about the parable of the lost sheep. Even though the master has 99 sheep, he still wants that one sheep back. The Shepherd goes and finds the sheep and full of joy returns it to the fold. (Luke 15:3-7)
Last night I was reading in Isaiah, and a phrase caught my attention in 5:25 that occurs also in 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." What a blessed thought this is. The Lord has just denounced woe upon Israel for their unfaithfulness, and yet He is offering a way back.
This reminded me of a verse I read earlier in the day, "Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 1:3). Here again, the Lord has sent a message to the people who will be rebuilding Jerusalem. Zechariah was sent to be an encouragment. The 70 years of captivity had been up, Artaxerxes had decreed the city of Jerusalem to be rebuilt, but the people we're discouraged since Isaiah and Jeremiah's prophecies had yet to materialize. The Lord gives them hope.
Notice the order in the verse, first it says, "Turn ye unto me." The first step has to be ours. The Lord always keeps his promises, even if we break our end of the deal (See how the Lord will spare a remnant in Israel for Millennium and Kingdom blessings though they broke their end of the covenant). Our great blessing is that our testament is based on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ: Finished and complete. We need to turn back to the Lord, than He will turn unto us.
Often we may get discouraged. Down a path that has led us into sin. Perhaps it's just that we aren't growing anymore as a Christian. Be of good cheer, there is a way back. "Turn ye unto Him," and "His hand is stretched out still." If you look for the way out you can find your path out like Tom and Becky by following the light. You can be like Theseus and follow the string back out of the seemingly inescapable labrynth; though prayer, confession, and reading the word of God. Let the Shepherd rejoice today as He will say, "Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." (Luke 3:6).
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Alone Time
How is your love life? A funny question to ask. I try not to be an advocate for constant harassment of young people to find out if that special boy or special girl may be on the horizon. But what if you do find someone that seems much more special than all of the rest? You spend time with them. Some people go out on dates and find out about the person. An open conversation begins to show you who that individual is. It tells you what they like, their interests, their goals and their personality. After a certain amount of alone time, you begin to find out what makes that person tick.
If you do end up getting married, alone time never loses its value. In the constant busy world, married couples need to find alone time to help strengthen the bond of love that has been created between them. It becomes a constant reminder of your undying love towards your husband or wife.
"How's your love life?", was the question that Bryon Meyers asked last month on his visit to Saskatoon. He wasn't asking me, but rather the crowd that had gathered to hear him open the word of God. Two year old Denalyn Ronald piped up during the meeting, "perfect!" The hall echoed in laughter at the open response of a two year old girl. But in all honesty, how is your love life?
Do you love the Lord more everyday? He is the one that we should love the most. Is our love life lacking? If it is than you need to go on a 'date' with the Lord: You need some alone time. The best is alone time everyday, so that you will begin to strengthen your relationship to the greatest level while enjoying so much more of our loving Saviour Jesus Christ.
Often I forget what a privilege it is to be able to have alone time with the Lord. Remember back to the days of the old covenant, where the high priest would be able to enter in alone with God. Only a once a year was this great privilege permitted. Remember how the high priestly garments would be glad in bells and pomegranates so others would be able to hear that the high priest was still moving about having not offended God. Going into the presence of God was serious business. Washing, sacrifice, washing, and incense burning. Only then could the high priest enter in on the Day of Atonement behind the veil into holiest of holies with God who was seated on the Mercy Seat between the Cherubim.
In the day of grace, because of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His worthy name we may enter into the presence of God behind the veil. We ourselves have been made priests because of the Lord Jesus, and are able to enter in (1 Peter 2:9). The writer to the Hebrews tells us in 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Into the presence of God in prayer, what a blessing! We can be thankful we can enter into the presence anywhere and at anytime, for the Lord told the woman at the well, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).
Alone time with the Lord is precious. The business of this life tends to quickly swallow our time. Going here and there, to meeting and school and work and outreach, than homework or television or sleep. Time passes quickly. The minds of the youth become less potent as they grow old. It becomes harder to memorize and remember things in the Word of God. Time just seems to swallow us up. The Greeks found this, as their mythology would speak of Cronus (who represents time, "chronology") as the "great devourer." We do not believe in Greek Myths, but one thing we do know is that time steals our lives away. Ephesians 5:6 says, "Redeeming (buying back) your time, for the days are evil." Time doesn't simply open up in our lives, we have to make time.
Again, how is that love life with the One who loved us by giving us that inexpressibly valuable gift? We need that alone time with Him if we are ever to be anything for Him. Whether its prayer or reading and meditation, He has given us the privilege of letting us have alone time with Himself: the Creating and Saving and Almighty God.
If you do end up getting married, alone time never loses its value. In the constant busy world, married couples need to find alone time to help strengthen the bond of love that has been created between them. It becomes a constant reminder of your undying love towards your husband or wife.
"How's your love life?", was the question that Bryon Meyers asked last month on his visit to Saskatoon. He wasn't asking me, but rather the crowd that had gathered to hear him open the word of God. Two year old Denalyn Ronald piped up during the meeting, "perfect!" The hall echoed in laughter at the open response of a two year old girl. But in all honesty, how is your love life?
Do you love the Lord more everyday? He is the one that we should love the most. Is our love life lacking? If it is than you need to go on a 'date' with the Lord: You need some alone time. The best is alone time everyday, so that you will begin to strengthen your relationship to the greatest level while enjoying so much more of our loving Saviour Jesus Christ.
Often I forget what a privilege it is to be able to have alone time with the Lord. Remember back to the days of the old covenant, where the high priest would be able to enter in alone with God. Only a once a year was this great privilege permitted. Remember how the high priestly garments would be glad in bells and pomegranates so others would be able to hear that the high priest was still moving about having not offended God. Going into the presence of God was serious business. Washing, sacrifice, washing, and incense burning. Only then could the high priest enter in on the Day of Atonement behind the veil into holiest of holies with God who was seated on the Mercy Seat between the Cherubim.
In the day of grace, because of our Lord Jesus Christ and in His worthy name we may enter into the presence of God behind the veil. We ourselves have been made priests because of the Lord Jesus, and are able to enter in (1 Peter 2:9). The writer to the Hebrews tells us in 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Into the presence of God in prayer, what a blessing! We can be thankful we can enter into the presence anywhere and at anytime, for the Lord told the woman at the well, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24).
Alone time with the Lord is precious. The business of this life tends to quickly swallow our time. Going here and there, to meeting and school and work and outreach, than homework or television or sleep. Time passes quickly. The minds of the youth become less potent as they grow old. It becomes harder to memorize and remember things in the Word of God. Time just seems to swallow us up. The Greeks found this, as their mythology would speak of Cronus (who represents time, "chronology") as the "great devourer." We do not believe in Greek Myths, but one thing we do know is that time steals our lives away. Ephesians 5:6 says, "Redeeming (buying back) your time, for the days are evil." Time doesn't simply open up in our lives, we have to make time.
Again, how is that love life with the One who loved us by giving us that inexpressibly valuable gift? We need that alone time with Him if we are ever to be anything for Him. Whether its prayer or reading and meditation, He has given us the privilege of letting us have alone time with Himself: the Creating and Saving and Almighty God.
O the pure delight of a single hour,
When before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend.
When before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend.
- Fanny J. Crosby
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Calling, and Calling, and Calling
Calling. When I think about calling, I think about being back at the farm and being called for supper. I hear dad calling at the top of lungs, "supppppppppppeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr." I heard it loud and clear. Sometimes when I'm at the farm, dad will call me to wake up, "Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyy, LETS GO!" Usually one call is all I get. Sometimes I'm too sound asleep to hear (he doesn't believe me). There are some days where I ignore the call for a bit before I respond (and I know I shouldn't).
A sleeping Samuel was sliently slumbering, when suddenly he heard the sound of summoning. "Eli, here I am. What do you want?" Eli repsonded, "I didn't call so go back to bed." Samuel went back to sleep. Three times this happened. One the third visit Eli told Samuel that it was the Lord, and to say, "Speak Lord, thy servant heareth" (1 Samuel 3:9). At the fourth call, Samuel was ready. Samuel was fortunate to get four calls, since it seems Eli had forgotten how to determine the voice of the Lord
Do we readily know the voice of the Lord? Samuel had not yet known the voice of the Lord. Words from the Lord were precious in those days (1 Samuel 3:1). We can know the voice of the Lord through knowing the word of the Lord. The Lord can speak to us through the word of God. It is after all, "the word of God." "Oh Lord," we should pray before we read, "let me hear your voice today." Hearing the voice of the Lord helps us to know that we are following in the ways of Righteousness.
Eli was out of touch with God. He had two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, which pushed Eli towards wickedness. Eli had lost control of his sons and, I would determine, consented unto their evil. The sons robbed God of what was His by stealing the fat and meat that was part of the sacrifice of the people to the Lord (1 Samuel 12:12-17). Eli was likely a partaker of this stolen meat, although he may not have known since he was blind (1 Samuel 2:29). Eli allowed the ark of the covenant to be taken from the tabernacle, since it was his duty to keep it and his boys took it. He in his heart, knew that what he allowed was not right (1 Samuel 4:13). "The ark is stolen," are the last words he heard before he died. What a disappointing end to life. The last words of Eli's daughter-in-law were, "The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken." What a dismal ending. The Lord God no longer had a thrown, the mercy seat, in Israel.
How can we be sure this doesn't happen to us? How can we be sure to stay in fellowship with God? The secret formula isn't anything new. Read, pray, confess our sins to God, obey, read, pray, confess our sins to God and obey. If you don't like that, you can always change up the order. Hear the call, and obey.
Here's four verses to help you in closing:
1. Reading (listening) - Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)
2. Praying (speaking) - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20-21)
3. Confessing (cleansing) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
4. Obeying (action) - And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)
A sleeping Samuel was sliently slumbering, when suddenly he heard the sound of summoning. "Eli, here I am. What do you want?" Eli repsonded, "I didn't call so go back to bed." Samuel went back to sleep. Three times this happened. One the third visit Eli told Samuel that it was the Lord, and to say, "Speak Lord, thy servant heareth" (1 Samuel 3:9). At the fourth call, Samuel was ready. Samuel was fortunate to get four calls, since it seems Eli had forgotten how to determine the voice of the Lord
Do we readily know the voice of the Lord? Samuel had not yet known the voice of the Lord. Words from the Lord were precious in those days (1 Samuel 3:1). We can know the voice of the Lord through knowing the word of the Lord. The Lord can speak to us through the word of God. It is after all, "the word of God." "Oh Lord," we should pray before we read, "let me hear your voice today." Hearing the voice of the Lord helps us to know that we are following in the ways of Righteousness.
Eli was out of touch with God. He had two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, which pushed Eli towards wickedness. Eli had lost control of his sons and, I would determine, consented unto their evil. The sons robbed God of what was His by stealing the fat and meat that was part of the sacrifice of the people to the Lord (1 Samuel 12:12-17). Eli was likely a partaker of this stolen meat, although he may not have known since he was blind (1 Samuel 2:29). Eli allowed the ark of the covenant to be taken from the tabernacle, since it was his duty to keep it and his boys took it. He in his heart, knew that what he allowed was not right (1 Samuel 4:13). "The ark is stolen," are the last words he heard before he died. What a disappointing end to life. The last words of Eli's daughter-in-law were, "The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken." What a dismal ending. The Lord God no longer had a thrown, the mercy seat, in Israel.
How can we be sure this doesn't happen to us? How can we be sure to stay in fellowship with God? The secret formula isn't anything new. Read, pray, confess our sins to God, obey, read, pray, confess our sins to God and obey. If you don't like that, you can always change up the order. Hear the call, and obey.
Here's four verses to help you in closing:
1. Reading (listening) - Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9)
2. Praying (speaking) - But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20-21)
3. Confessing (cleansing) - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
4. Obeying (action) - And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22)
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